Best compact phones 2024 - buyer’s guide

Last updated 19 October 2024


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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • mpg
  • 12 Jan 2022

would be best overall

S21 5g 256gb exynos variants £605
S21 fe 5g 256gb snapdragon variant £584

Both priced within 10 20 pounds of each other with right promotions

    • d
    • dia6olo
    • m5Q
    • 07 Jan 2022

    Anything above 5" is not compact and I personally find it baffling that there is literally ZERO choice for a smart phone of 5" or bellow apart from apple of which I will never entertain!
    I am stuck on an old oneplus 3T which I consider large but smaller than 99.9% of all todays offerings so I will not upgrade ever until they offer small factor phones again.
    If I want a big screen I'll buy a tablet! I want a phone I can comfortably put in a pocket alternatively if at some point I choose to upgrade I'll simply move away from smart phones!

      • S
      • Sin
      • cTI
      • 01 Jan 2022

      All of the phones here are big phones or mid size phones

      The screen should be 5 inch or lower but no smaller then 3 inch

      none the phones listed here i buy there all too big for me

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • p6P
        • 20 Dec 2021

        Anonymous, 16 Dec 2021Only somewhat compact phones are iPhone mini and SE. Such a... moreYea it would be great to see smth like s22e

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • M9r
          • 16 Dec 2021

          Only somewhat compact phones are iPhone mini and SE. Such a shame sony killed xz compact and samsung mini series. Original moto G was 4.5inch as well

            • c
            • chybil
            • Tpb
            • 11 Dec 2021

            Please update Budget Compact Phone. Unfortunately there are only expensive options. My wife refuses to upgrade Redmi 4 - she wants phone on a budget (to not wory about damaging) and small size.

              • R
              • Rio
              • K5t
              • 09 Dec 2021

              Sal, 28 Nov 2021Last best compact was Galaxy S10e, hands down. But I only u... moreTotally agree, i always look for android flagship phone with screen size less than 6 inches which is hard to find nowadays

                • S
                • Sal
                • I2Y
                • 28 Nov 2021

                Last best compact was Galaxy S10e, hands down. But I only use it at work. S21 is not compact as I use it for a few weeks now.

                Android makers should make flagships bellow 6 inch screen size, I bet it’s a good market there.

                Iphone 12/13 mini great size, maybe even too compact, they should make it maybe the size of the SE but full screen.
                Also keeping that notch is the dumbest and arrogant thing yes. Apple is “innovating” v v slowly, they need to defend sales.

                  • G
                  • Geru
                  • jF}
                  • 27 Nov 2021

                  Iphone 13 mini over Asus Zenphone 8, not sure what you guys are smokin ?

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • sn%
                    • 19 Nov 2021

                    David, 17 Nov 2021Compact Phones = 3 inch to 5 inch screensize Mini Smartpho... moreDon't look at today's phones screen sizes, but at phones *height*. Because of slim bezels and rounded edges, screen diagonal is unreliable when comparing compactness.

                    Quick guide:
                    - Truly compact phone (as in iPhone minis or RIP Xperia Compacts): 130-135 mm max
                    - Compact-ish (normal 5 years ago, but can be considered "compact" now): 140-149 mm
                    - Today's Android "compact" (not really): 150-159 mm
                    - Gargantuan (every other phone today): > 160 mm

                    With above rules, you can compare compactness of older phones, regardless of their screen size.
                    Width is pretty much the same even on larger phones, because they have to adjust for average hand grip.

                    It's sad that there's only one truly compact mid-range (and up) smartphone in 2021 (except older ones): iPhone 13 mini. There's literally zero Android ones.

                      • O
                      • Oh
                      • 6k$
                      • 19 Nov 2021

                      David, 17 Nov 2021Compact Phones = 3 inch to 5 inch screensize Mini Smartpho... moreTotally right

                        • D
                        • David
                        • bCc
                        • 17 Nov 2021

                        Compact Phones = 3 inch to 5 inch screensize
                        Mini Smartphones = 4 inch to 6 inch screensize
                        Standard Smartphones = 5 inch to 7 inch screensize

                          • M
                          • Max
                          • xhm
                          • 16 Nov 2021

                          Sergio, 15 Nov 2021XZ1 compact.. abandoned me two days ago after years.. now I... moreTry google pixel

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • Ru0
                            • 16 Nov 2021

                            Sergio, 15 Nov 2021XZ1 compact.. abandoned me two days ago after years.. now I... moreS21 send to be in your price range.

                              • S
                              • Sergio
                              • nNc
                              • 15 Nov 2021

                              Kazuma, 11 Nov 2021There is too much shovels right now on the market. We need ... moreXZ1 compact.. abandoned me two days ago after years.. now I am lost in these "TV" smartphone..please help! which best compact phone to buy (500 eur max)?

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • 3Z5
                                • 13 Nov 2021

                                Please for the love of god make midrange phones under 150x73mm with good camera and battery... Also where did all the aluminum frame and back go?

                                  • 7
                                  • 7a
                                  • DkZ
                                  • 13 Nov 2021

                                  I still prefer my redmi 7a over realme brick slabs

                                    • K
                                    • Kazuma
                                    • gGR
                                    • 11 Nov 2021

                                    There is too much shovels right now on the market. We need a choice! Sony Xperia XZ1 compact was great. Why are there no similar models now, Sony?

                                      • L
                                      • Luski
                                      • NaD
                                      • 10 Nov 2021

                                      qqrq, 23 Oct 2021None of those are actually compact except the iPhone 13 Min... moreExactly, Iphone 13 mini sick phone but i want android. Samsung needs to get on it. Or Xiaomi. Over massive phones

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • g8K
                                        • 09 Nov 2021

                                        Zenfone 8 should be removed from this list, due to factory faulty motherboard. No one is buying it anymore.