Best compact phones 2024 - buyer’s guide

Last updated 13 April 2024


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  • D
  • Dude
  • DkQ
  • 19 May 2021

Shouldn't have removed the S10e

    where's the zenfone 8 ?

      GSMArena please update this category, add S21, Zenfone 8, iPhone 12 Pro

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • 6qg
        • 17 May 2021

        Zenfone 8 deserves to be here now!

          Anonymous, 12 Apr 2021Hey gsmarena, some phones are missing here: Pixel 4a Pi... moreThe Xperia 10 II is 157mm tall. I don't think it's compact, although it's weight and width is almost the same as most other compacts. Viable option but not for most people that came here searching for a compact smartphone imo.

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            • Anonymous
            • swG
            • 12 Apr 2021

            Hey gsmarena, some phones are missing here:

            Pixel 4a
            Pixel 5
            Galaxy S21
            Xperia 10 II

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              • Anonymous
              • M9r
              • 08 Apr 2021

              3.5-4" is too small for todays UI on phones. 5" 16:9 was really the perfect era of one handed phones, like the moto g5 and various samsungs, just 2 years ago. You cant get anything in the one-handed category with these tall ass phones other than the iphone se, which unfortunately is iOS only. Even the iphone 12 mini has a taller screen you cant reach with your thumb

                Bob, 13 Mar 2021I couldn't agree more! There is a big segment of peopl... moreexactly! its just that there is not a single good compact phone in market to capture that segment. they produce shitty compacts like iphone mini, s10e, pixel4a which makes the buyer feel like he is compromising. i mean ofcourse they will not sell well. make a real good compact phone and market it well, definitely it will sell.... most women want light compact phones, many geek friends of mine want a compact flagship, many elderly people prefer small phones... all they want us to push towards is wireless earbuds, cloud storage, powerbanks, fast chargers instead of giving 3.5 mm jack, sd card slot, better batteries

                  • B
                  • Bob
                  • gE7
                  • 13 Mar 2021

                  AverageIndianUser, 09 Mar 2021like TWS there should be true compact also.... with screen ... moreI couldn't agree more! There is a big segment of people who want or need huge phones, but I think the segment of people who want pocket- size phones is big too. I don't need huge screen, glass body that shatters easily etc. I'm fine with plastic if it's durable, I need pocketable phone that has 3.5 jack, one good camera, nice screen and good battery..

                    like TWS there should be true compact also.... with screen size not beyond 5.5 inch n not absurdly tall or wide + all the basic smartphone things like SD card slot, headphone jack, dual sim/esim slots, 1080p oled, 5g and 4000 mah battery.... no ones saying we need 7mm phones, no one ever said it. make it thick, make it ergonomic... forget bullshit wireless charging, half a dozen camera lenses, ugly v shape u shape notches, in display readers, glass bodyetc... and throw in some really helpful shit like front facing stereo audio, waterproofing, shock proofing, shatter proofing, ultra low to ultra high brightness range, ldac/aptx, nfc, etc

                      • E
                      • EV
                      • L13
                      • 03 Mar 2021

                      Neither of these phones is compact

                        • M
                        • Minu
                        • tew
                        • 12 Feb 2021

                        Eldamri, 13 Jan 2021i think sub 5" are too small for today's digital ... moreNokia 8 Sirocco is the only available option with a large display and tiny bezels, while roughly a little wider than the XZ1 Compact, or you could go for the XZ2 Compact if you want a giraffe display

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                          • ThunderShield
                          • nbb
                          • 22 Jan 2021

                          Eldamri, 13 Jan 2021i think sub 5" are too small for today's digital ... moreI disagree. A 3.5-4 in. screen is still useful.
                          It would mean fewer app icons per page on home screens and some web pages would be cumbersome.
                          But a screen that small would use less that half the power.
                          And it could be made twice as thick and still be compact.
                          Less power consumption + more space for battery = great benefits.
                          Normal use and only need for charging every 2-3 day would be fantastic progress ;-)

                            • l
                            • loool
                            • nvU
                            • 17 Jan 2021

                            Mukul, 09 May 2020Well it seems like Some aren't Curious about the Upcoming F... moreloool you toufht sony would listen customers? they stick to 21/9 so it's 158mm tall, I remember time when such phones were called phablets

                              Your nickname, 28 Aug 2020Sony come back with some fantastic under 5" compacts a... morei think sub 5" are too small for today's digital consumption. All sony can do is make XZ1c with minimal bezels or a punch hole selfie camera if under the display tech is still not possible. Just my opinion.

                                I wish sony will bring back the compact line and not use the 21:9 aspect ratio. I just want the XZ1 compact body with 90% screen to body ratio w/c is impossible for sony unless they implement a punch hole for the selfie camera. Also add a 4000mah battery. Don't care if the phone turns out thick.

                                Currently using the note 10 as the boxy design looks like an xperia. It's also my 1st samsung.

                                  • D
                                  • AnonD-973296
                                  • GYi
                                  • 04 Jan 2021

                                  Anonymous, 27 Dec 2020"Best compact phones 2020" And you list the S20 a... moreit is a compact phone, i think it has a 6.2 inch screen

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                                    • Hiten
                                    • rKe
                                    • 01 Jan 2021

                                    Where is pixel 4a 5g and pixel 5. (Pixel4 5g) is best compact phone with best camera quality with affordable price.

                                    I don't samsung and one plus has any of there mobile handset compact

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                                      • Anonymous
                                      • mvB
                                      • 27 Dec 2020

                                      "Best compact phones 2020" And you list the S20 as a compact phone?

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                                        • Anonymous
                                        • rJX
                                        • 25 Dec 2020

                                        ron, 04 Sep 2020Wow, I think only S10e is a good buy here in terms of perfo... moreIn my opinion, S10 is better than s10e. S10e though smaller is still a big phone and the fingerprint scanner at the top is difficult to use. I would reach for the fingerprint scanner more often than the top portion of screen, so it's a big no for me.
                                        If samsung placed the scanner at the middle, then it would be good, since we use scanner more than power button.
                                        I sincerely hope Sony bring back the compacts, as I don't see any other option for upgrade from my S10 in next 2 years.