The best compact Android phones
It's difficult to find a phone that fits in your pocket these days. I keep an eye on the market and list the best compact Android phones currently in stock at retailers in my part of the world.
What is considered a compact phone changes over time. Today, 5" screens are out of fashion and a compact phone typically has a 6" screen. This means that a non-foldable device cannot have a smaller diagonal than 6" (153 mm).
When people say they want a "small" phone they do not always mean the same thing. Some want it to be narrow so they can easily hold it with one hand. Some want it to be short so it does not fall out of the pocket. Some want it to be light so they can hold it with one hand for a long time without being tired. Some want it to be thin so it fits in a thight pocket. I include the dimensions of all phones in the table below. I do not rank the phones. You have to decide which one is best for you.
These are my top picks for April 2023:
| Phone | Dimensions | Weight | Diagonal | Screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 | 85 x 71.9 x 17.1 mm (3.34 x 2.83 x 0.67") | 187 g (6.6 oz) | 111 mm (4.38") | 6.7" |
| Asus Zenfone 9 | 147 x 68.1 x 9.1 mm (5.77 x 2.68 x 0.36") | 169 g (5.96 oz) | 162 mm (6.36") | 5.9" |
| Samsung Galaxy S22 5G | 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm (5.75 x 2.78 x 0.30") | 167 g (5.89 oz) | 162 mm (6.38") | 6.1" |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 5G | 146 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm (5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30") | 168 g (5.89 oz) | 163 mm (6.40") | 6.1" |
| Sony Xperia 10 IV | 153 x 67.0 x 8.3 mm (6.02 x 2.64 x 0.33") | 161 g (5.68 oz) | 167 mm (6.58") | 6.0" |
| Google Pixel 6a | 152 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35") | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 168 mm (6.63") | 6.1" |
| Motorola Edge 30 Neo | 153 x 71.2 x 7.8 mm (6.02 x 2.80 x 0.31") | 155 g (5.47 oz) | 169 mm (6.64") | 6.28" |
| Xiaomi 13 | 153 x 71.5 x 8.0 mm (6.02 x 2.81 x 0.31") | 189 g (6.53 oz) | 169 mm (6.64") | 6.36" |
| Sony Xperia 5 IV | 156 x 67.0 x 8.2 mm (6.14 x 2.64 x 0.32") | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 170 mm (6.68") | 6.1" |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a foldable phone with a large foldable screen. It folds along the width of the phone, essentially halving the height and doubling the thickness. When folded it has a much smaller diagonal than all the other phones on the list, but it is also thicker. It is 165 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm when unfolded and 85 x 71.9 x 17.1 mm when folded. The screen is 6.7" with 1080 x 2640 pixels (426 ppi density). It has a 22:9 aspect ratio which means that the screen is more elongated than normal. Unfortunately, the Flip 4 has the smallest battery capacity (tied with the Galaxy S22) which in combination with the largest screen and a high-performance chipset means a short battery life. It is also one of the heaviest and most expensive phones on the list. It was released mid 2022.
Asus ZenFone 9
The ZenFone 9 has the smallest diagonal of all non-foldable phones on the list, but it is also the thickest. The screen is 5.9" with 1080 x 2400 pixels (445 ppi). It is a flagship phone with a high price, but it has come down a bit since launch. Asus calls it a little jewel of technology that packs a big punch. According to the GeekBench performance benchmark it is the third fastest phone on the list, bested only by the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Xiaomi 13. It was released mid 2022.
Samsung Galaxy S22 5G
The Galaxy S22 has the second smallest diagonal of all non-foldable phones on the list. It is also the thinnest (tied with the S23). The screen is 6.1" with 2340 x 1080 pixels (425 ppi density). The S22 was launched in early 2022 as a high-end, high-performance phone with a high-end price. But that was last year. The weakest point is the battery life, which is short compared to the competition.
Samsung Galaxy S23 5G
The Galaxy S23 was released early 2023 as a successor to the S22. It is a high-end, high-performance phone with a high-end price. The screen is 6.1" with 2340 x 1080 pixels (425 ppi density). The Galaxy S23 is ever so slightly larger than the S22. But Samsung has improved the battery life, which now is average instead of poor. It is the second fastest phone on the list according to the GeekBench performance benchmark.
Sony Xperia 10 IV
Xperia 10 IV is a mid-price phone with mid-level performance. It is the least wide phone on this list and it is also comparatively light, which makes it easy to hold with one hand. The screen is 6.0", with 1080 x 2520 pixels (457 ppi density). It has a 21:9 aspect ratio which means that the screen is slightly more elongated than normal. The battery life is best in class, but it scores lowest on the GeekBench performance benchmark. It was released mid 2022.
Google Pixel 6a
The Google Pixel 6a is a mid-price phone with mid-level performance. It is wide, thick and heavy compared to most of the other phones on this list, but we are talking fractions of millimeters and a few grams. The screen is 6.1", with 1080 x 2400 pixels (429 ppi density). It was released mid 2022.
Motorola Edge 30 Neo
The Edge 30 Neo is cheapest and lightest of all phones on this list, and it is also very thin. The screen is 6.28" with 1080 x 2400 pixels (419 ppi density). This is a low mid-end phone, so don't expect high-end performance. It was released late 2022.
Xiaomi 13
The Xiaomi 13 is a high-end phone with a high-end price. It is the heaviest phone on the list, but also the fastest according to the GeekBench performance benchmark. The screen is 6.36" with 1080 x 2400 pixels (414 ppi density). It was released late 2022.
Sony Xperia 5 IV
The Xperia 5 IV is tall and narrow compared to the other phones on the list. The screen is 6.1" with 1080 x 2520 pixels (449 ppi density). It has a 21:9 aspect ratio which means that the screen is slightly more elongated than normal. Battery life is better than most of the competition. It is a high-end phone with a premium feel and a price to match. It was released mid 2022.