Where did all the cute little smartphones go? Remember "big" 5-inch phones when they first came out? People thought they were huge! The screen size started to crawl up slowly but surely, and nowadays we have these 7-inch monstrosities we still call phones (they used to be called phablets back in the day). Then what is a compact phone in 2024?
Well, let's take the iPhone 13 mini as a prime example, mainly because it was the last phone to have "mini" in its name (remember the Galaxy S mini phones and the Xperia compact?). The main property of the 13 Mini is its size. It features a 5.4-inch screen and, hence, a pretty compact chassis. Sadly, this model is long gone, and you can't find it anymore.
So, we need to redefine our perception of "compact" when it comes to smartphones. When the benchmark for modern flagships is 6.7 inches and above, it's fair to assume that the middle ground would be 6.3 to 6.7 inches, and all phones under the 6.3-inch screen diagonal should be considered compact.
With that in mind, let's see what are the best compact smartphones in 2024.
The best small, compact phones to buy in 2024:
Samsung Galaxy S24 - 6.2-inch screen, 168 grams. The smallest and most affordable entry in the Galaxy S24 lineup, with a top-end Qualcomm processor and excellent cameras.
Apple iPhone 16 - 6.1-ich screen, weight: 170 grams. The latest A18 processor, a 48MP main camera, and all the fancy Camera Control and Action Button hardware in a compact and affordable package.
Google Pixel 9 Pro – 6.3-inch screen, weight: 169 grams. Google's first truly compact flagship phone, with optical zoom, Tensor G4, and Gemini onboard.
Google Pixel 8a - 6.1-inch screen, 188 grams. The epitome of the affordable Android phone. With seven years of software support and almost the same specs as the Pixel 8, the 8a is a real bargain.
Sony Xperia 5 V – 6.1-inch screen, weight: 183 grams. Sony's last attempt at the compact flagship. The Xperia 5 lineup has been discontinued until further notice. So, it's your last chance to grab one.
Samsung Galaxy S24
Screen size: 6.2 inches
Dimensions: 147 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm
Weight: 168 grams
Image by PhoneArena
Samsung Galaxy S24
What we like
Refreshed design
Faster fingerprint reader
Improved image quality
What we don't like
Samsung software still not as smooth as others
Charging speeds unchanged
Some not so useful AI features
7.2
PhoneArena Rating
7.3
Price Class Average
Battery Life
6.6
7
Photo Quality
7.4
7.4
Video Quality
6.9
6.4
Charging
6.6
5.9
Performance Peak
6.7
6.4
Performance Daily
7.5
6.7
Display Quality
8
8
Design
7
7.7
Wireless Charging
7
7.5
Biometrics
8
7.9
Audio
6
7.4
Software
8
9.1
Why the score?
This device scores 1.4% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Google Pixel 9, OnePlus 12 and Apple iPhone 16 Plus
The Galaxy S24 isn't the most compact in this article, especially given the fact that its screen had grown to 6.2 inches, but this model still offers the best compact Android experience, especially compared to other entries on the list. The size has remained pretty much the same as the S23, the bezels have been shrunk, and the sides are flatter now.
You're also getting the latest processor, a super-bright screen, and the new trend in smartphone tech - AI. The S24 comes equipped with Samsung's Galaxy AI, and for sure this system will learn new tricks with time.
When it comes to cameras, they are mostly the same from a hardware point of view but smartphone photography is computational these days, so there are improvements to the algorithms. The Galaxy S24 is just a tad larger than the Asus Zenfone 10, and if you want to keep your Android phone for seven long years, it's the best choice for a compact phone.
Same triple camera hardware, but new camera processing
4000mAh battery
$800 starting price
Apple iPhone 16
Screen size: 6.1 inches
Dimensions: 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm Weight: 170 grams
Image by PhoneArena
Apple iPhone 16
What we like
Awesomely powerful chipset
Great and reliable video quality
Great-sounding speakers
What we don't like
Outdated display specifications
New camera control button is uncomfortable
Wired charging is still slow
7.3
PhoneArena Rating
7.1
Price Class Average
Battery Life
6.4
7.3
Photo Quality
7.4
7
Video Quality
6.6
6.2
Charging
5.1
6.1
Performance Peak
6.5
6
Performance Daily
6.5
6.7
Display Quality
8
7.9
Design
8
7.6
Wireless Charging
8.4
7.3
Biometrics
8
7.5
Audio
8
7.2
Software
10
8.3
Why the score?
This device scores 2.7% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Motorola razr (2024), Google Pixel 9 and OnePlus 12
The iPhone 16 is the smallest modern iPhone, coming with a 6.1-inch screen. Apple used to have the iPhone 13 mini with a 5.4-inch screen, but that model is long discontinued and we don't expect Apple to return to the Mini game anytime soon.
The 6.1-inch screen and the size of the iPhone 16 puts it very close to the Galaxy S24. The weight is almost the same as well. The iPhone 16 is very powerful thanks to the Apple A18 chip inside and it has 8GB RAM, so it supports Apple Intelligence. There are some compromises, though, such as just two camera on the back (no dedicated zoom lens) and the screen is also just 60Hz, which is almost inexcusable in 2024.
On the other hand, the 48MP main camera is great, and the iPhone is still amazing for recording video.
This device scores 2.7% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra and Motorola razr Plus (2024)
The Pixel 9 Pro may not be the most compact flagship out there with its 6.3-inch display (actually, it's right on the limit), but Google has managed to produce one amazing small flagship and it deserves a place here. Even though this phone comes with the aforementioned 6.3-inch screen, the overall dimensions are not far off much more compact phones, especially when we look at the width (much more important for subjective feel in the hand). The weight is also pretty reasonable under the 200-gram mark.
What's inside the Pixel 9 Pro is what counts! The latest Google Tensor G4 chipset is the beating heart of this little beast. The LTPO AMOLED panel can go over the 2,000-nit brightness mark in real-life conditions (we've tested this), and the camera system is as powerful as ever with a 5x telephoto lens included. There's Gemini onboard and seven long years of software support.
The Pixel 9 Pro is probably the best package Google has produced ever, and its sub-$1000 price is also a nice surprise. Given the lengthy support and all the AI magic that will be coming to the phone with each Feature Drop, the Pixel 9 Pro is a very strong Android contender.
Pixel 8-like performance, seven years of software support
Affordable
What we don't like
Big bezels around the screen
Slow charging speeds
6.4
PhoneArena Rating
6.3
Price Class Average
Battery Life
5.8
6.8
Photo Quality
6.4
6.4
Video Quality
5.4
5.3
Charging
5
7.3
Performance Peak
5.6
5
Performance Daily
6.8
6.5
Display Quality
7
7.5
Design
6
6.5
Wireless Charging
4
5.8
Biometrics
7
6.9
Audio
6
6.1
Software
10
5.3
Why the score?
This device scores 1.6% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, Motorola Edge (2024) and Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)
The Pixel 8a is a great value proposition, no matter if you're looking for a compact Android phone or just want to get the best bang for your buck. This phone is slightly larger than the competition despite boasting the same 6.1-inch screen. This is mainly due to larger bezels and a bit bulkier design, but it's a small price to pay when you're getting the Tensor G3, a great screen, and all the software magic from the original Pixel 8 at a fraction of the price.
One can even argue that the Pixel 8a is just a roughly looking Pixel 8, the differences are so miniscule. As an alternative, you can buy the Pixel 8, of course, and there's the newly launched Pixel 9 lineup with two somewhat compact phones in it - the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro. The latter made it to our list but it costs almost $1000, so with the Pixel 8a you're getting the same compact at half the price.
The Pixel 8a is also the last one to sport the Camera Bar design, so if you're a fan of that, and also the curved back and sides, this is the way to go. It also feels much more comfortable in the hand in comparison to more boxy phones with flat sides.
This device scores 7.5% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Xiaomi 14T Pro, Motorola Edge 50 Ultra and OnePlus 12
The Xperia 5 V explores other angles of the term compact. On paper, this 6.1-inch phone doesn't scream compact, but once you hold it in your hand for a while, you see what Sony has done. The width of the phone is just 68mm, which is very close to the 64.5 mm of the iPhone mini. In practice, you feel like you're holding a much smaller phone, thanks to the reduced width.
On the other hand, its tall, 21:9 OLED screen might not be the easiest to operate, especially drawing the notification shade and reaching for UI elements toward the top of the phone, but it's gorgeous for movies and other content consumption.
Buying a Sony phone comes with the usual perks of having a 3.5mm audio jack, a microSD card slot, some cool pro-grade software tools, and a unique form factor. Don't overlook Xperia phones when it comes to good package. And the 5-series delivers it in a compact form as well.
Furthermore, this phone might be the last from the Xperia 5 series, as Sony seems to have focused on the flagship Xperia 1, and the budget Xperia 10 series, scrapping the compact flagship altogether. So, it's your last chance to own a compact flagship Xperia phone. Don't miss it!
52MP (48MP effective) main camera with Exmor T sensor, 1/1.35", 120 fps, OIS/AF, f/1.9
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
New camera aisle design (now housing only two cameras)
New Video Creator app
New amplifier for the front-facing stereo speakers
Notification LED is gone
How We Rate Smartphones
Our primary metric is the overall phone rating. This score is a composite of 12 different factors that define the smartphone experience, including Battery Life, Camera Quality, Design, Performance, and more. Each factor is rated on a scale from 0 to 10, but their contribution to the final score varies—Battery Life, for instance, holds more weight than Design.
The "Price Class Average" metric is another very important part of the rating system, it compares the phone in question to other phones with similar specifications and price points. This gives additional context to the mean score, as it helps you quickly assess how a particular model stands within its category.
We've made some changes to the way we rate phones. As of now, most top Android phones score around 7.5, leaving room for future devices to improve and push boundaries. If you want more detailed insights, we also offer category-specific ratings, such as our Battery Score and Camera Score, which break down performance even further.
Of course, when we talk about compact phones, the main criterion is the size and weight. These don't negate our overall ratings for the models, just put an upper limit on the size of the screen.
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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