The Best Compact Smartphones

The iPhone 13 mini’s Performance and connectivity are second to none.

Apps are running smoothly and without any problems. The system is very snappy and fast, which is at least partly courtesy of the iPhone 13 mini’s great touchscreen. It gets very bright and is thus well usable outdoors. Given that the entry-level models have now been bumped to 128 GB of storage the woes of the past should be just that: of the past.

The Apple iPhone 13 mini is available through Apple as well as the usual retail channels, such as Amazon.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 convinces with its high value, long update supply and strong features.

The S22 also has a very long update supply and is also protected against dust and water penetration (IP 68). There are no major compromises compared with the heavier siblings; only a lower maximum charging performance, a missing UWB chip, and the lack of Wi-Fi 6E can be criticized here.

Users can find the Samsung Galaxy S22 on Amazon US. Currently, the Phantom black variant with 128 GB memory is available at $632.

The iPhone 14 is a strong smartphone, but only has minor differences compared to the predecessor. 

In the review, the iPhone knows how to convince with its good dual camera, long battery runtimes and an IP68 certification. The iPhone does not really have to put up with much criticism. Considering the price range, a macro function for the camera or even an additional telephoto lens would have been desirable. The frame rate could have been higher as well. 

The Apple iPhone 14 is available through Apple's official online store as well as the usual retail channels.

The Asus Zenfone 9 is a real power smartphone, but unfortunately only with a fairly short update supply. 

The dual camera leaves a good impression and the video stabilization in particular turns out to be very powerful. However, the display-surface ratio could have been a bit better and Asus unfortunately only provides one USB 2.0 port.

The Asus ZenFone 9 is not officially sold in the US. The unlocked version is available on Amazon for $665.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is very similar to the predecessor and has only been partially improved. 

The Flip4 has also become a bit more compact, which is mainly due to the smaller hinge, but it still does not close flush. It is also a pity that Samsung only installs a single-band GNSS solution and forgoes premium features like UWB, USB 3.2 and Wi-Fi 6E. 

The Galaxy Flip4 can be purchased directly from Samsung. Amazon also lists the smartphone for $959.9.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G is a matured and well-engineered smartphone with a tiny footprint thanks to its foldable display.

The point of bending is noticeable with a minor dent in the display, which is unavoidable with a folding display. Functionality, however, is not at all affected by this, and we found no other issues with the phone. The small secondary display on its lid did its job very well.

The device is available through the usual retail channels, such as for example Amazon, with prices starting at around $899.

The Apple iPhone SE 2022 is merely a very gentle model update on the part of the manufacturer from California. The display only has a diagonal of 4.7 inches, but this contrasts with the old-fashioned display-surface ratio.

The Apple smartphone is powered by the fast A15 SoC, which is also used in the Pro models from 2021. Updates and a high system speed should thus be guaranteed for many years. The single camera looks a bit lonely on the back, but it still takes decent photos and can even record videos in Ultra HD with up to 60 FPS. 

The iPhone SE 2022 relies on a classic design, but houses plenty of modern hardware. 

In addition, Apple again gives its cheapest smartphone an IP certification, 5G with a broad frequency coverage, and Touch ID. Compromises only have to be made in terms of the refresh rate, the maximum storage size, and the flexibility of the camera system. 

The Apple iPhone SE 2022 can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. Users can purchase the smartphone on Amazon, starting at $479 as well.

The P50 Pocket is a good-looking foldable smartphone. However, due to its lack of GMS and its high price, it will most likely remain an exotic site to behold.

Its main cameras fared very well in our review and produced good-quality photos. Its display is bright and color accurate. Its Snapdragon SoC paired with 512 GB of storage make for adequate and fast system performance. Our main gripe was the device’s battery life as well as the lack of Google Mobile Service and 5G.

Huawei devices are not sold in North America.

The Google Pixel 6a is comparatively compact and has a 6.1-inch OLED display that only works with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. It is powered by the fast Tensor SoC, which is supported by 6 GB of working memory. 128 GB are available for the user's own data.

The Google Pixel 6a offers a good dual camera and a long update warranty. 

The IP67 certification and the USB 3.2 port are also particularly positive. Unfortunately, the Pixel smartphone does not support wireless charging, and the charging speed is not particularly high when using a cord.

The Pixel 6a can be ordered directly from Google's store, but it is cheaper at Amazon.

If you are looking for a slim everyday companion with enormous stamina, the Sony Xperia 10 IV is the right choice. 

However, the installed processor is only mid-range and the refresh rate of the OLED panel is not particularly high at 60 Hz. The triple camera takes quite good pictures, but it is very slow. Fast charging technologies are not integrated and there is no power adapter included in the box. However, the excellent battery runtimes compensate for that.

The Sony Xperia 10 IV is available in the US via Amazon for $363, and in the UK for £340.