Notebookcheck's Top 10 Smartphones (≤5-inch)

The visuals of the Apple iPhone 8 are very similar to the previous model. The design is identical, but the rear is now made of glass. this makes it more prone to scratches, but enables wireless charging in return. The display still measures 4.7 inches and Apple did not change the resolution, either. The camera was once again improved and the processor got its yearly update. The iPhone now supports AR content and the entry-level model now has 64 GB storage, twice as much as before. We like the long battery runtime as well as the dust and water protection (IP67), but we still miss the stereo jack and the speakers could be better, too.

The Google Pixel 2 might look like a slightly outdated smartphones, but both the components and the software are up to date. Thanks to a powerful Snapdragon SoC, 4 GB RAM and 64 or 128 GB flash storage, respectively, the specs of the small Pixel model are rather average among the high-end competition. The great camera and the latest Android versions for the next couple of years (guaranteed for three years) are two highlights.

We also liked the two stereo speakers as well as the IP certification against the entry of dust and water during our review. Unfortunately, the manufacturer dropped the MIMO WLAN technology compared to the previous model, so the transfer rates could be better. There is no dual-SIM or storage expansion via microSD, either.

With the iPhone SE, Apple has ventured to create a powerful new edition of the iPhone 5s and put the big iPhone's up-to-date hardware into an extremely compact case. The user does not have to accept compromises in performance or features here, since the iPhone SE also uses the powerful Apple A9-SoC.

Among others, the smartphone could impress with a high-end chassis, a great GPS receiver, good battery runtimes and a display with precise colors in our test. However, the latter has quite a high black value. Moreover, the NFC chip remains reserved for Apple Pay as in other Apple products.

The only disadvantage of the device is that there is only a 16 GB and a 64 GB variant.

The Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact uses a classic 16:9 screen with a 720p resolution. This does not sound like a lot, but it is completely sufficient for sharp images on the 4.6-inch screen. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm's current flagship SoC in combination with 4 GB RAM as well as 32 GB of fast UFS storage, which can be expanded via microSD card. The smartphone is also protected against dust and water according to IP68.

We also like the long battery runtimes, a good camera, and the current operating system Android 8.0 Oreo during our review. It is unfortunate that Sony only includes a weak power adapter, so the supported quick-charge technology cannot be utilized.

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact does not really have any competitors in the Android segment considering its size and components. The display is slightly bigger compared to the previous model, but it is still the most compact high-end smartphone. At 5.0 inches (64.52 cm²), the screen appears much bigger than before (4.6 inch, 58.33 cm²), but it is not that big of a change when you convert the surface area of the Sony smartphone to an 16:9 equivalent (4.84 inch). Only the height is a bit unfortunate, since it is a bit thick.

We like the high performance, good camera, and the protection against dust and water. The battery runtimes are also really good despite the comparatively small battery. Similar to the Xperia XZ2, however, we are not really convinced by the speaker.

At the first glance, not much has changed when compared to the Xperia Z5 Compact predecessor. The display of the Sony Xperia X Compact features a 4.6-inch diagonal and a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The phone comes with 32 GB flash memory and the RAM capacity has been increased to 3 GB. However, you have to accept cuts regarding inner components. Instead of a high-end SoC, only a mid-range CPU is used with the Snapdragon 650 in the new release and the IP certification has been omitted. The latter means that the Xperia X Compact is not protected against dusts and water any longer. In return, the price has been decreased by about 100 Euros. Nevertheless, the buyer will get great battery runtimes and a good camera, which, however, is no longer capable of recording ultra HD videos.

The Huawei Nova is a very solid mid-range smartphone, which targets selfie fans with a good looking design and good front camera. Apart from a fast SoC, there are 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB internal storage. The storage space can be expanded with a microSD card. A good camera, which can also record Ultra HD videos and long battery runtimes make the bundle complete. The USB port even features the Type-C format.

In our review, the Nova appeared to be really good. However, it could have delivered a dual band Wi-Fi module in view of the price class and apps cannot be moved to the optional storage card. The Huawei Nova comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Currently, an update to version 7.0 Nougat is being beta-tested. 

The BQ Aquaris X5 Plus is a great bundle for a fair price. Apart from a cutting-edge mid-range SoC from Qualcomm, it features 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB eMMC storage. It is easy to expand the storage space with a microSD card, which can also be configured as additional internal storage. Besides a decent camera, the user will get dual SIM functionality and a fingerprint reader. Although the display shines very brightly, the black value is only mediocre due to a relatively high black value.

You have to accept small cuts in the low-light capabilities of the camera. The Spanish manufacturer plans an update to Android 7.0 Nougat in the first quarter of 2017.

The third generation of the Samsung Galaxy A3 brings several notable improvements. The camera lens are flush with the case now, a USB Type-C port is available, and the smarpthone is protected against dust and water according to IP68. It uses a fast SoC, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB internal storage. The storage capacity can be expanded with a microSD card. Cameras and battery runtimes are also really good. The display has a diagonal of 4.7 inch and uses Samsung's Super AMOLED technology. Its resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels is good and the display can get very bright.

The Huawei Nova 2 Smartphone ReviewHuawei Nova 2 features a 5-inch 1080p display, 4 GB RAM as well as 64 GB internal storage. The highlight of the device is the 20 MP front camera, which is primarily designed for selfie fans. However, our review showed more pixels are not always better and the front camera is not much better than the rivals. Huawei still offers a good mainstream device, which convinces with many features and it is also the first device from the Chinese manufacturer with support for aptX audio via Bluetooth. The battery runtimes are very good as well.