Finest Small Telephone of 2023

$429 at Apple

iPhone SE 2022

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

The perfect low-cost smaller telephone

As of late, discovering a compact telephone with all the newest options may be powerful. In relation to smartphones, it appears corporations imagine greater is at all times higher. The display on the brand new iPhone 15 Professional is available in at 6.1 inches, the Pixel 7 Professional at 6.7 inches and Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Extremely takes it even additional to a whopping 6.8 inches. Critically, it is laborious to imagine that Samsung’s unique Galaxy Observe was as soon as thought of a Goliath at solely 5.3 inches. 

Large screens do have their benefits although. Prime specs and stellar cameras are sometimes packed into these large our bodies, whereas the sheer dimension of the screens makes them nice for watching movies or taking part in video games. However there is no escaping the truth that the rise in dimension has made them extra cumbersome to carry and use for anybody with smaller palms than continents. And that is to say nothing of the embarrassing bulge once you attempt to shove one into the pocket of your skinny denims. 

Although greater telephones may be higher for these of you actually into your movies or taking part in plenty of cell video games on the transfer, there are numerous of us who’d nonetheless choose a smaller telephone that is simpler to kind with one-handed, and fewer cumbersome in your pocket.

Your choices are, I am sorry to say, restricted and getting extra so on a regular basis — particularly as Apple opted to not refresh its iPhone Mini line after the iPhone 13 Mini, which has since been discontinued. However there are nonetheless some smaller telephones to contemplate, although you might have to sacrifice some options, like longer battery life, wi-fi charging and higher digital camera efficiency. Everybody’s definition of “small” is totally different, and a cushty dimension for you might really feel uncomfortably giant to another person. For those who’re frightened in regards to the dimension, it is value attempting to get hands-on with a telephone at your nearest retailer.

What’s one of the best small telephone proper now?

The perfect small telephone is palms down Apple’s iPhone 13 Mini. Though it lacks the excessive efficiency processor and superb digital camera expertise of the newer iPhone 15 Professional, it presents nice all-round efficiency for on a regular basis use and its 5.4-inch display is among the smallest round. 

Finest small telephones of 2023

iPhone 13 Mini

Patrick Holland/CNET

Whereas Apple has put a nail within the coffin of the Mini line, the iPhone 13 Mini continues to be obtainable for buy all around the web. Its 5.4-inch show makes it a good bit smaller than any within the iPhone 15 vary, and really qualifies it because the bodily smallest telephone Apple has made lately. Positive, the iPhone SE 2022 has a smaller show, however it has giant bezels across the edges, which makes the entire telephone barely bigger..

iPhone SE 2022

Patrick Holland/CNET

Launched final yr, Apple’s iPhone SE packs a stable single digital camera, a potent A15 Bionic chip and 5G assist right into a physique with a show that measures solely 4.7 inches. That is an enormous dimension distinction in contrast with the gargantuan dimension of the iPhone 15 Professional Max. Utilizing an older design, its giant bezels truly imply it is bodily barely bigger than the iPhone 13 Mini, regardless of having a smaller show.

Google's Pixel 7A phone

James Martin/CNET

Google’s price range telephone providing took a leap ahead in 2023 with the Pixel 7A, which boasts lots of the similar advantages because the Pixel 7 however at a less expensive value. At 6.1 inches, it is not precisely a tiny telephone, however it’s actually among the many smallest Android telephones it’s best to think about shopping for.

The back of Google's Pixel 6A phone

Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

Although the Pixel 7A has technically changed the older Pixel 6A, Google is continuous to promote the 6A and it is even lopping some money off the asking value. The telephone is often discovered for round $350, which is a big financial savings over the common $449 value, so ensure you store round should you’re on the lookout for a discount. Just like the 7A, its display measures 6.1 inches, which is simply what we’ve to contemplate small nowadays.

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 closed in someone's hand

Patrick Holland/CNET

With a 6.7-inch display dimension, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4’s display is approach too huge to be on this listing. However earlier than you slam your fists into your keyboard at my incompetence, hear me out. As considered one of Samsung’s foldable telephones, the Z Flip 4 folds in half, turning that large display right into a small, sq. puck that fairly comfortably suits right into a jacket pocket.

How we check telephones

Each telephone on this listing has been totally examined by CNET’s knowledgeable evaluations workforce. We truly use the telephone, check the options, play video games and take pictures. We assess any advertising and marketing guarantees that an organization makes about its telephones. And if we discover one thing we do not like, be it battery life or construct high quality, we let you know all about it. 

We study each facet of a telephone throughout testing:

  • Show
  • Design and really feel
  • Processor efficiency
  • Battery life
  • Digicam high quality
  • Options

We check all of a telephone’s cameras (each back and front) in quite a lot of circumstances: from open air beneath daylight to dimmer indoor locales and evening time scenes (for any obtainable evening modes). We additionally evaluate our findings towards equally priced fashions. Now we have a sequence of actual world battery checks  to see how lengthy a telephone lasts beneath on a regular basis use.

We keep in mind extra telephone options like 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, quick charging, foldable shows and different helpful extras. And we, in fact, weigh all of our experiences and testing towards the value so you already know whether or not a telephone represents good worth or not. For extra, try our web page explaining how we check telephones.