Top 10 small smartphones
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In the last 30 years, in the field of electronic technology, there has been a tendency to reduce dimensions. Computers were transformed into compact laptops, consoles into PSPs, bulky CRT monitors into thin LEDs and LCDs. And only with smartphones the opposite is true — now mobile phones with a screen diagonal of less than 6 inches are considered small, although until recently even 5.5 inches were labeled as Note. But the «shovels» have many opponents. It is definitely not the best choice for outdoor activities or professions that involve hard physical labor.
Rating of small smartphones
ten VERTEX Impress Luck NFC (4G)
VERTEX Impress Luck NFC (4G)
A typical budget smartphone without any bells and whistles. The small dimensions are dictated by the size of the display — only 5 inches. Oh, I wish the screen frames were a little thinner … The display itself is quite good — the IPS matrix gives realistic colors and large viewing angles, even in bright sunlight it is quite “readable”.
The dimensions of the smartphone are 144x73x9.5 mm (length/width/thickness). Yes, it fits perfectly in the palm of your hand and pocket, but be prepared for a serious weight — 290 g.
«Under the hood» is a modest 4-core MediaTek MT6739 processor, 8 GB of internal memory and 1 GB of RAM. Definitely not without a microSD card. Cameras «for show», but there is support for 4G and NFC for contactless payments. Not bad for this price.
pros
- Low cost
- NFC module
- 4G support
- Android 8.1
Minuses
- Not enough memory
- No autofocus
- Weak battery
9 Samsung Galaxy A01 Core 16GB
Samsung Galaxy A01 Core 16GB
Another inexpensive option, but from a more well-known brand. Unpretentious, cheap and small-sized — for narrow tasks, for economical and undemanding buyers.
The screen here is slightly larger than the previous model — 5.3 inches. But the dimensions are slightly smaller — 141x67x8.6 mm. In terms of weight, the difference is completely twofold — 150 g versus 290.
16 GB of memory is not enough in the modern world, but with the help of a memory card you can expand the storage capacity. The performance of the iron is enough to scroll through the pages on the Internet, correspondence in instant messengers and social networks. For games and a large number of applications, it is better to look for an alternative.
pros
- Convenient sizes
- Low price
- Good PLS display
- Android 10.0
Minuses
- Slowness at work
- Weak camera
eight Xiaomi Redmi 4A
Xiaomi Redmi 4A
An ultra-budget option from Xiaomi, which, despite its venerable age, is still sold in Russia. The smartphone fits perfectly in the hand thanks to its compact dimensions — 139 x 70 x 8.5 mm. Its weight is even less than that of Vertex and Samsung — only 130 g.
The display diagonal is 5 inches. This size is ideal for a small child’s hand or for the older generation who do not need social networks and games. The display has a good matrix, pleasant colors for the eyes, there is no inversion (negative) of colors at the corners.
Problems with a smartphone can only begin after prolonged use. Judging from real experience, in the second year of operation, brakes and freezes may appear. However, this is «treated» by resetting the settings to factory settings or flashing.
pros
- MIUI
- Low price
- Strong Wi-Fi and mobile signal reception
- Good battery
Minuses
- Instability with prolonged use
7 Xiaomi Redmi 5A
Xiaomi Redmi 5A
Even at the time of going on sale, this model was the cheapest of the current Xiaomi for 2017. A steady skepticism has formed towards the Redmi A line, they say, how can a normal smartphone cost so much? But this is the beauty of Xiaomi.
Redmi 5A has a 5-inch HD display. There is an oleophobic coating to protect the screen from scratches. The matrix is IPS, so there can be no special complaints about colors and brightness. Device dimensions — 140 x 70 x 8.6, weight — 137 g. Convenience and compactness — that’s about it.
«Iron» can not be called a strong point of the device, but for standard daily tasks with a small budget — it’s the most. 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory allow you to have no problems with instant messengers, browsers and simple games. The battery is enough for a full day of work.
pros
- Good display
- Separate slots for 2xSIM and microSD
- IR port
- 3 body colors to choose from
- Low price
Minuses
- No fingerprint scanner
- Instability with prolonged use
6 Huawei Y5p
Huawei Y5p
There are no Google services and a second main camera, but is it really that important? Y5p has a bright back cover, a fairly solid body and a high-quality display with high brightness and contrast (compared to direct counterparts). Dimensions 146 x 73 x 8.35, given that the display diagonal is 5.45 inches, small and practical in daily use.
In tests, HUAWEI Y5p shows excellent Wi-Fi connection speed. Built-in memory (32 GB) is enough for the average user to surf the Internet and like cats. 2 GB of RAM will allow you not to have problems with the simultaneous launch of 4-5 applications.
The smartphone runs on a relatively new version of Android OS — 10.0.
pros
- Fast WiFi module
- «Hardy» battery
- Beautiful rear edge
- Strict design
Minuses
- Total 1 main camera
- No built-in Google services
5 Xiaomi Redmi 4X 32GB
Xiaomi Redmi 4X 32GB
A very interesting device, both at the time of release and now, when the 9th generation of Redmi “rules the ball”.
With its dimensions, 4X resembles the iPhone 6/6S. Physical dimensions — 139 × 70 × 8.7 mm. The smartphone fits perfectly in the hand and does not slip at all. The display has a diagonal of 5 inches (with the old aspect ratio of 16:9), which for fans of compact electronics is a true paradise against the background of 6-7 inch devices.
In our configuration, the smartphone is equipped with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, which looks more interesting than the hardware of the previous rating nominees. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor in 2021 is not enough stars from the sky, but it is still suitable for most tasks of moderate complexity.
pros
- Strict design for oldfags
- Decent autonomy
- USB OTG and infrared
- Excellent reputation in the market
- MIUI
- Low price
Minuses
- Low display resolution (poor definition)
four Apple iPhone 7 128GB
Apple iPhone 7 128GB
Surprisingly, the smartphone of 2016 from Apple still remains relevant in 2021. It will not suit every modern user, especially if he wants to be “in trend”. But it is a good choice for those who are looking for compactness. The «Seven» was not enlarged compared to the iPhone 6S, and received modest dimensions: 138 × 67 × 7.1 mm. This is the thinnest smartphone in the ranking. Its weight is only 138 g.
In 2016, it was probably the best compact smartphone on the market. Experts noted its high performance (even with only 2 GB of RAM), excellent matrix and excellent camera. She received optical stabilization and shoots just great. However, like any other iPhone.
pros
- Moisture protection
- Minimum hull thickness
- Excellent compact display (4.7 inches)
- Optical stabilization
- iOS stability
Minuses
- No notification indicator
- Low display resolution
3 Apple iPhone 8 64GB
Apple iPhone 8 64GB
iPhone 8 received exactly the same dimensions as the iPhone 7 — 138 × 67 × 7.3. A difference of 0.2 millimeters in thickness cannot be called a difference. But the «eight» weighs more — 148 g, which is 10 g more. The diagonal of the display, respectively, is the same — 4.7 inches, with the good old 16:9 aspect ratio.
Should I upgrade from iPhone 7 to iPhone 8? It is unlikely, because the difference between them is really small. If you still have the 6th or 5th iPhone in your hands, if you are used to small sizes and do not intend to buy a “shovel”, then the iPhone 8 is one of the best options.
64 GB of memory, shooting in 4K, premium appearance — there can be a lot of reasons for buying such a device. The main thing is to want to see them, but at the same time close your eyes to the cost.
pros
- Quality display
- Performance to size ratio
- glass case
- Wireless + fast charging
- Great camera
Minuses
- Weak battery
- Outdated design (although someone will “get in”)
2 Apple iPhone SE 2020 128GB
Apple iPhone SE 2020 128GB
Upgrading the old iPhone SE turned out to be interesting, but expensive. Yes, this smartphone is definitely one of the top three compact smartphones of our time, but you should be prepared to pay about 40,000 rubles for it.
iPhone owners of past generations will find a lot of interesting things in the new SE. For example, it has almost the same design, literally telling you «I’m still the same iPhone that you love so much.» With a diagonal of 4.7 inches and dimensions of 138x67x7.3 mm, it completely repeats the iPhone 8 and even weighs exactly the same.
The SE 2020 model is made of aluminum and glass, supports iOS 13 at the time of release, which can be a serious reason to upgrade your smartphone. The camera module here is a little more modest than that of the flagship iPhone 11 and iPhone 12, but the quality of the pictures is still very difficult to find fault with.
pros
- Inherited many details from the original
- Super power for the size
- Housing materials
- Great cameras
- WiFi 6
Minuses
- Overcharge
- Weak battery
- No «night mode» shooting
one Apple iPhone 12 mini 128GB
Apple iPhone 12 mini 128GB
Apple can be disliked for many things (haters will always have valid reasons), but what it should be respected for is the release of compact analogues for its main models.
The new iPhone 12 mini is not inferior in the quality of the display and camera (2 modules, including ultra-wide-angle) to its “big brother”. In terms of performance, approximate parity, a serious “lag” can be seen only by the criterion of battery operation.
Minik received a 5.4-inch OLED display and surprisingly small dimensions — 132 × 64 × 7.4. Given the minimal frame around the display, the dimensions of the case are minimized, so to speak, to the stop. If you appreciate compactness, but don’t intend to tolerate «long-thinking» and other compromises, this is your best choice.
pros
- Convenient size
- Photo and video quality
- Quality OLED display
- iOS 14
- IP68 dust and water resistant
Minuses
- Weak battery
- No charger included
What small smartphone to buy?
So we have 4 main options:
- inexpensive Chinese smartphone from the third-tier brand. For a few thousand rubles, you get a compact device with minimal features. You can consider such a purchase if you need a convenient spare smartphone, maybe for a child, an older person, for someone who rarely uses a smartphone and only for the purpose of calling and writing;
- an inexpensive smartphone from a well-known brand, popular a few years ago, and therefore it can be found in new condition in 2021. These include Redmi 4X, Redmi 4A, Redmi 5A, etc.;
- Legacy iPhone, iPhone SE or Mini. It will cost a pretty penny, but such a smartphone can be bought as the main one and for a wide range of tasks;
- used or refurbished. We strongly do not recommend resorting to such a solution so as not to “drain” money for nothing.