Update 2020 Best Cell Phones Review – Small Android phones aren’t as common as they used to be, but there are still some solid options on the market. When choosing the best one for you, the main things to consider:
With these questions in mind, we’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of Android phones, boiling down the list to the best small Android phones you can still buy. Note that some of these devices are a bit older, as most manufacturers simply don’t make small phones anymore. For more information on our guidelines, see our buyer’s guide below.
Update 2020 Best Cell Phones Review
The Asus Zenfone 9 is a compact device that still packs more than enough power under the hood. It also features a stock-like software experience, customizable gestures, and much more.
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While most companies have moved to 6.3-inch or larger displays, the ASUS Zenfone 9 bucks the trend with a slim and pocketable 5.9-inch AMOLED. This makes it one of the least stylish Android devices on the market, and we found a lot to like in our review.
The size is perfect for one-handed use, which is very refreshing in today’s amazing smartphone market. The compact device fits perfectly in the pocket, and the rectangular edges make it feel good in the hand. Make no mistake about it – this is a true flagship device with build quality to match. It’s simple in a small (and relatively cheap) case.
The flagship standard extends to performance, with the efficient Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 running anything we can throw at it. Even the latest games like Genshin Impact and Apex Legends were excellent in our tests, though the smaller screen and lack of heat dissipation keep the Zenfone 9 from being the best gaming phone. However, it features the same great Game Genie overlay found in the reigning champion ASUS ROG Phone 7.
Despite the size, we found the battery life to be more than satisfactory. We averaged about eight hours of screen time in normal use, and five hours with heavy gaming. We’re also big fans of ASUS’ Zen UI, which is lightweight and offers a stock-like experience, but with some interesting new features. For example, the fingerprint scanner, located on the power button on the side of the device, offers fully mappable press-and-hold, double-press, and swipe operations.
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While it’s certainly not the phone’s strong point, the camera performs well for the most part, with solid white balance, strong autofocus, and good HDR performance. However, we found some results to be inconsistent, especially when it comes to colors and exposure. It particularly struggled in low light, and often failed to retain detail. Still, it’s a solid shooter for the price, and the six-axis gimbal is great for shooting video on the go.
Ultimately, the Zenfone 9 is one of the only flagships to keep a small form factor, and combined with the affordable price, it’s a compelling option for anyone looking for a small Android phone. However, the ASUS Zenfone 10 is set to launch on June 29, and the company has already confirmed that it will retain the 5.9-inch screen size. If you can hold off for a month, it will probably be worth the wait.
The Google Pixel 5 may not be the high-end Pixel we’ve come to expect, but it’s a pretty compelling mid-range option. Google went back to basics with the Pixel 5, leaving out advanced features like facial recognition and the quirky Motion Sense gestures.
The Google Pixel lineup has evolved over the years, but 2020’s Google Pixel 5 was the last truly small Android phone released by the company. It also marked a major design change that has stuck with Google’s flagship devices ever since.
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The Pixel 5’s 6-inch AMOLED feels great in the hand, and it’s lighter and significantly smaller than its successors, the Pixel 6 (6.4 inches) and Pixel 7 (6.32 inches). Overall we were very impressed with the quality of the FHD+ display, with fantastic colors that really pop off the screen. The aluminum and bio-resin (read: fancy plastic) backing material is noticeably less premium than more expensive devices, but we found it to be very sturdy, even without a case.
Instead of focusing on raw power, the Pixel 5 uses a more efficient Snapdragon 765G processor, which is usually found in mid-range devices. In our tests, it was more than capable of running everyday apps and normal day-to-day use. However, it didn’t compete with the flagship processors at the time, and will now feel underpowered compared to the Tensor processors found in the newer Pixel phones.
What the Pixel 5 excels at is photography. As with all Pixel devices, Google has worked its logarithmic magic into the Pixel 5, turning an unremarkable set of camera sensors into an excellent camera phone. It features a 12-megapixel primary camera and a 16-megapixel wide-angle camera, both of which we found to be excellent performers. The colors are warm and pleasant, and the addition of a wide lens was great to see. However, this camera’s hardware dates back to 2020, and is borderline ancient by today’s standards. I mean, for basic photos and video, it still does the job.
The bad news here is that the Google Pixel 5 isn’t that easy to get your hands on these days. It’s no longer sold by Google, so your best bets would be third-party retailers or buying second-hand. If you can handle a slightly larger screen, the Pixel 7 ($599) offers a lot more phone. In fact, we think it’s the best value in the world of Android, and that’s just based on what made the Pixel 5 great. Except for the size of course.
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With a wider screen, bigger battery and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 power, the Galaxy S23 is Samsung’s best compact flagship yet.
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Samsung Galaxy S23 needs no introduction. Samsung Galaxy phones have always been among the best Android devices you can buy, and the brand is committed to keeping the phone option small at just 6.1 inches. It’s only slightly larger than the ASUS Zenfone 9 above, but it has all the polish and aftermarket support that have made Samsung a leader in the Android world for years.
Starting with the screen, the AMOLED was nothing short of excellent in our tests. Although you can find sharper displays on larger devices, the Full HD+ resolution is sufficient for a display of this size, and the color profile is fantastic out of the box. There’s a 120Hz display for fast scrolling in compatible apps, but the dynamic refresh rate can be as low as 48Hz to preserve battery life.
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Samsung has also made strides in fixing the Galaxy S22’s poor battery life. The 3,900 mAh cell is almost back to the size it was before Samsung started shrinking its small device. We easily put it through a day of use, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy is much more efficient than its predecessor. Charging was slower than the more expensive family at just 25W, but we found it fast enough to fill the small cell in just an hour. Unfortunately, there’s no charger in the box, so you’ll need a USB Power Delivery PPS compatible charger (our recommendations below). With a 15W wireless charger, a full charge took about 90 minutes.
The Galaxy S23 series has finally launched an Exynos version, offering all Snapdragon all the time. As mentioned above, the Galaxy 8 Gen 2 is much better performing than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, both in benchmarks and thermal management. This is somewhat similar to what the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 2 will be, which will give Samsung a slight leg up on its competition. Our only major complaint regarding the specs was the lack of storage option beyond 256GB, especially given the missing microSD card slot.
Samsung’s flavor of Android is highly customizable and a joy to use, though there’s more bloatware than you’ll find on devices from other OEMs. Still, it’s a small price to pay for the best software support in the industry—four years of operating system updates and five years of security updates.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S23 is a solid phone for just about anyone. It’s not the smallest Android phone you can buy, but it’s small enough to be comfortable and convenient to hold in one hand. Aside from the other small Android phones listed above, the only real alternative at this size and price is the iPhone 14 ($799), which is a whole other bag of chips.
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The Sony Xperia 5 IV is for people who love the Xperia 1 IV but can’t stomach the price. Although it’s cheaper and offers less than its big brother, it’s still one of the best phones for creators out there.
If you can afford to spend a little more, the Sony Xperia 5 IV is a fantastic little Android phone
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