Best Small Phones 2022: Compact But Powerful Smartphones
Need a small smartphone? Check out our top small but powerful smartphone picks for 2022.
Some of the best small smartphones of 2022 pack a real punch with updated processors and decently sized RAM and storage. Whether you’re after something miniature to fit well in your pockets or simply use in one hand, you can find a small smartphone on this list that won’t compromise on performance.
The largest screen size we go up to on this list is 6.1-inches (when compared to say the iPhone 13 line-up, that’s fairly small). The smallest phone is 5.4-inches. This means you have a ton of options to choose from when it comes to picking the best small phone for you.
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In terms of the phones listed, you’ve got different models and OS to choose from, including:
So yes, the best compact smartphones are Google, Samsung and Apple phones. But don’t worry, our list has a range of budgets to suit too. Read on to discover which small smartphone will be the best one for you.
Best small smartphones
iPhone 13 mini — £679
The iPhone 13 mini is part of the latest iPhone 13 range. It’s a small handset measuring only 5.4-inches in screen size, yes features the A15 Bionic chip that the rest of the range does (yes, even the Pro Max). This makes the iPhone 13 mini a very powerful yet small phone to use on the daily. Its 5.4-inch OLED display is super crisp, has an excellent colour range and great viewing angles too.
Both the 12MP wide-angle main and 12MP ultrawide cameras feature larger sensors now that let in more light, meaning brighter photos and even more flexibility for photographing in the evening. The ultra-wide also has autofocus too, meaning you won’t have to spend so long adjusting the distance between yourself and the subject.
It also contains Cinematic Mode and Photographic Styles which allow you to shoot different effects according to your taste. Cinematic mode lets you shoot artistic portrait videos with background blur, whereas Photographic Styles gives you access to an array of filters.
In terms of battery, there’s faster wireless charging on the iPhone 13 mini compared with the iPhone SE. It costs a little more than the SE, but you certainly get your money’s worth.
What’s in the box?
- 1 x iPhone 13 mini
- 1 x USB Type-C to Lightning cable
- 1 x Documentation
- 1 x SIM ejector tool
- 1 x Apple sticker.
Technical specs
- Weight: 140 g
- Dimensions: 131.5 mm x 64.2 mm x 7.65 mm
- OS: iOS 15
- Screen size: 5.4‑inch (diagonal) all‑screen OLED display
- Resolution: 2340×1080-pixel resolution at 476 ppi
- CPU: A15 Bionic chip. New 6‑core CPU
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Expandable storage: 256GB or 512GB
- Battery: Lithium-ion 2406 mAh
- Rear camera: Dual 12MP camera system (Wide and Ultra Wide cameras)
- Front camera: 12MP camera.
Pros
- Fantastic dual cameras
- 5G support
- A15 Bionic power.
Cons
- No charger in the box.
Get an iPhone student discount.
iPhone SE (2022) — from £419
The iPhone SE 2022 isn’t too dissimilar to the older version in terms of design. However, this small smartphone comes packed with the A15 Bionic chip that’s featured in the iPhone 13 line-up, making it a powerhouse for its size. It’s got a dinky screen measuring at just 4.7-inches, so it’s perfect if you’re after a small phone you can use with just one hand.
There’s no night mode, but for the size, its camera is actually pretty decent and comes with a 12MP rear and 7MP front camera. In terms of its appearance, the iPhone SE 2022 is available in black, white, or red colours. Plus, the new SE 2022 is built out of aluminium and glass, not plastic, and boasts an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
What’s in the box?
- 1 x iPhone SE (2022)
- 1 x USB-C to Lightning Cable
- 1 x Documentation.
Technical specs
- Weight: 144 g
- Dimensions: 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm
- OS: iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 15.5
- Screen size: 4.7 inches
- Resolution: 750 x 1334 pixels
- CPU: A15 Bionic Hexa-core (2×3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4×1.82 GHz Blizzard)
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Expandable storage: 128GB, 256GB
- Battery: Li-Ion 2018 mAh
- Rear camera: 12 MP
- Front camera: 7 MP.
Pros
- Amazing photo quality
- More durable than the previous model.
Cons
- No charging plug
- No night mode.
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Google Pixel 5 — from £350.00
The Google Pixel 5 is one of the best small smartphones out there. Its powerful, thanks to its 90Hz refresh rate and Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, plus tons more RAM than you’d find in say an Apple iPhone (if that’s your deciding factor).
In terms of design, the Pixel 5 is made from metal. Most phones are made from glass or plastic, so the Pixel 5 has a very premium feel to it. It’s got a 1080 x 2340 OLED display which is fantastic for streaming on the go too.
When it comes to photography, the Google Pixel 5 has great camera options. It only has a dual-lens rear camera of 12.2MP and 16MP, but its dynamic range and night photography are pretty decent. It also comes 5G-enabled, has wireless charging and has an IP68 rating, making it dust and water-resistant.
What’s in the box?
- 1 x Google Pixel 5 phone
- 1 x SIM tool
- 1 x Quick Switch adaptor
- 1 x 1 m USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 2.0)
- 1 x Quick start packet (guide, safety and regulatory information).
Technical specs
- Weight: 151 g
- Dimensions: 144.7 mm x 70.4 mm x 8 mm
- OS: Android 11
- Screen size: 6-inches (OLED)
- Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels (432 ppi)
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Expandable storage: Unknown
- Battery: 4080 mAh
- Rear camera: 12.2MP wide + 16MP ultrawide
- Front camera: 8MP wide.
Pros
- Impressive camera
Cons
- Average battery life.
Get an Amazon student discount here.
Sony Xperia 5 III — £859.84
Slightly on the larger side when it comes to small phones, the Sony Xperia 5 III has a 6.1-inch display. So if you’re after a small phone with a bit more room then this is it. Its 21:9 aspect ratio makes it thinner but taller than the average smartphone too, so it’s very easy to use with one hand.
In terms of processing speed, the Xperia 5 III comes with the Snapdragon 888 which is incredibly fast, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. That’s tons of processing power for speedy scrolling and app switching, as well as tons of space for all your media. It also comes with wireless charging capabilities and is 5G enabled.
Its camera is fantastic, and is equipped with an triple-lens rear camera and 8MP front camera for selfies. In fact, it’s built with Zeiss lenses which are a superior brand in the camera world and help reduce glare.
What’s in the box?
- 1 x Sony Xperia 5 III
- 1 x Charging cable
- 1 x Documentation.
Technical specs
- Weight: 168 grams
- Dimensions: 157 x 68 x 8.2 mm
- OS: Android 11
- Screen size: 6.1-inches
- Resolution: 2520 x 1080 pixels
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Expandable storage: Unknown
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Rear camera: 12MP, 12MP, 12MP
- Front camera: 8MP
Pros
- Superior camera quality
- 5G enabled.
Cons
- Average battery life.
Get an Amazon student discount here.
Sony Xperia 10 III — £361
The Sony Xperia 10 III isn’t the best performing phone on this list, but it’s fantastic for size and useability in one hand. Measuring in at 6-inches, it’s 68mm wide, which is only slightly wider than the iPhone SE (2020).
In terms of display, the Xperia 10 III comes with a 2,520 x 1,080 full HD OLED panel and 21:9 aspect ratio for watching movies and videos in landscape mode. Plus, with a total of 457 pixels per inch, it’s very sharp.
The camera system itself is average. The Sony Xperia 10 III has a triple camera array made up of a 12MP (f/1.8) main lens and two 8MP snappers: one for ultrawide shots (f/2.2) and another for 2x optical zoom (f/2.4). It is however capable of shooting video in 16:9 or 21:9 aspect ratio in both 4K or 1080p, which is great if you’re a content creator after a small phone.
What’s in the box?
- 1 x Sony Xperia 10 III smartphone
- 1 x USB cable
- 1 x USB-C 2.0.
Technical specs
- Weight: 169g
- Dimensions: 154 x 68 x 8.3 mm
- OS: Android 11
- Screen size: 6-inch OLED
- Resolution: 1080 x 2520
- CPU: Snapdragon 690 5G
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Expandable storage: 128GB
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Rear camera: 12MP + 8MP + 8MP
- Front camera: 8MP.
Pros
- Fantastic OLED display.
Cons
- Not the best camera.
Get an Amazon student discount here.
Samsung Galaxy S10e — £343
One of the best small Samsung phone options that are cheaper than the S10. It’s not a new phone by any means, but that just means the phone will be a lot cheaper than its successors.
The Samsung Galaxy S10e comes with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and either an Exynos 9820 or Snapdragon 855 chipset. Both of which are super powerful processors.
Measuring in at just 5.8-inches, it’s a great phone to hold in one hand. But not only this, it comes with a 1080 x 2280 AMOLED screen, and AMOLED means crisp and bright colours. And although it’s a small phone, it contains minimal bezels around the front screen. It’s also made with a glass and aluminum design makes the Galaxy S10e feel quite substantial as well, without it being or feeling too heavy.
Finally, all Galaxy S10 models, including the S10e come with a headphone jack, as well as an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
What’s in the box?
- 1 x Samsung Galaxy S10e
- 1 x Charging cable.
Technical specs
- Weight: 150g
- Dimensions: 142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9mm
- OS: Android 11
- Screen size: 5.8-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 2280
- CPU: Snapdragon 855 / Exynos 9820
- RAM: 6/8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Expandable storage: 256GB
- Battery: 3,100 mAh
- Rear camera: 12MP + 16MP
- Front camera: 10MP.
Pros
- Great camera
- Can be used in one hand.
Cons
- A bit thicker than the S10 phone.
Get an Amazon student discount here.
And those are the best small phones for 2022 rounded up. Which one do you think you’ll get? We hope the variety of small smartphones we mentioned gives you some food for thought!
What is the smallest smartphone?
Apparently, the Unihertz Atom is the smallest smartphone and you can buy it in the UK on sites like Amazon. It measures a mere 2.45-inches in screen size! In terms of specs, it’s pretty powerful too. It has a 2GHz octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a 16MP rear camera, an 8MP front-facing one, and a 2,000mAh battery
However if you’re after the best smallest smartphone on the market, your eyes should be set on the iPhone SE (2022) which measures 5.4-inches.
What is the smallest Samsung phone?
Technically, Samsung Galaxy A01 Core is the smallest Samsung phone on the market. The Samsung Galaxy S10e, however, is the smallest Samsung phone (or at least the smallest in the S10 range) to get in 2022 with the best performance.
Don’t forget to sign up to Student Beans to get offers on all of the phones mentioned above! Plus, you can get other types of discounts too such as tech student discounts, gadget student deals and much more.
