The Best Compact Smartphones

The Samsung Galaxy S23 is one of the best compact smartphones of 2023.

The 3,900 mAh battery helps the Samsung smartphone achieve long runtimes and the triple camera takes really good photos as well as videos. The compact phone is rounded off by an IP68 certification and a long update supply. Only UWB and Wi-Fi 7 have to be waived.

The Galaxy S23 can be ordered directly from Samsung, but are also available from all common online retailers like Amazon.

The iPhone 13 mini’s Performance and connectivity are second to none.

Apps are running smoothly and without any problems. The system is very snappy and fast, which is at least partly courtesy of the iPhone 13 mini’s great touchscreen. It gets very bright and is thus well usable outdoors. Given that the entry-level models have now been bumped to 128 GB of storage the woes of the past should be just that: of the past.

The Apple iPhone 13 mini is available through Apple as well as the usual retail channels, such as Amazon.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 convinces with its high value, long update supply and strong features.

The S22 also has a very long update supply and is also protected against dust and water penetration (IP 68). There are no major compromises compared with the heavier siblings; only a lower maximum charging performance, a missing UWB chip, and the lack of Wi-Fi 6E can be criticized here.

Users can find the Samsung Galaxy S22 on Amazon US. Currently, the Phantom black variant with 128 GB memory is available at $632.

The iPhone 14 is a strong smartphone, but only has minor differences compared to the predecessor. 

In the review, the iPhone knows how to convince with its good dual camera, long battery runtimes and an IP68 certification. The iPhone does not really have to put up with much criticism. Considering the price range, a macro function for the camera or even an additional telephoto lens would have been desirable. The frame rate could have been higher as well. 

The Apple iPhone 14 is available through Apple's official online store as well as the usual retail channels.

The Xiaomi 13 is a real power dwarf, with few equipment gaps.

There are only a few gaps in the equipment, even UWB is included. However, the Xiaomi 13 still only uses USB 2.0, cannot use an eSIM and the front-facing camera only offers Full HD video. In return, the smartphone is dust- and waterproof (IP68), shows super battery runtimes in the test and can also be charged quickly.

At the time of writing, the Xiaomi 13 is only available as an import device, for instance from TradingShenzhen (who kindly loaned us the review unit).

Those looking for a compact power smartphone with Android will be right at home with the Zenfone 10.

An audio jack is also on board again and the Zenfone is capable of fast charging via cable as well as wireless charging. The 4,300 mAh battery enables very good runtimes and the dual camera takes appealing pictures.

The Asus ZenFone 10 is not officially sold in the US. The unlocked version is available on Amazon for $699.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is very similar to the predecessor and has only been partially improved. 

The Flip4 has also become a bit more compact, which is mainly due to the smaller hinge, but it still does not close flush. It is also a pity that Samsung only installs a single-band GNSS solution and forgoes premium features like UWB, USB 3.2 and Wi-Fi 6E. 

The Galaxy Flip4 can be purchased directly from Samsung. Amazon also lists the smartphone for $959.9.

The Motorola Razr 40 Ultra is a stylish foldable that overcomes former weaknesses of the concept in some points.

The dual camera allows decent pictures, but only offers an additional ultra-wide-angle. The battery runtimes are also quite good. However, it is a shame that many premium features are missing despite the high price.

The device is available through the usual retail channels, such as for example Amazon with prices starting at around $1,050.

The Apple iPhone SE 2022 is merely a very gentle model update on the part of the manufacturer from California. The display only has a diagonal of 4.7 inches, but this contrasts with the old-fashioned display-surface ratio.

The Apple smartphone is powered by the fast A15 SoC, which is also used in the Pro models from 2021. Updates and a high system speed should thus be guaranteed for many years. The single camera looks a bit lonely on the back, but it still takes decent photos and can even record videos in Ultra HD with up to 60 FPS. 

The iPhone SE 2022 relies on a classic design, but houses plenty of modern hardware. 

In addition, Apple again gives its cheapest smartphone an IP certification, 5G with a broad frequency coverage, and Touch ID. Compromises only have to be made in terms of the refresh rate, the maximum storage size, and the flexibility of the camera system. 

The Apple iPhone SE 2022 can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. Users can purchase the smartphone on Amazon, starting at $479 as well.

The Google Pixel 6a is comparatively compact and has a 6.1-inch OLED display that only works with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. It is powered by the fast Tensor SoC, which is supported by 6 GB of working memory. 128 GB are available for the user's own data.

The Google Pixel 6a offers a good dual camera and a long update warranty. 

The IP67 certification and the USB 3.2 port are also particularly positive. Unfortunately, the Pixel smartphone does not support wireless charging, and the charging speed is not particularly high when using a cord.

The Pixel 6a can be ordered directly from Google's store, but it is cheaper at Amazon.