The best small Android phones in 2024 - Android Authority

Feb 19, 2025

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Published onNovember 18, 2024

Small Android phones are virtually extinct in 2024, at least by the traditional definition. Small phones once referred to those well under 6 inches, but with shrinking bezels and other design improvements, display sizes have ballooned. Now, anything under 6.2 inches is considered relatively small. There are many reasons why displays under 6 inches are pretty much extinct now, but the video above does a great job of summing up some of the key points and how the small phone market has changed. In this guide, we take a look at the best small Android phones available today, even if they might seem like monsters compared to phones from just five or six years ago.

Buyer's Advice: Finding the right type of small phone in 2024

There are essentially two sub-classes when it comes to today's smaller phones. First, you have traditional candy bar phones with displays hovering closely to the 6-inch mark, and then you have foldable flip phones that are smaller when it comes to pocketability but not screen real estate. Which should you buy? It really depends on what you prioritize:

It’s very rare to find a phone under 6 inches, but the Pixel 9 comes close. It includes a slightly larger display than its predecessor at 6.3-inches, but still feels compact in the hand compared to much larger alternatives. For those who want something smaller with flagship level smarts, the Pixel 9 is one of the best choices around.

The Google Pixel 9 is a bit more expensive than the Pixel 8 it replaces, but it also offers several substantial upgrades, including a new in-house Tensor chip and more RAM. This chip is designed to build on already strong performance while also addressing the Tensor’s past overheating issues. Although the Tensor isn’t quite as powerful as rival Qualcomm chips, it handles AI, photography, and other machine learning aspects brilliantly and is a great performer for day-to-day use. We also need to mention Google’s incredible update policy, which includes a whopping seven years of updates and hardware support. That’s two lifetimes in the smartphone era, and who knows where we’ll be in 2031.

While it’s actually slightly larger than the Pixel 8 despite its smaller 6.1-inch display, the Pixel 8a is also relatively small compared to the other options out there. The phone is also a bit cheaper than the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9, that is unless you can find the former model on sale. You’ll be able to use the Pixel 8a with one hand just like the Pixel 9, though it will be a bit of a struggle depending on your hand size.

Under the hood, the Pixel 8a has a Tensor G3 processor and 8GB of RAM. That’s the same processor found in the main Pixel, so you’ll get a similar experience when it comes to AI and general performance. The Pixel 8a’s biggest trade-offs are a weaker camera and cheaper body construction when compared to its more expensive older brother. Thankfully, you still get the same amazing update support. Google promises seven years of Pixel OS updates, security patches, and feature drops.

Looking for something similar but more affordable? You can get the Pixel 7a ($477 at Amazon) starting at $499, though it sometimes goes on sale for even less. The Pixel 9a is due at some point in the near future, but we still think the Pixel 8a is a solid pick.

Samsung Galaxy phones have always been among the best Android phones you can buy, and the brand is committed to keeping a small phone option at just 6.2 inches. The Samsung Galaxy S24 has nearly all of the polish and aftermarket support that’s made Samsung the leader in the Android world for years, just in a smaller package. It comes with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy or Samsung Exynos 2400 depending on where you live, and a sizeable 4,000mAh battery to keep it running throughout the day. There’s also a great display with a color profile that is fantastic out of the box. It’s a 120Hz variable display for speedy scrolling in compatible apps, but the dynamic refresh rate can go as low as 1Hz to preserve battery life. Also note that although the screen is slightly larger than the Galaxy S23, the overall size is the same due to reduced bezels.

Our only major complaint about the internals is the lack of storage space, which starts at just 128GB. We highly recommend swinging for the 256GB model, especially considering the missing microSD card slot.

Samsung’s flavor of Android is highly customizable and a joy to use, although there is more bloatware than you’ll find on devices from other OEMs. Still, that’s a small price to pay for fantastic aftermarket support, including seven years of OS and security updates. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S24 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 convenient and comfortable to hold with one hand. That said, the boxy metal edges are a different feel if you’re not used to them.

Every other phone so far has packed a traditional candy bar design that’s small enough to be used with one hand, even if some phones are harder to do this with than others. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is one of two options on this list that are a different kind of small phone: Foldables. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 manages to keep a small footprint thanks to its folding design.

Folded, the Z Flip 6 is is a truly tiny Android phone that’s perfectly pocketable and usable. On the front of the device, there’s a large Cover Screen that’s great for checking notifications or the time without opening the device, which is good news for battery life and removing distractions from your life. Opened, it has a much larger 6.7-inch AMOLED display. It’s also easy to use with one hand thanks to its thinner and taller profile. Of course, they won’t handle quite as well as smaller candy bar phones in this mode.

Moving past the design, the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 3 for Galaxy processor is a top performer, capable of powering through anything you can throw at it. The battery packs a fair capacity at 4,000mAh, which just about makes it to the end of a single day in our testing. However, you can extend battery life by relying more on the smaller outer screen.

Camera performance is also great, thanks to an upgraded 50MP rear camera, that brings it up to speed with Samsung’s traditional flagships. Overall it’s performance is great for a small Android phone, but it’s not a reason to purchase this device.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 isn’t a small Android phone in the traditional sense, but in many ways, it’s even better. It certainly isn’t cheap, but the cool factor of having a foldable is more than worth the price of entry. If you’ve been eyeing foldables for a while, this is the one that we can finally recommend to just about anyone.

The Motorola Razr Plus isn’t without its quirks, but it is arguably the best alternative to the Flip 5 and has a few advantages of its own. The Razr Plus takes on a design that’s not too different from devices like the Flip, though it was the first to bring a super-sized front display at 3.6 inches. It was also the first to officially support all apps on the front screen — though not all of them work perfectly on the scrunched display.

The Razr Plus is also known as Razr 40 Ultra in international markets, though it remains the same device with the same Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor and 8GB of RAM. You also get 256GB storage, a 3,800mAh battery, and a dual camera with a 12MP wide and a 13MP ultrawide shooter. The Razr Plus is sold in the United States starting at $999.99, making it a reasonably affordable option. In our Motorola Moto Razr Plus review, we found it to have great software, decent fast charging options, a great design, and solid performance. It also has an IP52 rating, which makes it special because it has some dust protection, unlike many other foldables. Really the biggest downside is the Motorola Edge 50 has already been announced, which means the next generation Plus is likely right around the corner. Of course, that also means you might be able to find this with a big discount.

Size is obviously our main concern when selecting the best small Android phones, but there are several factors we consider. Here’s a quick breakdown:

We can’t pinpoint an exact reason why smaller smartphones are so rare these days, but we can say it’s an industry trend that’s been developing for years. The market has slowly moved to larger screens, which naturally translates to bigger devices.

They are rare, but some high-end devices do come in smaller iterations. These include models like the Xperia 5 IV, ASUS Zenfone 10, Samsung Galaxy S24, and others. Again, they are rare, though.

Although it’s counterintuitive, cheap Android phones tend to be on the larger side. In fact, most of the small Android phones on our list are premium devices with price tags to match.