Our Experts Written by Andrew Lanxon Written by Patrick Holland Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. What to consider iOS or Android If your family and friends are on Apple services like iMessage and FaceTime, stick with an iPhone. If youve been deep on Samsung, stay on Android. Know that switching between the two has never been easier. Size Phones are large in general with the smallest ones having a 6.1-inch screen and large models topping out at 6.8 inches. That makes visiting a store and trying a phone out before you buy it quite important. Cameras Phone cameras have gotten better over the past five years. Dont be fooled by how many cameras a phone has; more is not necessarily better. Software support Phone makers promise varying lengths of long-term software and security support ranging from just one year to as many as seven. These updates not only ensure you get many of the latest features but also keep your phone secure. Table of Contents Our Picks The only truly small phone Apple iPhone SE (2022) View details $429 at Apple View details Best smaller Android phone Google Pixel 8A View details $400 at Best Buy View details Best flip phone Motorola Razr Plus (2024) View details $760 at Best Buy View details Best high-performance smaller iPhone Apple iPhone 16 View details $830 at T-Mobile View details Best flip phone for Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 View details $1,100 at Samsung View details Table of Contents It used to be that the most desirable phones were the smallest ones. These days, the opposite is true, with bigger definitely seen as better. The most recent iPhone 16 Pro Max comes in at a huge 6.86 inches, while both the Pixel 9 Pro XL is 6.8 inches and Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra measures 6.9 inches. Unfortunately, if you want a small phone, your options are limited and only getting more so over time. Apple discontinued its iPhone Mini line after 2021's iPhone 13 Mini. While both Apple and Google offer two sizes of their phones, even the smaller models are well over 6 inches, so you'll need to alter your definition of "small" to "relatively small."What's the best small phone right now?In an earlier version of this list I didn't include any phones over 6 inches in size. Today, that would leave only one phone:Apple's 2022 iPhone SE with its 4.7-inch display. It's unquestionably the smallest phone currently available new and is the only truly small phone I'd recommend if you insist on having a phone under 6 inches. Rumors point to Apple launching a new version of the iPhone SE soon.The only small Android phone launched recently is the Asus Zenfone 10. It's got a 5.9-inch display and a rare 3.5mm headphone jack, but it has disappointing camera performance and it will only receive four years of security support, meaning this phone will only be safe to use until 2027, giving it a short lifespan. As a result, I don't recommend this phone.Best small phones of 2025 Photo Gallery 1/1 Pros Smallest display size you can buy Affordable price Good enough performance for everyday essentials Cons Single rear camera is limiting No support for Apple Intelligence Large bezel makes the phone bigger than it needs to be Screen size 4.7 inchesProcessor Apple A15 BionicCameras 12-megapixel (wide), 7-megapixel (selfie)Colors Red, midnight, starlight With its 4.7-inch display, the iPhone SE is the smallest phone you can buy new right now. And at $430, it's a hell of a lot cheaper than the base iPhone 16 too. For that money you get the latest iOS 18, a capable single rear camera and an A15 Bionic processor that's powerful enough for most tasks.What you won't get is USB-C charging, MagSafe wireless charging or Apple Intelligence -- the company's new AI platform. The 2022 SE is a solid option (also the only option) if you want a phone much below 6 inches in size, but there's no question that it feels outdated compared to today's iPhones. It's worth keeping in mind too that its display, while small, is boxed in by large bezels, especially on the top and bottom, making the physical dimensions of the phone not that much smaller than the base iPhone 16.