Australia’s best small phones are all but gone, but there are still some strong competitors on the market. There was a time when smaller was considered better, but over the past decade, the trend toward larger devices has increased dramatically.
There is certainly still a consumer base for small mobile phones in Australia, and we can see that some manufacturers are still committed to that end. Apple is one such brand, putting compact phones in people’s hands with iPhone SE (2022), the latest (yet aging) version of its 4.7-inch iPhone that adds a new processor and 5G connectivity. It plays a role in keeping it safe.
The iPhone SE isn’t the only small phone on Apple’s books, the Cupertino-based company also offers the iPhone mini. However, the iPhone mini line met its inevitable fate with the introduction of the iPhone 14 series and was replaced by the gigantic iPhone Plus model.
However, with smartphone displays getting larger and larger, it’s clear that this device isn’t getting much attention. That’s fine for people who like big screens, but for those who prefer something that can be used comfortably with one hand, there are few options. Trust me, I think this is quite a tragedy.
The best small cell phones you can buy right now
Small phones are a rarity these days, but Apple, at least for now, still seems to believe that the best things come in small packages. We’ve looked at all the best options available to Australian customers and conducted rigorous testing to determine which one to buy. Here are the best small phones still available in Australia.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
1.ASUS Zenfone 10
The best small Android smartphones
specification
Display: 5.9 inch AMOLED (2400 x 1080)
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 2
RAM: 8GB, 12GB, 16GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / None
Rear camera: 50MP (f/1.9) main, 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide
Front camera: 32MP (f/2.45)
Weight: 6 oz
Reasons to buy+
Smaller than other premium Android
+
powerful chipset
+
long battery life
+
Adding productive software
Reasons to avoid –
Limited software updates
–
Only two rear cameras
Small phones may be rare in Australia, but ASUS isn’t giving up. No, the Zenfone 10 is exactly what we wanted from a small Android smartphone. It delivers tons of horsepower thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor paired with up to 16GB of RAM. The 5.9-inch AMOLED display looks great with punchy colors, but the battery life isn’t great. We also really like some of Asus’ software changes to the Android base, such as using the power button as a notification shade switch.
Cameras are usually very good for most purposes, but I wish I had a telephoto camera. Also, only two years of full Android updates is bad for a phone at this price. Nevertheless, when it comes to small Android smartphones, the Zenfone 10 leads the way.
Read our full Asus Zenfone 10 review.
(Image credit: Future)
2. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
best small folding phone
specification
Display: 6.7 inch AMOLED (2640 x 1080) inside. 3.4 inch AMOLED (720 x 748) outside
CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
RAM: 12GB
Storage / Expandable: 256GB, 512GB / None
Rear camera: 50MP (f/2.2) main, 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide
Front camera: 10MP (f/2.2)
Weight: 6.6oz
Reasons to buy+
tougher design
+
New 50MP main camera
+
Better chips and more RAM
+
Lots of new AI features
Reasons to avoid –
price increase
–
short battery life
When it comes to fitting an entire phone into a small space, nothing beats a flip phone. And the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the best option for this at the moment.
Although the price has increased since last year, the Z Flip 6 upgrades the main camera, strengthens the outer shell with stronger materials, includes more RAM, and replaces it with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This justifies the price increase. The increased performance pairs well with the gained Galaxy AI capabilities.
Besides the high price, another weakness of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is its battery life, which is still on the short side. The Motorola Razr Plus 2024 is better in this regard, but as a whole package, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 remains the best choice when it comes to foldable frame performance.
Read the full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 review
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
3.iPhone 15 Pro
The best small flagship mobile phone
specification
Display: 6.1 inch OLED (2556 x 1179), 1-120Hz
CPU: A17 Pro
RAM: 8GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / None
Rear camera: 48MP main (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 12MP 3x optical telephoto (f/2.8)
Front camera: 12MP (f/1.9)
Weight: 6.6oz
Reasons to buy+
great performance
+
Lightweight titanium design with action button
+
highest quality photography
Reasons to avoid –
Larger for small cell phones
–
More expensive than those on this list
The iPhone 15 Pro is one of the largest phones on this list, even though it’s still small for a modern flagship model. However, if you can stomach being a little taller and wider than the other phones on this list, you’ll have one of the best phones on the market.
Apple has packed the iPhone 15 Pro with its usual great camera and ultra-powerful A17 Pro chip that powers even the most demanding apps. It’s also surprisingly light thanks to its titanium body, and has a customizable action button on the left side to mute your phone, use shortcuts, and more.
Another drawback of this phone is that it is very expensive. However, if you decide to splurge on this as your new small phone, you definitely won’t be wasting your money.
Read our full iPhone 15 Pro review.
(Image credit: Future)
4.iPhone SE (2022)
Powerful and compact phone
specification
Display: 4.7 inch LCD (1344 x 750)
CPU: A15 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage / Expandable: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB / None
Rear camera: 12MP (f/1.8)
Front camera: 7MP (f/2.2)
Weight: 5oz
Reasons to buy+
Fastest performance with great value for money
+
very good photo quality
+
More durable design
Reasons to avoid –
Camera does not have night mode
–
No mmWave 5G support
Unfortunately, Apple seems to be the last bastion of small cell phones. The recent iPhone 13 mini and the new iPhone SE (2022) both have screen sizes under 6 inches. For the SE, it’s a small 4.7-inch LCD. I don’t think it’s the prettiest and it doesn’t have the highest resolution, but it fits in small hands and pockets.
But while its exterior may seem outdated now, it’s completely up to date when it comes to what’s inside. Apple has included the same A15 Bionic chip that powers the iPhone 13 series. That means it’s highly unlikely you’ll find a faster phone for the same AU$719 or less MSRP. Even the most expensive Android smartphones struggle to maintain this performance. some places.
Of course, it doesn’t have the night mode that the similarly smaller iPhone 13 mini has. The new SE also lacks support for Australia’s mmWave 5G network. Once again, the iPhone 13 mini enjoys that luxury. However, you must understand that given the low price, some sacrifices will have to be made. If you want the smallest phone, the iPhone SE (2022) should be one of your top considerations.
Read the full iPhone SE (2022) review.
How to choose the best small mobile phone for you
When buying a small cell phone, you usually have to sacrifice something. Of course, screen real estate is part of the trade-off. However, smaller phones have smaller batteries and sometimes less RAM and camera lenses than larger, more expensive versions of the same device.
If you prioritize a compact form factor above all else, which you probably are, these trade-offs may be well worth it. Apple and Google feature prominently in our list of the best small phones because they haven’t cut out important features from their more compact phones. That’s illustrated by the fact that the iPhone 13 mini packs the same punch as the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Or how the iPhone SE (2022) utilizes the same A15 Bionic chipset as the more premium iPhone 13 models.
But the biggest challenge you can face when shopping for the best small cell phone is how few choices there are. Smartphone buyers prefer bigger screens, and most device manufacturers are focusing on that these days.
How to test your smartphone
For a smartphone to make the best phones list, it must excel in several tests that are run on every phone. Some of these tests are performed in the laboratory and some in the real world.
When it comes to performance, we use comprehensive benchmarks like Geekbench 5 and 3DMark to measure graphics performance. These tests allow you to compare the performance of iPhone and Android devices. We also run actual video transcoding tests on each phone using the Adobe Premiere Rush app and time the results. (Unfortunately, some phones have to skip this test due to app compatibility issues, but we will attempt this benchmark on each device we get for review.)
Swipe to scroll horizontallyPerformance Benchmark Rows 0 – Cells 0 Geekbench 5 (Single Core / Multi-Core)3DMark Wild Life Unlimited (FPS)iPhone 13 mini1733 / 464361Zenfone 101451 / 502784Galaxy Z Flip 51354 / 428876iPhone 15 ProUntested94iPhone SE (2022) 1718 / 48250
To measure the quality of your phone’s display, we run a lab test that determines the brightness of the panel (in nits) and the color (DCI-P3 color gamut) of each screen. In these cases, higher numbers are better. We also measure each panel’s color accuracy with a Delta-E rating. Lower numbers are better, with a score of 0 being perfect.
Swipe to scroll horizontally to view benchmarks Row 0 – Cell 0 sRGB (%)DCI-P3 (%)Delta-EZenfone 10148 (optimal) / 175 (natural)105 (optimal) / 124 (natural)0.35 (optimal) / 0.39 (Natural)Galaxy Z Flip 5181.6 (Vivid) / 114 (Natural) 128 (Vivid) / 80 (Natural)0.08 (Vivid) / 0.28 (Natural)iPhone 15 Pro11783.50.14iPhone SE (2022)115810.21
One of the most important tests we perform is the Tom’s Guide battery test. Run a web surfing test on 5G (4G if your phone doesn’t support 5G) with a screen brightness of 150 nits until the battery dies. Generally, a phone that lasts more than 10 hours is good, and anything that lasts more than 11 hours is included in the list of best cell phone battery life.
Swipe to scroll horizontally Battery Life Benchmark Row 0 – Cell 0 Battery Life (hours: minutes)Zenfone 1012:41 (Auto), 12:48 (120Hz), 11:21 (90Hz), 13:10 (60Hz) )Galaxy Z Flip 59: 42 (Adaptive), 8:52 (60Hz)iPhone 15 Pro10:53iPhone SE (2022)7:39
Last but not least, we took our all-important phone out into the field and took photos outdoors, indoors, and in low-light conditions at night to see how it performs compared to its closest competitors . You can also take photos of landscapes, food, portraits, etc. and compare them side-by-side in a review.