Best Small Phones: Top Picks 5 Inches or Less
iPhone 8 (4.7 inches)
It's easy to think of the iPhone 8 as just an updated iPhone 7 and even easier to overlook it in favor of the flashier iPhone X. That would be a mistake in both cases. For starters, the iPhone 8 is powered by Apple's new A11 Bionic CPU, which makes it the fastest smartphone we've tested. That new glass design allows the iPhone 8 to support wireless charging, something previous iPhones couldn't do. And speaking of battery, the iPhone 8 lasts 9 hours, 54 minutes on a charge — 51 minutes longer than the iPhone 7. If you want a phone with a screen that's smaller than 5 inches, the 4.7-inch iPhone 8 is the device to get.
Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact (4.6 inches)
You may have noticed that Sony continues to offer phones in a pint-sized form factor even as other device makers turn their attention to larger models. The recently released 4.6-inch XZ1 Compact continues that trend, improving on last year's decidedly more midrange-targeted X Compact with a Snapdragon 835 chipset and 4GB of RAM. While the Compact's screen remains 720p, the display is sufficiently sharp for its size, and helps keep the phone's 2,700mAh battery powered long after other smartphones would have gone dark. It does suffer the same faults as its predecessor: the bezels above and below the display are quite chunky, and you inexplicably still won't find a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button on U.S. models. Still, if you want the most powerful Android phone in the smallest possible package, the XZ1 Compact was made wit
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iPhone 7 (4.7 inches)
It's no longer the new kid on the block since the iPhone 8 arrived, but the iPhone 7 is still a good option for small-phone fans, especially after Apple dropped its price to $549. (That's $150 cheaper than the iPhone 8). The A10 processor is still pretty powerful, even if it can't match the A11 Bionic in the iPhone 8, and the iPhone 7's 12-megapixel camera features a wide f/1.8 aperture that lets in more light. Combine that with optical image stabilization, and you can expect fewer shaky shots. Plus, the iPhone 7 can run iOS 11, giving you access to all those AR-ready apps that are coming soon. mind.
Google Pixel (5 inches)
You may have to search a bit to find the first-generation Pixel — it's out of stock at Google's store, though Verizon still offers it — but the 5-inch Pixel still compares well to its larger sibling, the 5.5-inch Pixel XL. Unlike that larger device's Quad HD display, the $549 Pixel makes do with a 1920 x 1080 resolution on its AMOLED display, and it runs on a smaller battery (2,770mAh compared to the 3,450mAh power pack in the XL). Otherwise, the features are the same, and that's good news for fans of compact phones who don't want to give up functionality for size. It even has something the new Pixels don't: a head.phone 
Kyocera DuraForce Pro (5 inches)
Talk about a phone that can take a beating. The DuraForce Pro boasts a military-grade 810G rating and IP68 certification for resistance against dust and water so you can drop and dunk your phone without fear. You also get the choice of a hardened glass display or, if you buy the phone through Verizon, Kyocera's patented Sapphire Shield glass. Speaking of that screen, it's nice and bright — 691 nits when we measured it with a light meter — so you'll never have to squint to make out details on the display when your outdoors. We wish the battery life were a little longer, but the DuraForce Pro is still an impressively durable phone in a compact body.
Moto E4 (5 inches)
If you're looking for a very inexpensive phone that can still fit comfortably in your hands, look no further than the Moto E4. The Moto E4 features a 5-inch LCD display with a 720p resolution, which is more than adequate given the device's small size. Under the hood, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 425 processor will never blow you away with its performance, but it does keep things humming along smoothly – so long as you don't plan on playing any cutting-edge games. Around the back is an 8-megapixel camera, one of the better shooters you'll find in a low-end Android phone. Best of all, the Moto E4 is available on all networks and retails for just $129 unlocked, or as low as $69 from carriers like Verizon.
Samsung Galaxy J3 (5 inches)
You've likely heard of Samsung's Galaxy S devices, but Samsung also offers cheaper and smaller smartphones under the Galaxy J series. The latest device in the family, the Galaxy J3, features a 720p LCD display that measures 5 inches, and is powered by Samsung's own Exynos 7750 chipset alongside 2GB of RAM. Although the J3 comes with just 16GB of built-in storage, a MicroSD slot allows you to expand that space up to an additional 256GB for all the photos, music, apps and other media you want to carry with you. The device can be purchased from most carriers, from big names like AT&T to smaller outlets like Republic Wi
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