Best small Android phones (July 2017)

Smartphones are getting bigger and bigger. A lot of devices today, especially flagships, are equipped with displays measuring at least 5.5-inches. Among these are the Samsung Galaxy S8, HTC U11, OnePlus 5, Huawei P10 Plus, and LG G6, just to name few.

Large smartphones do have their share of problems, as they are not easy to use with one hand and can be difficult to carry around at times. Those are just two of the reason why some consumers still prefer smaller devices. If you’re one of them, this post is for you.

We have compiled a list of the best small Android phones you can get on the market right now. By small, we mean those with a display size of 5-inches or less.

Editor’s note: We will be updating this list regularly as new devices launch.

Google Pixel

small android phones

The smaller of Google’s two Pixel smartphones sports a 5-inch screen with Full HD resolution. It’s a high-end device that’s powered by the Snapdragon 821 chipset and has 4 GB of RAM. Easily this is the most powerful of the small Android phones on this list, making it a great option for power users that don’t want a massive display for whatever reason.

One of its biggest features is definitely the camera that has a 12.3 MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and 1.55μm large pixels. When the smartphone was announced, Google said it has the best camera on the market. This claim was later confirmed by DxO, which gave it the highest DxOMark rating at the time with a score of 89. Although it is worth mentioning that it was recently bumped down to second place, with the HTC U11 taking the number one spot with a score of 90.

Aside from high-end specs and one of the best cameras you can get on a smartphone, the Google Pixel also offers a stock Android experience a lot of users simply love. However, the design of the device hasn’t been that well received, just because it’s kind of generic. The Pixel also definitely isn’t the most affordable small Android phone you can get your hands on, as it retails for $649 (32 GB) and $749 (128 GB).

Specs

5-inch AMOLED display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 441 ppi
2.15 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
4 GB of RAM
32/128 GB of on-board storage, no microSD card expansion
12.3 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 2,770 mAh battery
Android 7.1 Nougat
143.8 x 69.5 x 8.5 mm, 143 g

Buy now from Google

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)

small android phones

The Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) is a compact mid-range device thanks to its 4.7-inch HD display. It was announced in January and sports a metal frame with a 3D glass back and is water and dust resistant thanks to the IP68 rating. In case you’re wondering, this means that it can be submerged in up to one and a half meters of water for around 30 minutes.

You’ll find the Exynos 7870 chipset under the hood along with 2 GB of RAM. The smartphone runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with Samsung’s custom skin on top. Other things worth mentioning are a 13 MP camera, a 2,350 mAh battery, and a fingerprint scanner located on the front, below the screen.

In terms of design, it looks very similar to a lot of other Galaxy smartphones, which can either be a good or a bad thing depending on who you ask. It retails for around $280 and comes in quite a few different color options. While not the very best small Android phone on the market, if you’re a Samsung fan that is looking for a smaller display, this could be the right choice for you.

Specs

4.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 1280 x 720 resolution, 312 ppi
1.6 GHz Exynos 7870 Octa
2 GB of RAM
16 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
13 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 2,350 mAh battery
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
135.4 x 66.2 x 7.9 mm, 138 g

Buy from Amazon

Sony Xperia X Compact

This is the most compact smartphone on this list, as it features the smallest screen, measuring in at 4.6-inches. The Xperia X Compact is a mid-ranger that’s powered by the Snapdragon 650 chipset along with 3 GB of RAM.

It sports two front-facing stereo speakers, supports expandable storage (up to 256 GB), and has a 2,700 mAh battery that provides a full day of use even with heavy usage. The smartphone also offers a great 23 MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture and runs Android Marshmallow, which you can upgrade to 7.0 Nougat.

The biggest drawback of the device is that the US model doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner. It has a typical design we are used to seeing from Sony’s Xperia series, which not everyone is a big fan of. The smartphone has sharp corners and somewhat large bezels, although the device still lives up to its Compact name.

The Xperia X Compact started selling in the US back in September and initially retailed for $500. The price has come down since, as you can now get it for around $350.

Specs

4.6-inch HD Triluminos IPS LCD display with 1280 x 720 resolution, 312 ppi
Snapdragon 650
3 GB of RAM
32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
23 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Non-removable 2,700 mAh battery
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
129 x 65 x 9.5 mm, 135 g

Sony Xperia X Compact review

Buy from Amazon

Wileyfox Swift 2 and Swift 2 Plus

For those of you who don’t know, Wileyfox is a company based in the UK known for smartphones that offer a great price-performance ratio. Both the Swift 2 and 2 Plus have a 5-inch HD display, are powered by the Snapdragon 430 chipset, and have a metal body.

There are, however, quite a few differences between them. The Swift 2 has 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of on-board storage, and a 13 MP rear camera, while the Plus model features 3 GB of RAM, along with 32 GB of storage and a 16 MP rear camera.

The smartphones pack a 2,700 mAh battery with support for Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 tech, which gets the battery up to 75 percent in around 45 minutes. Available in Midnight, Gold and Rose color options, the Swift 2 retails for £159 (around $200), while the Swift 2 Plus can be yours for £189 (around $240).

Specs

Wileyfox Swift 2

5-inch Full-lamination display with 1280 x 720 resolution, 294 ppi
1.4 GHz Snapdragon 430
2 GB of RAM
16 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128 GB
13 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 2,700 mAh battery
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
143.7 x 71.9 x 8.6 mm, 158 g

Wileyfox Swift 2 Plus

5-inch Full-lamination display with 1280 x 720 resolution, 294 ppi
1.4 GHz Snapdragon 430
3 GB of RAM
32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128 GB
16 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 2,700 mAh battery
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
143.7 x 71.9 x 8.6 mm, 155 g

Wileyfox Swift 2 and Swift 2 Plus are new budget-friendly phones starting at £159

Buy Wileyfox Swift 2

Buy Wileyfox Swift 2 Plus

Sony Xperia XA

The second Sony device that made its way to the list of the best small Android phones is the Xperia XA. It sports a 5-inch display with small bezels on the left and right sides that really looks nice and make the device even more compact.

Although its specs won’t blow your socks off, the Xperia XA is still a great device. It’s powered by the MediaTek MT6755 chipset, has 2 GB of RAM, and is equipped with a 13 MP primary camera as well as a dedicated camera button on the right side.

It runs Android Marshmallow with Sony’s custom skin on top and packs a 2,300 mAh battery that supports fast charging (Pump Express+ 2.0). Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor on board.

The Xperia XA was released in the US back in July 2016 and initially retailed for around $280. The device, which comes in Graphite Black, White, Lime Gold, and Rose Gold, can now be yours for a little more than $160 on Amazon.

Specs

5-inch IPS LCD display with 1280 x 720 resolution, 294 ppi
2.0 GHz MediaTek MT6755
2 GB of RAM
16 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256 GB
13 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera
Non-removable 2,300 mAh battery
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
143.6 x 66.8 x 7.9 mm, 137 g

Buy now from Amazon

Moto G5

small android phones

The Moto G5 is a mid-ranger that was announced at MWC 2017 back in February alongside its bigger brother, the Moto G5 Plus. It features a 5-inch Full HD display, is powered by the Snapdragon 430 chipset, and comes with either 2 or 3 GB of RAM. Unlike its predecessor, it features a metal body that makes it look as well as feel more premium.

You’ll find a fingerprint scanner on the front of the device that supports various gestures. You can, for example, swipe left to go back, or swipe right to open recent apps. The Moto G5 also sports a removable battery with a capacity of 2,800 mAh, a 13 MP camera, but doesn’t have NFC. It comes in Fine Gold, Lunar Gray, and Sapphire Blue (in some regions).

Unfortunately, the device is not available in the US but is on sale in loads of other markets including Canada, where it currently costs around $250.

Specs

5-inch LCD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 441 ppi
1.4 GHz Snapdragon 430
2/3 GB of RAM
16/32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128 GB
13 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Removable 2,800 mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
144.3 x 73 x 9.5 mm, 144 g

Lenovo Moto G5 Plus hands on

Buy the Moto G5

Moto E4

The recently announced Moto E4 offers a great bang for the buck, making it one of the most affordable small Android phones out there. It has a 5-inch HD screen and is powered by the Snapdragon 425 chipset, although you’ll find the MediaTek 6737 processor under the hood in some markets.

The device offers 2 GB of RAM, has a metal body, and a nano-coating finish that’s supposed to help protect it against accidental spills, splashes, or light rain. It even sports a fingerprint reader on the front that supports gestures such as swipe left to go back, or swipe right to open recent apps.

The main selling point of the Moto E4 is its price. Verizon is currently offering the smartphone for just $70, although you do have to sign up for one of the carrier’s prepaid plans to get it. The unlocked version of the Moto E4 will soon be available at various US retailers but will cost more — around $130.

Specs

5-inch IPS LCD display with 1280 x 720 resolution, 294 ppi
Snapdragon 425 or MediaTek 6737
2 GB of RAM
16 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128 GB
8 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
Removable 2,800 mAh battery
Android 7.1 Nougat
144.7 x 72.3 x 9.3 mm, 151 g

Buy Moto E4 from Verizon

There you have it. The eight devices described above are our picks for the best small Android phones you can get on the market right now. Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.

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