Content

1. Apple iPhone 13 and 13 Pro
2. Apple iPhone 13 mini and SE (2022)
3. Samsung Galaxy S21 and S22
4. Google Pixel 6a and ASUS Zenfone 8
5. Meizu 18 and 18s
6. Xiaomi 12 and 12X
7. Sony Xperia 10 IV and Xperia Ace III
8. Sharp Aquos Sense 6/6s and Wish/Wish 2
9. Balmuda Phone
10. Mode1 Grip and Rakuten Hand 5G
11. FCNT Raku-Raku Smartphone and Arrows We
12. Galaxy A22 5G, Android One S9 and Kyocera Digno Sanga

The range of compact smartphones has been steadily declining in recent years, but every summer we publish a guide for those who are still looking for such an offer. This time we decided to slightly increase the maximum dimensions of compact smartphones – now our Guide includes models up to 153×72 mm in size. This made it possible to take into account a large number of models that did not “pass” into the Guide quite a bit in the past, although they may also be of interest to lovers of compact devices. By tradition, we do not include ultra-budget models in the Guide – no one buys DEXP One and basic itel for the sake of compactness, agree. Now let’s get to know everyone else.

Apple iPhone 13 and 13 Pro 

iPhone 13 and 13 mini

Let’s start with the most popular compact smartphones in the world – the Apple iPhone. The thirteenth generation was a thorough work on the bugs and correction of lagging behind the market aspects of the iPhone. The company reduced the bangs, improved the main camera, and also brought a lot of useful features to the Pro version: there is a wide autofocus, a 3x telephoto lens, and a 120Hz screen. Of course, the novelties received the new Apple A15 chipsets (with a 4-core GPU in the iPhone 13 and a 5-core GPU in the iPhone 13 Pro). In addition, Apple was able to increase the batteries – and although they are still smaller than most of the Android devices in the Guide, 3240 mAh in the base model and 3095 mAh in the firmware – it’s better than it was. The dimensions of 146.7 x 71.5 mm have not changed, and the weight has grown a little. And if the younger model remained quite light (174 g), then the older one, due to the steel case, began to weigh indecent 204 g.

Apple iPhone 13 mini and SE (2022) 

iPhone SE (2022)

The Apple iPhone 13 mini remained an uncompromising mini version of the base iPhone model and received all the trinity chips, including an increased battery: now it is 2438 mAh. And, of course, it remains the smallest of all the flagships on the market: 131.5 x 64.2 mm with a weight of 141 g. Updated Apple and the classic iPhone SE, still equipped with a 4.7″ IPS screen, Touch ID scanner and a 12 MP single camera.In this model, the manufacturer also managed to slightly increase the battery (now 2018 mAh) and launch the Apple A15 Bionic with a 4-core GPU.In addition, it somehow became lighter than its predecessor (144g) with the same At 138.4 x 67.3mm, unfortunately it’s already clear that the iPhone 13 mini won’t have a successor, and the next iPhone SE will likely ditch its outdated design in favor of an iPhone 12-style body. ultra-compact iOS devices are not to be expected at all.

Samsung Galaxy S21 and S22 

Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+

But Samsung went against the trend and made the new flagship not larger, but more compact than the previous one. If the dimensions of the Galaxy S21 were 151.7 x 71.2 mm with a weight of 169 g, then the Galaxy S22 is only 146 x 70.6 mm with a weight of 167 g! At the same time, the screen diagonal has decreased quite slightly: 6.1 “against 6.2”. In terms of filling, there is almost nothing in common between the phones. Last year’s model offers an Exynos 2100/Snapdragon 888, 12MP main camera, 64MP pseudo-telephoto camera, 12MP wide-angle camera, and a 4,000mAh battery. This year, the Koreans are selling Exynos 2200 / Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 50MP main, 10MP telephoto and 12MP wide-angle cameras, as well as a 3700 mAh battery.

Google Pixel 6a and ASUS Zenfone 8 

ASUS Zenfone 8

There were no compact models among the new Google Pixels introduced last year, but the company redeemed itself by introducing the Tensor-powered Pixel 6a this spring. The smartphone received a legendary pair of 12-megapixel cameras (base + wide), 6.1 “OLED screen and an excellent 4410 mAh battery for its dimensions. Dimensions, by the way, are 152.2 x 71.8 mm with a weight of 178 g. A the Zenfone 8, released last spring, retains the title of the smallest Android flagship: only 148 x 68.5 mm and weighs 169 g. The hardware is top-notch: Snapdragon 888, 64-megapixel main camera with 12-megapixel wide, 5.9” display and 4000 mAh battery. According to rumors, Zenfone 9 will also be compact, that is, the company will continue the tradition laid down last year. We hope.

Meizu 18 and 18s 

Meizu 18

Another company that unexpectedly returned to the production of compact smartphones last year was Meizu. After the shoveled Meizu 17, the eighteens in cases of 152.4 x 69.2 mm were a pleasant surprise (weight – 162 g). At the same time, the company fit in them a large screen (6.2 “with Quad HD + resolution), and 4000 mAh batteries, and full-fledged triple cameras (64 MP base, 16 MP wide, 8 MP telephoto). By the way, these are the only compact Smartphones with Quad HD panels – Samsung ditched that luxury last year with the Snapdragon 888 in the Meizu 18 and the Snapdragon 888+ in the Meizu 18 (the only difference between the models).

Xiaomi 12 and 12X 

It sometimes seems to me that Xiaomi bosses still perceive Meizu as their main competitor in the top segment. I don’t see any other reasons why the “grain factory” after Meizu released compact flagships. But we have what we have: Xiaomi 12 and 12X in cases measuring 152.7 x 69.9 mm and weighing 179 g and 176 g, respectively. Thanks to very narrow frames and curves along the edges, as much as a 6.28 “panel fit into a compact body; but the telephoto did not fit. The camera here consists of a 50-megapixel base, a 13-megapixel base and a 5-megapixel macro module. Pleased with the large battery capacity (4500 mAh) and the availability of wireless charging in the older model.By the way, in addition to Qi and weight, they differ only in chipsets: Snapdragon 870 in the younger 12X and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the older 12. By the way, according to our measurements, the younger model copes with games even better. The undoubted advantage of the “dvenashek” over competitors for the Russians is that the Russian office of Xiaomi does not think to be curtailed, which means that deliveries and service continue without problems.

Sony Xperia 10 IV and Xperia Ace III 

Sony Xperia 10 IV

From this moment we start our tour of Japan: further in the Guide there will be only smartphones for the Japanese market, since there is some kind of anomaly there, and their range is much wider than the average for the world. Although the Xperia 10 IV is still on sale outside of Japan. It offers a Snapdragon 695 chipset, a 6″ 21:9 screen with Full HD+ resolution, a triple main camera (12 MP base + 8 MP wide + 8 MP telephoto) and a 5000 mAh battery that is very impressive for such dimensions. By the way, dimensions: 153 x 67 mm, 161 g. If this is a lot for you, then in Japan there is Xperia Ace III with 4500 mAh, Snapdragon 480, 13-megapixel camera and 5.5 “HD + screen, dimensions are 140×69 mm and weighs 162 g. We have a review of its predecessor , which differs only in weak hardware and the presence of a depth sensor; the general impression of Ace III on it, I think, can be made.

Sharp Aquos Sense 6/6s and Wish/Wish 2 

The largest smartphone manufacturer in Japan, Sharp Corporation, also offers its analogues of these models. Her Aquos Sense 6/6s are very similar to the Xperia 1 IV: 6.1″ Full HD+ screen, triple camera (48 MP base + 8 MP wide + 8 MP telephoto), 4500 mAh battery and Snapdragon 690/695 chipset. All this It is enclosed in an all-metal (!) Case with dimensions of 152×70 mm and a weight of 156 g. And instead of “ACE”, you can take Aquos Wish or Wish 2: 5.7 “HD + screen, 13-megapixel camera, 3730 mAh battery in a case with dimensions of 147×71 mm with Weighing 162 g. The hardware here is very different between generations: Snapdragon 480 in Aquos Wish and Snapdragon 695 in Aquos Wish 2.

Balmuda Phone 

If you are looking for a device similar in size to the iPhone 13 mini, ready to pay any money and want even more extraordinary, then the Japanese company Balmuda has an option for you. Balmuda Phone is much shorter than the mini, but slightly wider: 123×69 mm and weighs 138 g. It has rather strange characteristics (Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 765, 48-megapixel camera, 2500 mAh battery and 4.9 “Full HD-screen 16: 9), but the design without straight lines and a branded launcher with a bunch of unique features stand out most of all. Balmuda herself, known for her designer household appliances, drew this appearance and interface, but Kyocera was involved in the hardware implementation, which we will talk about in the Guide .

Mode1 Grip and Rakuten Hand 5G 

A pair of phones of Chinese origin, developed by order of Japanese companies, sold only in Japan and became popular there precisely because of their size. Mode1 Grip received the smallest screen in the selection: only 5 “with an aspect ratio of 22.5: 9. Thanks to this “sausage” it is even narrower than the first iPhone: 138×56 mm, 140 g. The filling includes a budget processor MediaTek Helio P70, 48- megapixel camera and 2620 mAh battery with wireless charging (suddenly), and Rakuten Hand 5G is the continuation of the compact hit Hand, but now on the Snapdragon 480. + 2 MP and a 2630 mAh battery. Dimensions – 138 x 63 mm, weight – 134 g.

FCNT Raku-Raku Smartphone and Arrows We 

FCNT Raku-Raku Smartphone

FCNT is the former mobile division of Fujitsu, which is now developing, or rather degrading, independently of it. Over the past year, the company has released a couple of compact Snapdragon 480 models. Arrows We is a boring budget phone with a 5.7″ HD+ screen, a 13 + 2 MP dual camera and a 4000 mAh battery, and Raku-Raku Smartphone is a grandmother’s phone that is incomprehensible. why they put support for 5G. They also put a 5 “AMOLED screen with an unusual resolution of 1980×1080 pixels (16.5: 9), a 13 + 2 megapixel dual camera and a modest 3400 mAh battery. Raku-raku dimensions are 143×70 mm with a weight of 153 g, Arrows We dimensions are 147×71 mm with a weight of 172 g.

Galaxy A22 5G, Android One S9 and Kyocera Digno Sanga 

Kyocera Android One S9

I was not mistaken in putting the Galaxy A22 on the “tour of Japan”: we are not talking about a model familiar to all of us, but about a special Samsung device for Japan. It received a 5.8 “HD + screen, a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, a 13-megapixel camera and a 4000 mAh battery. Dimensions are 149.7 x 71 mm with a weight of 168 g. Finally, Kyocera offers another compact smartphone in Japan – with a clean Android called Android One S9 and Tokyo Sanga Football Club fan merchandise called Digno Sanga. Both devices feature a 6.1” Full HD+ IPS screen, 16MP + 16MP dual cameras, Snapdragon 480 chipset, and 4500mAh battery. Dimensions – 153×69 mm, weight – 166 g. The same phone with an improved camera and additional body protection is sold in the USA as Kyocera DuraForce, but due to protective elements it becomes larger and is no longer included in our scope.

So, these are absolutely all compact smartphones with good stuffing that you can now find – from iPhone and Samsung flagships to budget FCNT and Mode1. In total, 26 models turned out – one and a half times more than in the Guide. Of course, many of them “climbed through” due to the increase in the height threshold, but it’s still worth recognizing that the persistent release of compact iPhones has done its job, and Android manufacturers have begun to pay more attention to this segment. So far, only BBK (OPPO / Vivo / Realme / OnePlus) and Lenovo / Motorola have completely ignored this trend, although, according to rumors, Motorola is also preparing some kind of compact middling. Which of the compact smartphones did you like? Tell in the comments!

© Oleg Lazarev. mobile phone