While most of the world has gone crazy about big touch screen phones, a remnant of sane people have refused to bend their knees to the god called Big. They prefer small touch screen phones – smartphones that are small and handy. Or if you prefer, compact. I set out to highlight all the small touch screen phones released in 2023, especially those that are available in key markets like the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and other European Union countries and markets.
There are not a lot of phone companies making any compact smartphones any more. It is understandable that they are focusing on what the majority want, or what they think that the majority want. In truth, small youch screen phones are still selling by the bucketful. The iPhone 13 sold in millions. So is the iPhone 14. So is Samsung Galaxy S23. All of these are compact smartphones, another term for small touch screen phones.
Actually, the Chinese are the most obsessed with big screen phones. Every single Chinese phone company out there is making big phones. The only smartphone companies making small touch screen phones are American, Korean, and Japanese in origin. Interesting; right? Specifically, as follows:
- Apple (American),
- Google (American),
- Samsung (Korean), and
- Sony (Japanese).
Table of Contents
Benefits of Small Touch screen Phones
One apparent benefit of compact smartphones is that they are much easier to use with one hand because of their smaller sizes. But that is not all.
Beacuse of the size factor, small touch screen phones are also often lighter and handier. As such, they don’t tend to drop from the hand to the floor more easily. On contrast, big phones are easier to drop.
The Contenders
Samsung Galaxy S23. This is one of the earliest small touch screen phones released in 2023 (February). It sports a 6.1-inch AMOLED display, weights only 168g. It’s dimensions are 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm.
With a top dog flagship processor running the show, the S23 sells for $799, £530, and €650 in the U.S., the UK, and the EU respectively. Have a look at our Samsung Galaxy S23 review.
iPhone 15. Quite different from Samsung’s S series release cycle, Apple’s release cycle for the iPhone means that the iPhone 15 arrived much later in the year. The iPhone 15 has a 6.1-inch OLED screen and weighs 171g. Its dimensions are 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm. The price starts from $799 in the U.S., £799 in the U.K., and €950 in the European Union.
iPhone 15 Pro. The 15 Pro gas the same screen size as the iPhone 15, but it weighs 16g more (187g), and is 0.5mm thicker too. On the inside, it has a more powerful processor than its sibling. You will be shelling out from $999, £999, and €1,199 in the U.S., U.K., and EU respectively.
Google Pixel 8. This 2023 Pixel smartphone has a 6.2-inch OLED display and weighs 187g, with dimensions at 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm. Pixel smartphones have gotten thicker and heavier over the years, and this reflects in the Pixel 8. If you want one, it starts from about $700 in the U.S., £640 in the U.K., and €780 in continental Europe.
Google Pixel 7a. The Pixel 7a is the most affordable contender on this list. It is fitted with a 6.1-inch OLED display, weighs a hefty 193.5g, and measures 152 72.9 x 9 mm, making it one of the bulkiest devices among the contenders. The price is $350 in the United States, £350 in the United Kingdom, and €445 in Germany and other EU countries.
Sony Xperia 5 V. Sony has kept faith with lovers of small you h screen phones, and the Xperia 5 V is true to that with its 6.1-inch OLED screen. But it weighs 182g and measures 154 x 68 x 8.6 mm. It has a narrow build, compared to others on this list. The Xperia 5 V sells for a whopping $970, £850, and €845 in the U.S., UK, and EU respectively.
Sony Xperia 10 V. This is a mid-range device with a 6.1-inch OLED screen. It weighs a featherweight 159g (whooop!) and measures 155 x 68 x 8.3 mm, a notch taller but the same width as the Xperia 5 V, and a thinner profile. It sells for around $350, £330, and €307 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, respectively.
This small touch screen phone shares the most affordable spot with the Pixel 7a, but it is worse value for money. Its internal hardware is decidedly mid-range, where the Pixel 7a packs a more powerful Tensor processor.
The Best Small Touch Screen Phone Of The Year: My Verdict
If you want the most pocket-friendly small touch screen phone, the Pixel 7a or the Sony Xperia 10 V are your options, though I reckon the average U.S. resident will opt for the former.
If you are an Apple or iPhone lover, nothing will make you pick any other options on this page beside the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro. We understand. But that doesn’t mean they are the best overall. The two iPhone models are not the most compact in terms of dimensions. They are also some of the heaviest small touch screen phones contending for the title.
Of the seven contenders that we looked at above, my choice is the Samsung Galaxy S23. It is the overall most handy of the phones we are looking at. And only the Xperia 10 V is lighter than it. If you are tempted by the Xperia 10 V, though, it’s mid-range processor and features will have you reconsidering. Samsung S23 is a full-scale premium flagship that does not sacrifice compact dimensions and light weight for all the bells and whistles. Its price makes it good value for money, especially when compared to the true premium flagships listed along with it.
