Smartphones seem to be getting bigger and more expensive every year, but as the worldwide pandemic keeps threatening financial security around the world, users may want to consider smaller and more affordable options. While numerous devices boast amazing graphics on displays exceeding six inches, smaller devices offer their own series of advantages. Larger phones are not easy to use with one hand and may also prove harder to fit into your pockets. And when it comes to prices, smaller devices are usually cheaper than super-sized models, although they run the same software on similar hardware.
Some users simply prefer smaller iOS or Android devices, but what are the best options available in 2020?
iPhone 12 mini
With a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display, the new iPhone 12 mini is branded as “the world’s smallest, thinnest, lightest 5G phone”. It also features the fastest chip of any smartphone, Apple’s A14 Bionic, which also powers the full-sized iPhone 12. The new model could prove to be the perfect fit for those who had hoped for a new compact iPhone with top performance features and might have found themselves disappointed with the previously launched iPhone SE 2.
Featuring an edge-to-edge OLED display, iPhone 12 mini is very different from SE 2 when it comes to looks: it lacks the top and bottom bezels and the famous physical home button. With Ceramic Shield and night mode on every camera, the new iPhone 12 mini is definitely an upgrade, but it also comes at a higher cost than SE 2. However, the $699 mini iPhone might just be the best option available when looking for top performance in a small frame.
Samsung Galaxy S10e
When it comes to small Android phones, Samsung Galaxy S10e is still a great buy. Measuring just 142.2mm in height, it has many of the high-end features available on its big brother, Samsung Galaxy S10, including a great AMOLED HDR 10+ display. However, Samsung Galaxy S10e comes with a more reasonable price tag of just $374.99.
Although it is considerably cheaper than the iPhone 12 mini, Samsung Galaxy S10e might be a great device for anyone who wants a small phone with an impressive performance. It has the same high-end processor as the main Galaxy S10 Plus, good battery life, wireless charging, front and back Gorilla Glass 5 and it also features IP68 dust and water resistance. The only downside in getting the Samsung Galaxy S10e in 2020 is the fact that the device was launched in 2019, making it more likely to need an upgrade than newer models.
iPhone SE 2
While there is no doubt that the iPhone 12 mini takes the lead in terms of performance, the long-awaited iPhone SE 2 is still a great choice when looking for a small phone. The second-generation SE recycles iPhone 8’s 4.7-inch frame, hosting one of the fastest chips on the market. This makes for a great device at just $400. However, there are a few important things missing from this affordable iPhone. The device has just one main camera, no night mode, and a small battery. While some may find the return of TouchID reassuring, for others it’s just old technology on a 2020 device.
iPhone SE 2 may look like an older model, especially when considering the massive bezels on the top and bottom of the display, but it does pack a powerful chip into a small frame at an extremely affordable price for an Apple device. It’s also dust and water-resistant, up to 1 meters for 30 minutes. But its main asset remains the chipset, which makes iPhone SE 2 a great device for years to come.
Google Pixel 4a
When looking for a great smartphone, Google’s Pixel range is surely worth examining. Pixel 4a is a compact device at just 5.81 inches, but the software and camera processing powers make it a worthy adversary for any of the models listed above. Featuring probably the best camera quality available at $349, Google Pixel 4a also comes with a powerful Snapdragon 730G processor.
With its almost minimalist design, this device is simple, small, light, but incredibly powerful. Pixel 4a packs an amazing single camera for the price, with the same 12.2MP sensor as the Pixel 4, including optical image stabilization and an f/1.7 lens. On top of that, it has a regular headphone jack and is sure to receive regular software updates. The best thing about it, however, is the camera and software, including its ability to take clear pictures in low light with Night Sight.
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE
Although released in 2019, the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE is still a great choice for those looking to buy a smaller, more affordable device in 2020. Its Snapdragon 712 chipset is not quite as powerful as Samsung’s Snapdragon 855, but it does come with a main triple camera that includes both a telephoto lens and an ultra-wide module.
Perhaps even more important is the fact that the 5.97 inches AMOLED screen has a 90.47% screen-to-body ratio, according to the producer, giving Xiaomi Mi 9 SE a flagship level display. The phone is also incredibly light, and its optical fingerprint recognition technology works well even in bright light or with dry fingers. Although it has no headphone jack, and it features a mono speaker, Xiaomi Mi 9 SE is a great mid-range device that comes at the most affordable price of all phones previously mentioned.
