Best Compact Phone 2026: Pocketable Picks Under 6.4 Inches
Compact phones are increasingly rare in 2026 — most flagships are now 6.7+ inches. We anchor this list to MKBHD's Best Small Phone award, which has tracked the category since 2022.
Updated · 5 picks · Rankings reflect MKBHD Smartphone Awards outcomes.
How we picked
Phones with displays under 6.4 inches that won or placed at MKBHD's Best Small Phone award (2022–2025).
- #1
Won Best Small Phone at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. Folded, the Z Flip 7 is the most pocketable flagship; the 4.1-inch cover screen is now usable as a standalone for most quick tasks.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2025 Best Small Phone
- Most pocketable flagship folded
- Usable cover screen
Cons
- Battery life shorter than slabs
- $999 is steep
- #2
Runner-up Best Small Phone at MKBHD's 2025 awards (and Phone of the Year overall). 6.1-inch one-hand-friendly with ProMotion 120Hz.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2025 Phone of the Year
- Now has 120Hz ProMotion
- Best long-term software support
Cons
- No telephoto
- Single ultrawide secondary lens
- #3
Won Best Small Phone at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. Same compact 6.1-inch form factor as iPhone 17 with full Apple Intelligence — now $599–$699.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2024 Best Small Phone
- Apple Intelligence supported
- Now $599–$699
Cons
- 60Hz display
- One generation behind chip
- #4
Won Best Small Phone at MKBHD's 2023 awards. 6.2-inch with Google's full computational photography. Now $400–$500 used.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2023 Best Small Phone
- Pixel computational photography
- Now $400–$500 used
Cons
- Tensor G3 thermals
- Battery merely average
- #5
MKBHD's 2022 Best Small Phone winner. 5.9 inches with a headphone jack, side fingerprint, and clean software — the gold standard for true compact Android.
Pros
- Genuinely small at 5.9 inches
- Headphone jack
- Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 still capable
Cons
- No major Android updates remaining
- Single (good) camera lens
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best compact phone in 2026?
Z Flip 7 (MKBHD's 2025 Best Small Phone) for flip foldable; iPhone 17 (runner-up) for traditional compact; iPhone 16 ($599–$699 discounted) for compact bargain.
Are compact Android phones still being made?
Mostly no. Pixel 8 (5.9 inches) and Asus Zenfone 9 (true compact) are the strongest sub-6.4-inch Android picks but neither has a current-gen successor in 2026.
Is the Z Flip 7 actually compact?
Folded, dramatically more pocketable than any 6.7-inch slab. Unfolded, it's a 6.9-inch phone — so 'compact' depends on what you mean.
About this list
We index every phone that won or placed in MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025) and surface the strongest matches for this category. Award badges link to the full award history. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.