Best Small Phone 2026: Pocketable Picks Backed by MKBHD's Awards
The phone industry has been chasing bigger and bigger displays — but a vocal segment of buyers wants something that actually fits in a pocket and can be used one-handed. MKBHD's Best Small Phone award (running every year since 2022) is the most reliable signal in this underserved category. Here are the winners, runners-up, and a few honorable mentions that punch above their weight.
Updated · 5 picks · Rankings reflect MKBHD Smartphone Awards outcomes.
How we picked
Phones below 6.4 inches that won or placed at MKBHD's Best Small Phone award. Z Flip 7 wins the category overall in 2025 because folded it's the most pocketable flagship — even though unfolded it's not technically small.
- #1
Won Best Small Phone at the 2025 Smartphone Awards. Folded, the Z Flip 7 is genuinely pocketable. Open, you get a 6.9-inch display. The 4.1-inch cover screen handles most quick tasks without unfolding — making this the most pocket-friendly flagship in the category.
Pros
- Most pocketable flagship — folded
- Cover screen is now usable as a standalone
- Galaxy AI baked in
Cons
- $999 is steep for the form factor
- Battery life is the shortest on this list
- #2
iPhone 17 was runner-up for Best Small Phone in 2025 (and won Phone of the Year). At 6.1 inches it's the most one-hand-friendly traditional phone in this list — and now ships with ProMotion 120Hz, which the base iPhone has long missed.
Pros
- 6.1-inch one-hand-friendly form factor
- Now has 120Hz ProMotion
- Best long-term software support
Cons
- Single 48MP main + ultrawide — no telephoto
- Battery shorter than the 17 Pro
- #3
Won Best Small Phone in 2024. Same compact 6.1-inch form factor as the 17, with a clear $200+ discount now that the 17 has launched. The most affordable way to get an 'awarded' compact phone in 2026.
Pros
- Big discount vs current-gen iPhone 17
- Excellent battery life for a small phone
- Apple Intelligence-ready
Cons
- 60Hz display (no ProMotion)
- One generation behind on chipset
- #4
Won Best Small Phone at MKBHD's 2023 awards. The Pixel 8 packs Google's full computational photography pipeline into a compact 6.2-inch frame, and is now usually under $500 used or refurbished — an excellent small-phone bargain.
Pros
- Excellent computational photography in a small frame
- Cleanest Android experience
- Now $400–$500 used
Cons
- Tensor G3 thermals can be uneven
- Battery life merely average
- #5
2022 Best Small Phone winner — true compact for Android purists
ASUS Zenfone 9
ASUS · 2022 · From $699
MKBHD's 2022 Best Small Phone winner remains the gold standard for true compact Android. 5.9 inches, headphone jack, side-mounted fingerprint, and clean software. Still recommended in 2026 for the rare buyer who actually wants a small Android phone.
Pros
- Genuinely small at 5.9 inches
- Has a headphone jack
- Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 still very capable
Cons
- No more major Android version updates
- Camera is a single (good) lens, no telephoto
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best small phone in 2026?
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 won MKBHD's 2025 Best Small Phone award. For a traditional non-folding small phone, the iPhone 17 (runner-up in 2025) and iPhone 16 (2024 winner) are the strongest picks.
Are small Android phones still being made?
Mostly no. Google Pixel 8 (5.9 inches) and Asus Zenfone 9 are the strongest 'true compact' Android options, but neither has a current-gen successor. Most flagship Androids in 2026 are 6.7+ inches.
Is the iPhone Air a small phone?
The iPhone Air won 2025 Best Design but at 6.6 inches it's not a small phone — it's a thin phone. For a small iPhone in 2026, the iPhone 17 (6.1 inches) is the right pick.
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.