The best small smartphone?

There's never been a better time to buy a small phone. Don't let anyone tell you diminutive smartphones are dead -- or that you need to compromise on power or camera to get a handset that's small yet perfectly formed.

Case in point: This year, both Apple and Google shook up this often dull market segment by releasing smaller versions of their "Pro" models -- with full-fat specs. Say hello to the #Pixel9Pro and #iPhone16Pro.

Save for the battery -- which you'd expect -- these two are every bit as performant and impressive as their Pro Max and Pro XL siblings. But which one wins overall? Let's dive in.

0:00 Intro
0:38 Hardware Basics
3:54 Performance
6:53 Software & AI Features
9:54 Cameras, Photo & Video
15:40 Closing Thoughts

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[victoremmanuelogena]

These are mediums. The 12 & 13 minis are what qualifies as 'small'.

[Gaag-niwc]

Uhm, are these Apple and Google phones from planet Mars? Because here on earth they stopped making small phones after the 13 mini and Pixel 5

[wwShadow]

2024, when a 6"+ phone is "small". I had to buy a phone this year, I thought it was small, but it's the biggest phone I have ever owned. And the first I got a case for in my life. My previous phone I used 7+ years without a case. The flip one before that I used for 10 years. My new phone is the first one that I've had that doesn't have a remove-able battery. At least it still has a 3.5mm (1/8") audio jack.

[s.baldrick]

Even my Zenfone 9 isn't really a "small" phone...

[AlejandroArgandona]

I miss the Xperia Z compact line and the iPhone minis. The phones in the video aren't small at all, foldables are closer.

[iAfroTech]

Pixel 9 Pro 256 Gb at 1099€ 🆚 1359€ for iPhone 16 Pro 256 Gb where i live.
If you're not a gamer and if you don't spend most of the time editing videos, Pixel 9 Pro with this price difference is an option to consider seriously.

[horridohobbies]

Apple Intelligence is too gimmicky. It has limited utility.

Given how fallible AI is, I pass on this feature. *The only thing worse than having no AI assistant is having one you can't trust.*

The Camera Control button is borderline useless. Dedicating a button just to turn on the camera is a ridiculous waste of space.

[Xavierdredeuce]

I have the 16 pro and these phones are not small to me. Phones have gotten so big that normal size phones seem small. I believe the 16 pro is the perfect size.

[robsawalker]

I have the 15 PRO max and 9 Pro XL and you can't get a cigarette paper between them IMHO. Both really excellent phones. I think the devfelopment of their AI features over the next 12 months will be critical for them. Please Apple/Google/Samsung don't screw it up!

[navdeepsingh]

Man even 6 inch is small these days. Pack it up boys..we are cooked

[mohimrahman]

From 6.5 to 6.7 to 6.9, things are getting wayyyy outta hand. Specially iPhones are still not as smooth with one hand accessibility compared to Android. Personally, I believe the form factor of XS Max, or 11 Pro Max should have been the plateau. That size was perfect as a pro max. And yes, they could have reduced the bezel for an extra millimeter too.
16 Pro Max feels like a brick.

[RayCrush]

After contemplating for the past few weeks, I pulled the trigger on the 16 pro over the 16 pro max, or even the 15 pro max

[Inferie]

loved the transition for the speaker test, props to the editors and everyone else involved, earned a like.

[letsgowalk]

These are normal sized. Only the iPhone Mini, and to a lesser degree, Asus ZenFone 10 could be considered small.

I just recently jumped from an iPhone 12 Mini to a Pixel 9 Pro XL, and even though I thought the size would take some getting used to, it's not bad at all. For the larger amount of real estate, it is most definitely worth it.

[Chris-B-Truth]

Flip phones are the new small phones, that why i use a Razr plus 2024. I still want the iPhone 13 mini though and I'm a android guy.

[El_Hamzoh]

Been rocking the 16 pro absolutely love the size as they made it slightly larger, it’s the perfect middle ground compared to the pro max.

[Angel-HC]

I'm old enough to remember when Apple used to lock features like OIS, higher zoom and more RAM behind the Plus/Max-sized iPhones. I'm glad these days are over.

[gunwantjain]

4 minutes into the video, and I don't remember any mention of actual display sizes of these "small" phones. you can do better XDA

[BigMACD]

Pixel 9 Pro is 6.3" and iPhone 16 Pro is 6.27" The only choices are a big phone or a bigger phone.

[MikloV]

I love Pixels and wish they made a smaller Pixel phone. I got an iphone 13 mini because I just don't like big phones. Don't care much for iOS but it's not bad. Keyboard sucks and so does notification management though.