iPhone, Samsung, Xiaomi: a guide to compact smartphones. 2022 Geek Tech Online

Content

Apple iPhone 13 and 13 Pro
Apple iPhone 13 mini and SE (2022)
Samsung Galaxy S21 and S22
Google Pixel 6a and ASUS Zenfone 8
Meizu 18 and 18s
Xiaomi

12 and 12X
Sony Xperia 10 IV and Xperia Ace III
Sharp Aquos Sense 6/6s and Wish/Wish 2
Balmuda Phone
Mode1 Grip and Rakuten Hand 5G
FCNT Raku-Raku Smartphone and Arrows We
Galaxy A22 5G, Android One S9 and Kyocera Digno Sanga

Range of compact smartphones in recentyears has been steadily declining, but every summer we publish a guide for those who are still looking for a similar offer. This time we decided to slightly increase the maximum dimensions of compact smartphones - now our Guide includes models up to 153x72 mm in size. This made it possible to take into account a large number of models that did not “pass” into the Guide quite a bit in the past, although they may also be of interest to lovers of compact devices. By tradition, we do not include ultra-budget models in the Guide - no one buys DEXP One and basic itel for the sake of compactness, agree. Now let's get to know everyone else.

Apple iPhone 13 and 13 Pro 

iPhone 13 and 13 mini

Retail price: from 82,990 rub. for iPhone 13,
from 109 990 rub. for iPhone 13 Pro

iPhone 13 review | iPhone 13 Pro announcement


Let's start with the most popular compact smartphones in the world.world - Apple iPhone. The thirteenth generation was a thorough work on the bugs and correction of lagging behind the market aspects of the iPhone. The company reduced the bangs, improved the main camera, and also brought a lot of useful features to the Pro version: there is a wide autofocus, a 3x telephoto lens, and a 120Hz screen. Of course, the novelties received the new Apple A15 chipsets (with a 4-core GPU in the iPhone 13 and a 5-core GPU in the iPhone 13 Pro). In addition, Apple was able to increase the batteries - and although they are still smaller than most of the Android devices in the Guide, 3240 mAh in the base model and 3095 mAh in the firmware - it's better than it was. The dimensions of 146.7 x 71.5 mm have not changed, and the weight has grown a little. And if the younger model remained quite light (174 g), then the older one, due to the steel case, began to weigh indecent 204 g.

Apple iPhone 13 mini and SE (2022) 

iPhone SE (2022)

Retail price of iPhone 13 mini is from 68,999 rubles.
The price of iPhone SE (2022) is from 26,100 rubles.

iPhone 13 mini review | iPhone SE announcement (2022)


Apple iPhone 13 mini remains uncompromisinga mini version of the basic iPhone model and received all the “three-piece” features, including an enlarged battery: now it is 2438 mAh. And, of course, it remained the smallest of all the flagships on the market: 131.5 x 64.2 mm and weighing 141 g. Apple also updated the classic iPhone SE, still equipped with 4.7″ IPS screen, Touch ID scanner and single 12 MP camera. In this model, the manufacturer also managed to slightly increase the battery (now 2018 mAh) and launch the Apple A15 Bionic with a 4-core GPU. In addition, it somehow became lighter than its predecessor (144 g) with the same dimensions of 138.4 x 67.3 mm. Unfortunately, it is already obvious that the iPhone 13 mini will not receive an heir, and the next iPhone SE will probably abandon the outdated design in favor of a body a la the iPhone 12. Considering the closure of the iPod touch line, there is no need to expect new ultra-compact iOS devices at all.

Samsung Galaxy S21 and S22 

Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+

Retail price: from RUB 71,995. for S21,
from 89 990 rub. for S22

Galaxy S21 review | Galaxy S22 video review


But Samsung went against the trend and made a new oneThe flagship is not larger, but more compact than the previous one. If the dimensions of the Galaxy S21 were 151.7 x 71.2 mm and weighed 169 g, then the Galaxy S22 was only 146 x 70.6 mm and weighed 167 g! At the same time, the screen diagonal decreased quite slightly: 6.1″ versus 6.2″. In terms of hardware, the phones have almost nothing in common. Last year's model offers Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888, 12-megapixel main, 64-megapixel pseudo-telephoto and 12-megapixel wide-angle cameras, as well as a 4000 mAh battery. This year, the Koreans are selling Exynos 2200 / Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 50-megapixel main, 10-megapixel telephoto and 12-megapixel wide-angle cameras, as well as a 3,700 mAh battery.

Google Pixel 6a and ASUS Zenfone 8 

ASUS Zenfone 8

Zenfone 8 retail price starts at RUB 57,999.
Pixel 6a will be released in late July for $449

Announcement of Pixel 6a | Announcement of Zenfone 8


Among the new Google introduced last yearThere were no compact Pixel models, but the company redeemed itself by introducing the Tensor-based Pixel 6a this spring. The smartphone received a legendary pair of 12-megapixel cameras (base + wide), 6.1″ OLED screen and an excellent 4410 mAh battery for its size. The dimensions, by the way, are 152.2 x 71.8 mm and weigh 178 g. But the title of the smallest Android flagship is retained by Zenfone 8, released last spring: only 148 x 68.5 mm and weighing 169 g. At the same time, the hardware the most top-end: Snapdragon 888, 64-megapixel main camera with 12-megapixel wide, 5.9″ display and 4000 mAh battery. According to rumors, Zenfone 9 will also be compact, that is, the company will continue the tradition established last year. We hope.

Meizu 18 and 18s 

Meizu 18

Price on AliExpress: from $600 for Meizu 18
from $580 for Meizu 18s

Meizu 18 review | Announcement of Meizu 18s


Another company, unexpectedly last yearMeizu has returned to producing compact smartphones. After the shovel-shaped Meizu 17, the “octogenarians” in 152.4 x 69.2 mm cases became a pleasant surprise (weight – 162 g). At the same time, the company fit into them a large screen (6.2" with Quad HD+ resolution), 4000 mAh batteries, and full-fledged triple cameras (64 MP base, 16 MP wide, 8 MP telephoto). By the way, these are the only compact smartphones with Quad HD panels – Samsung abandoned this luxury last year. The Snapdragon 888 in Meizu 18 and Snapdragon 888+ in Meizu 18 are designed to achieve this resolution (the only difference between the models).

Xiaomi 12 and 12X 

Price in Russia: from 59,699 rubles. for 12X
from 79 990 rub. for 12
Price on AliExpress: from $500 for 12X
from $580 for 12

Xiaomi 12 Review | Xiaomi 12X review


Sometimes it seems to me that Xiaomi bosses are stillperceive Meizu as their main competitor in the top segment. I don’t see any other reasons why the “grain factory”, following Meizu, released compact flagships. But we have what we have: Xiaomi 12 and 12X in cases measuring 152.7 x 69.9 mm and weighing 179 g and 176 g, respectively. Thanks to the very narrow frames and curves at the edges, as much as 6.28″ panel; but the telephoto did not fit. The camera here consists of a 50-megapixel base, a 13-megapixel base and a 5-megapixel macro module. We are pleased with the large battery capacity (4500 mAh) and the presence of wireless charging in the older model. By the way, in addition to Qi and weight, they differ only in chipsets: Snapdragon 870 in the younger 12X and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the older 12. By the way, according to our measurements, the younger model copes with games even better. The undoubted advantage of the “two-piece” over its competitors for Russians is that the Russian office of Xiaomi is not planning to close down, which means that deliveries and service continue without problems.

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Sony Xperia 10 IV and Xperia Ace III 

Sony Xperia 10 IV

Price J-Phone.ru: 30,000 rubles for Ace III

Announcement of Xperia 10 IV | Announcement of Xperia Ace III


From now on we begin our tour of Japan:further in the Guide there will only be smartphones for the Japanese market, since there is some kind of anomaly there, and their range is much wider than the world average. Although the Xperia 10 IV is still sold outside Japan. It offers Snapdragon 695 chipset, 6″ 21:9 screen with Full HD+ resolution, triple main camera (12 MP base + 8 MP wide + 8 MP telephoto) and a battery with a very impressive capacity of 5000 mAh for its size. By the way, dimensions: 153 x 67 mm, 161 g. If this is too much for you, then in Japan there is the Xperia Ace III with 4500 mAh, Snapdragon 480, 13-megapixel camera and 5.5″ HD+ screen, dimensions are 140x69 mm and weighs 162 g. We have a review of its predecessor, which differs only in weak hardware and the presence of a depth sensor; I think you can form a general impression of Ace III from it.

Sharp Aquos Sense 6/6s and Wish/Wish 2 

Price J-Phone.ru: 40,000 rub. for Sense 6
35 000 rub. for Wish 2

Aquos Sense 6 Review | Announcement of Sense 6s | Wish Announcement | Wish2 announcement


The largestIn Japan, the smartphone manufacturer is Sharp Corporation. Its Aquos Sense 6/6s are very similar to the Xperia 1 IV: 6.1″ Full HD+ screen, triple camera (48 MP base + 8 MP wide + 8 MP telephoto), 4500 mAh battery and Snapdragon 690/695 chipset. All this is enclosed in an all-metal (!) case measuring 152x70 mm and weighing 156 g. And instead of “ace” you can take Aquos Wish or Wish 2: 5.7″ HD+ screen, 13-megapixel camera, 3730 mAh battery in a case measuring 147x71 mm and weighing 162 g. The hardware here is very different between generations: Snapdragon 480 in Aquos Wish and Snapdragon 695 in Aquos Wish 2.

Balmuda Phone 

Price J-Phone.ru: 75,000 rub.

Announcement of Balmuda Phone


If you are looking for a device similar in size toiPhone 13 mini, you are ready to pay any money and want even more extraordinary, then the Japanese company Balmuda has an option for you. The Balmuda Phone is much shorter than the Mini, but a little wider: 123x69 mm and weighs 138 g. It has rather strange characteristics (Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 chipset, 48-megapixel camera, 2500 mAh battery and 4.9" Full HD screen 16:9), but what stands out most is the design without straight lines and the proprietary launcher with a bunch of unique features. This appearance and interface were drawn by Balmuda itself, known for its designer household appliances, but the implementation in hardware was handled by Kyocera, which we will talk about later in the Guide.

Mode1 Grip and Rakuten Hand 5G 

Price J-Phone.ru: 25,000 rub. for Grip
25 000 rub. for Hand 5G

Announcement of Mode1 Grip | Announcement of Rakuten Hand 5G


A couple of phones of Chinese origin,developed by orders of Japanese companies, sold only in Japan and which became popular there precisely due to their dimensions. Mode1 Grip received the smallest screen in the selection: only 5″ with an aspect ratio of 22.5:9. Thanks to this “sausage”, it is narrower even than the first iPhone: 138x56 mm, 140 g. The filling includes a budget MediaTek Helio P70 processor, a 48-megapixel camera and a 2620 mAh battery with wireless charging (suddenly). Well, the Rakuten Hand 5G is a continuation of the compact hit Hand, but now on the Snapdragon 480. Other characteristics include a curved 5.1″ AMOLED screen (HD+), dual camera 64 MP + 2 MP and a 2630 mAh battery. Dimensions – 138 x 63 mm, weight – 134 g.

FCNT Raku-Raku Smartphone and Arrows We 

FCNT Raku-Raku Smartphone

Announcement of FCNT Raku-Raku Smartphone
FCNT Arrows We Announcement

FCNT company is a former mobilea division of Fujitsu, which is now developing, or rather degrading, independently of it. Over the past year, the company has released a couple of compact models based on the Snapdragon 480. Arrows We is a boring budget phone with 5.7″ an HD+ screen, a 13+2 megapixel dual camera and a 4000 mAh battery, and the Raku-Raku Smartphone is a grandmother’s phone, in which it is unclear why they included 5G support. They put 5″ An AMOLED screen with an unusual resolution of 1980x1080 pixels (16.5:9), a dual 13+2 MP camera and a modest 3400 mAh battery. The dimensions of the “raku-raku” are 143x70 mm with a weight of 153 g, the dimensions of the Arrows We are 147x71 mm with a weight of 172 g.

Galaxy A22 5G, Android One S9 and Kyocera Digno Sanga 

Kyocera Android One S9

Price J-Phone.ru: 45,000 rub. for S9
from 55 000 rub. for Digno Sanga

Galaxy A22 5G announcement | Announcement of Android One S9


I wasn't wrong to place the Galaxy A22 on the "tour ofJapan": we are not talking about a model familiar to us all, but about a special Samsung device for Japan. He received 5.8″ HD+ screen, MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, 13-megapixel camera and 4000 mAh battery. Dimensions are 149.7 x 71 mm and weighs 168 g. Finally, another compact smartphone in Japan is offered by Kyocera - with pure Android called Android One S9 and with fan paraphernalia of the Tokyo Sanga football club called Digno Sanga. Both devices are equipped with 6.1″ Full HD+ IPS screen, 16 MP + 16 MP dual camera, Snapdragon 480 chipset and 4500 mAh battery. Dimensions – 153x69 mm, weight – 166 g. The same phone with an improved camera and additional case protection is sold in the USA as Kyocera DuraForce, but due to the protective elements it becomes larger and is no longer included in our framework.

So, these are absolutely all compact smartphones withgood stuffing that you can now find - from iPhone and Samsung flagships to budget FCNT and Mode1. In total, 26 models turned out - one and a half times more than in the Guide. Of course, many of them "climbed through" due to the increase in the height threshold, but it's still worth recognizing that the persistent release of compact iPhones has done its job, and Android manufacturers have begun to pay more attention to this segment. So far, only BBK (OPPO / Vivo / Realme / OnePlus) and Lenovo / Motorola have completely ignored this trend, although, according to rumors, Motorola is also preparing some kind of compact middling. Which of the compact smartphones did you like? Tell in the comments!

© Oleg Lazarev.