When did small phones come out?

The first commercial hand-held portable mobile phone was released in 1983 by Motorola, and the first mass-produced GSM 2G mobile phone was released in 1992, by Nokia. In 2000 Nokia released the now iconic Nokia 3310 - which is still available to buy today.

Are there small phones with 5G?

The size of the phone does not impact whether it supports 5G or not. Some great 5G small phones include the iPhone SE (3rd gen) and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6

The best small phones

If you're after a neat, slimline phone which you can easily operate with one hand or slip into a pocket, you're in the right place.

Here's a guide to the best small phones with hardworking processors, fabulous features and crystal-clear screens for gaming, browsing and working.

If you're after something a little bigger, check out our guide to big screen phones

The evolution of small phones

The very first mobile phones weren't like the ones today - they operated more as two-way radios that allowed drivers and emergency services to communicate.

The first portable phone call was made in 1973 by a Motorola engineer in the US, and the first portable handset was introduced to market in 1983. In 1992 the first ever SMS message was sent, and Nokia presented the first mobile phone that ordinary users could afford - weighing 500g.

Mobile phones grew in popularity - and shrunk in size - over the course of the next two decades until they started getting larger again. Today's smartphones tend to have large screens and powerful processors.

Advantages of small phones

Small smartphones are everything you love in a larger smartphone but in a more compact form. They'll fit easily into your pocket or bag, so you can carry them everywhere with ease, plus you can operate them with just one hand, allowing you to multi-task.

Best small Samsung phones

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6

Phone size: 6.7-inch main display, 3.4-inch cover screen Weight: 187g

Experience pocket-sized perfection, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 – a cutting-edge foldable smartphone that combines sleek design with powerful performance.

It’s more compact and eye-catching, with Galaxy AI and a pro-level 50-megapixel camera¹. You can send messages directly from the FlexWindow with Chat Assist – just select from one of the Suggested Replies curated by context-aware AI².

Enjoy the durability of the largest Flip battery yet. Thanks to the 4,000mAh battery, combined with the Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 processor for Galaxy, you can make calls, text, and game all day without interruption³. This Galaxy device now includes the Google Gemini app, an AI assistant that helps you learn, write notes, plan events, and more⁴.

Enlarging your phone's font and display size

There are plenty of ways to maximise your phone enjoyment, even if you've got a minimal screen.

If you need to enlarge the font size, the keypad or any icons, you can do this on Apple, Samsung and Google devices.

• How to enlarge your font size on iPhone
• How to enlarge the keypad on iPhone
• How to enlarge your phone display with Display Zoom

• How to enlarge the font size on Samsung phones
• How to enlarge the keypad on Samsung phones
• How to enlarge your phone display on a Samsung phone

• How to enlarge the font and display size on a Google Pixel phone

Frequently asked questions

iPhone SE and iPhone 12 mini: Apple Pencil isn't compatible with any iPhone devices, as it was created to work with iPads. However, there are plenty of third-party capacitive styluses available which work on iPhone models.

A capacitive stylus conducts the electrical charge from your finger to the screen just like your finger does.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip: You cannot use the S Pen (Fold Edition), the S Pen Pro, nor any older S Pen on the Galaxy Z Flip3, Flip4 or Flip6.

If you're watching a blockbuster and only the big screen will do, there are ways to cast what's showing on your phone's screen to your TV screen for a truly cinematic experience.

iPhone users can use AirPlay to stream or share content from an Apple device to your Apple TV, AirPlay 2-compatible smart TV or Mac.

All recent Samsung smartphones and tablets have an inbuilt feature that allows you to display your Samsung phone screen on TV's with a Wi-Fi connection

Terms and conditions

¹ Compared to previous Galaxy Z Flip models.

² Suggested Replies feature requires network connection to receive messages. It can suggest replies without network connection once the messages are received by the device. Samsung Account login required. Suggested Replies feature is only supported from the FlexWindow. Service availability may vary by language, country and app. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

³ Snapdragon branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Only on Galaxy Z Series.

⁴ Sequences shortened and simulated. Results for illustrative purposes only. Service availability may vary by country, language, device model. Requires internet connection and Google Account login. Users may need to download or update Google Gemini app to the latest version. Check responses for accuracy. Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC. Gemini opt-in is rolling out to select devices and countries – opt in to Gemini from your Google Assistant or by downloading the Gemini app. Product functionality may be dependent on app and device settings. Some functions may not be compatible with certain apps. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Feature availability may vary by content.

¹Data plan required. 5G is available in select markets and through select carriers. Speeds vary based on site conditions and carrier. For details on 5G support, contact your carrier and see apple.com/iphone/cellular

²Display size is measured diagonally.

³Battery life varies by use and configuration. See apple.com/batteries for more information.

⁴Testing conducted by Apple in January 2022 using preproduction iPhone SE (3rd generation) and software and accessory Apple USB‑C Power Adapter (20W Model A2305). Fast‑charge testing conducted with drained iPhone units. Charge time varies with settings and environmental factors; actual results will vary.

Wireless chargers and power adapters sold separately.