Robert Triggs/Android Authority
There are plenty of options to consider when it comes to smaller flagship phones, although few of them are truly what one might consider compact. You can get the early 2022 Galaxy S22, the more affordable Pixel 7, or the latest iPhone 14, as just three solid examples that would serve most people just fine.
However, at 6.3 inches and 197g, Google’s latest tiny phone is still a little too bulky for those looking for something small and light. The Galaxy S22 and iPhone 14 are better suited for this role, but they’re still quite chunky and wide and, therefore, not always particularly usable with one hand. They won’t necessarily fit snugly in your pocket either, although they are much more practical than their larger siblings.
If you’re looking for a truly compact phone, look no further than Sony’s Xperia 5 IV.
There is a solution, however: grab a Sony Xperia 5 IV instead. With a relatively slim 67mm wide body but a larger 6.1-inch 21:9 display, this is a phone designed for one-handed use. It’s also light enough, but, perhaps most importantly, still incredibly well built. You’ll have to pay for it though, priced at $999 instead of its smaller rivals’ $799.
Read more: Sony Xperia 5 IV review — The powerhouse of pocket photography
Design without compromise
Robert Triggs/Android Authority
After spending time on all these recent handsets, it comes down to the iPhone 14 and Xperia 5 IV when it comes to the most well-built phone. Both metal-framed constructions wrap bodies with a timeless appearance that are more universally appealing than the weirder (more unique?) designs from Google and Samsung. Still, Apple’s completely flat edges make the phone bulkier than Sony’s slightly tapered edge.
It’s also the little details, whether it’s Apple’s wonderfully tactile mute slider or Sony’s fast and discreetly integrated fingerprint scanner, that sets these phones apart. Sony’s phone steals a few more wins, though: I love the dedicated camera shutter button that’s a snap to love. Meanwhile, Apple’s obsession with Face ID, while undoubtedly practical, is a nasty blight on a phone that already offers limited screen real estate.
Apple’s dedication to the convenience of Face ID is eating away at valuable small screen real estate.
Then there are the cameras. Sony has managed to pack a robust triple camera setup into a much narrower phone than the competition, but at the cost of a little extra thickness. Samsung is offering a similar setup, giving users much better portrait and zoom capabilities than the iPhone 14 and Pixel 7 — two small phones that stick to the less flexible main and rear camera setup. ultra wide dual camera.
Read more: Apple iPhone 14 Review – The Old Ways
In our tests, we noted that the iPhone 14 is at best usable at around 3x while the Xperia 5 IV is functional at around 4x-5x, thanks to its telephoto lens. I could say a lot more about the cameras, but suffice it to say that Sony’s eye tracking and color science make the Xperia a more fun shooter too. Granted, you’d expect a particularly robust camera setup for the extra money Sony charges, but it’s managed to squeeze that into a phone that’s even more compact than its rivals.
Can we also have no-compromise specs?
Robert Triggs/Android Authority
As flattering as this article may seem, the Xperia 5 IV is not a perfect phone. It lacks Sony’s innovative varifocal camera hardware and doesn’t nail everything we’d like to see in the processing or software departments either. It could be a bit better, and that’s a bit of a problem as there really aren’t any other compact flagship smartphones like this to serve as an alternative.
Small phones are unfortunately all too often compromised compared to their larger siblings.
Whether it’s Apple, Samsung, or others, their smallest flagships are also their entry-level models. Unfortunately, you still have to think big to get their best technology. Compact phones with most of the bells and whistles are a rarity that Sony dares to tackle. While internal size constraints are an issue, the Xperia 5 IV’s huge battery and triple camera setup prove it’s an engineering problem that can be solved.
Our recent survey on the subject reveals a decently sized consumer base that likes phones with screens smaller than 6.5 inches. Sales figures for entry-level flagships echo the reality that bigger isn’t always better. Big phones are still popular, at least among the enthusiast community. I’m even sticking with the gargantuan Galaxy S22 Ultra for my daily driver, for now. But that’s mostly because I crave the raw specs.
But recently, using some of the latest smaller phones convinced me that I didn’t really need as much screen as I thought. I’d be happy to trade some of it for low-profile design, improved portability, and one-handed ease of use.
I’d be happy to trade some screen space to stop snagging my phone in my pocket.
I’ll leave you with one last anecdote that sums up what I really enjoyed about the Xperia 5 IV over all the other phones I’ve used this year: effortlessly pulling it out of my pocket for a quick snap or to throw a glance at a message. No snag on the corner of the pocket and no oversized case digging into my thigh.
Small phones are effortless, and I really like them.
Sony Xperia 5IV
3.5mm jack • Great speakers • Reverse wireless charging
A compact smartphone with speakers.
The Sony Xperia 5 IV is a compact smartphone with a brighter 6.1-inch OLED display than its predecessor and a large 5,000 mAh battery capable of reversing wireless earphone charging.
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