I challenge you to find me a great, affordable, compact Android phone (that isn’t the Pixel 8a).
My mother and grandmother have been using the Galaxy S9 (2018) and the Huawei Nova 5T (2019) for some time now and it’s time for an upgrade.
What they hate about their current phones (in their current state) is the short battery life, which is completely understandable considering they are 5-6 years old. What they love about them, however, is their compactness.
So… I was given a simple task: find a great, durable, compact Android flagship that wouldn’t break the bank – that is, cost 300-400 euros.
You might think: “Martin, if anyone can do this, it’s the phone nerd who makes his living playing with phones…”
And that’s what I thought too! But I was in for a surprise…
Finding a durable, affordable and compact Android phone is almost impossible these days: Pixel 8a comes close, but it’s not enough
This is the standard (and practically only) phone size you can get for $200-400 today.
Parents and grandparents tend to keep their phones longer, which means they’re likely to upgrade from phones the size of an iPhone 8 and Galaxy S9. This makes it quite difficult to find a new (compact) Android phone that meets their needs.
Why is that? Well, because most people these days want phones with big screens – even budget and mid-range phones are big now.
The thing is, “the majority of people” doesn’t necessarily mean “everyone”… Not everyone wants a big phone. In fact, no one in my family does.
Right now, the Google Pixel 8a is the only option for anyone looking for a compact phone that doesn’t cost a fortune. But that’s not what I’d call “having choice.” It’s also not what I’d call a “budget phone.”
Another option is to buy a used/refurbished old flagship like the Galaxy S23, Pixel 8 or iPhone 14 (or older models) – but that doesn’t fill the gap in the market and (although I don’t mind) many people would rather buy a brand new device.
There is a huge gap in the market for compact and affordable phones: Samsung, Apple and Chinese phone makers must do something about it
Apart from Apple, Samsung and Google, Chinese phone makers are not innocent either! What happened to affordable compact phones from Chinese brands?
The Pixel 8a is currently the closest (and only) device to a great compact Android phone. However, it starts at $500, and that’s not exactly what I’d call “affordable.” Unless, of course, you buy one on eBay/Swappa.
With the upcoming Galaxy S24 FE getting a 6.7-inch screen (up from 6.4 inches on the Galaxy S23 FE), it currently looks like our hopes for a compact phone will rest on the rumored iPhone SE 4. But the iPhone is… an iPhone – not an Android.
Motorola will soon launch the Edge 50 Neo, which could feature a relatively compact screen (around 6.5 inches). While I wouldn’t exactly call that “compact,” it’s certainly a bit better than 6.7 inches.
Apart from Samsung, Google and Apple, I think Chinese phone makers should also pay a little more attention to the “compact but affordable” phone segment.
Not everyone wants a big phone – the world’s best-selling smartphone has a 6.1-inch screen (but it’s not Android)
If everyone wants phones with big screens, why is the iPhone 15 the best-selling phone in the world? It’s the same size as my mom’s Galaxy S9.
I see and understand the trend – most people want bigger phones. But “most” people is not “all” people. In fact, the best-selling phone in the world (right now) is the iPhone 15, which has a 6.1-inch screen. This at least proves that one-handed phones are here to stay!
But let’s make more of them… and make them cheaper… please.
