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I've been using Sony compact phones for a while now, I like the small form factor. However, current one is showing its age so I think I need to replace it. Any recommendations from others who appreciate not having to carry around a flat screen telly in their pocket?
Sub £150 ideally.
Sub £150 ideally
Samsung S10e is all of teh orsum, but alas fails on the above.
Out of budget but the new iPhone 12 compact is, if you don’t mind Apple, at least competitively priced and you have peace of mind that it’ll at least be supported for 5-7 years or more.
It is also by far and away the most powerful phone in class with a stunning screen and decent camera.
Equally appreciate it may just not be your thing 🙂
I had a Sony Z3compact and would have preferred an up to date phone the same size, but nothing exists. I went for Nokia 7.2, bigger than I'd have liked, about £200.
That iPhone has RRP £699 😂 Samsung £399 on clearance at Argos, latter is 5.8" is that small these days?
Sub £150 ideally
second hand or one of the dodgy Chinese knock offs (Blackview CUBOT etc) only then
Out of budget but the new iPhone 12 compact is
I would definitely say with a budget of £150 that £700 is out of budget 🙂
I am still using an original iPhone SE due to the small size but the day will come soon when it stops receiving updates and the smallest iPhone is indeed the 12 mini but that is still bigger so funny that it is called a mini.
latter is 5.8″ is that small these days?
pretty much, from the larger manufacturers. There are smaller ones, even non-smart that are smaller
I have both a Nokia 1208 and a Nokia RM945 for years as backup/hiking phones. Both have a torch, both have Snake game (!). Cost less than a fiver (boxed with accessories) for both at the car boot. Both last days/weeks on a single charge. Job jobbed. The 1208 is shorter, (but thicker) and tougher by far, it has only a small crack in the screen after years of abuse. Just discovered/remembered that the RM945 has a major crack in the screen 😔
Wait, you wanted a smart phone? I’m still using iphone SE, and it works fine but the tough-case I keep it in makes it heavy and bulky so is less than ideal. ie
1st generation iphone SE (in Lunatik case) vs Nokia 1208:
I'm a Sony fan, had all the Compacts for last 8-ish years...or when they first came out. They don't do a compact compact any longer. Xperia 5 (or something) is what I have now and that was the smallest they do that met my wants - waterproof, dust and shockproof with a decent battery life.
It isn't compact as it is very tall (or wide in landscape)...however, it still seems compact to other phones.
Doubt it'll be in your budget but I feel your pain as despite me being used to this size now, I do want smaller for next phone in another year or so.
My Samsung A3 2017 has a knackered battery (luckily don't go out much at the moment!) and is regularly out of space (COVID seems to have required a lot of new apps to make various bookings) but at the moment there's just nothing to replace it that's small enough. The S10e mentioned up thread is bigger. Articles that recommend the best compact phones just seem to have redefined compact so they have something to list!
I'll sell you an XZ1 for £100. It's got a scratch on the back, but in ace condition with a case.
Samsung S10e is all of teh orsum, but alas fails on the above.
^ he's right, and what I replaced the XZ1 with.
I have an XZ2 Compact and I'm hoping to make it last as long as possible as I've not seen anything that could replace it.
Did a similar thread a few months ago, ended up with the s10e.
Over your budget but a great camera make it worth it for me .
Still holding on to my XZ1 Compact. Haven't seen anything newer but similar that appeals and the performance is absolutely fine.
So, 2nd hand XZ1 or XZ2 Compact would be my suggestion. Maybe you can still get them NOS from some places?
Picked up a refurb xz1 compact for 120 over summer from CEX. Perfect. So good i had to get one for Mrs NBT too
It does seem to be something of a gap in the market. Every phone I buy seems to be slightly bigger than the last and I was thinking "this is great but just too big" like five phones ago. I have a 7" tablet, what do I need a 6" phone for?
I agree cougar.
I think that pretty much any phone "works", the issue is now making them smaller again. I think most of us have worked out that carrying a small tablet around is a pain more often than not.
Second hand Pixel 3a? Not tiny, but not massive either...
Whenever this question crops up its always worth reminding people that modern phones are virtually "all screen" so not actually that much bigger than an old compact phone with a big bezel. The S10e suggested above is only about 5mm longer, a couple of mm wider than the Sony compacts mentioned above and is about half the thickness.
Every phone I buy seems to be slightly bigger than the last and I was thinking “this is great but just too big” like five phones ago. I have a 7″ tablet, what do I need a 6″ phone for?
Or to turn that on it's head "Now that I have a 6.7" phone thats smaller than my old 6" tablet what do I need a tablet for?"
I think that pretty much any phone “works”, the issue is now making them smaller again. I think most of us have worked out that carrying a small tablet around is a pain more often than not.
Apple tried fobbing people off with little phones while Androids grew larger and obviously changed their tune when they saw which way the sales were going. Look at the top selling phone brands and the size of their phones. I think most people have come to the exact opposite conclusion!
Picked up a refurb xz1 compact for 120 over summer from CEX.
Yeah, I think that's what I might do. I have an XZ1 at the moment, quite happy with it, but it's picked up a problem where callers are telling me that their voice echoes back badly on calls. The start of the problem does coincide with me dropping it...
King Kong mini user here, had it 6 months or so. I really like it, think I paid 90 quid new. Previous phone was an iPhone 5c.
It's tiny and light, you don't know you have it on you. I do WhatsApp chat, email and light browsing. Met office. That's pretty much it, I suspect I'm not a typical user to be fair. For its price I think it's great. Cons are its probably a bit too small, chubby fingers would hate it. But it's small and crazy light and 90 quid! Sort of ruggedized and allegedly waterproof too but at the price point it would be a no tears scenario if if died a hero's death.
What is interesting is how it changed my opinion on phones. My iPhone had lulled me into thinking I needed to pony up on something half decent, but since having the king Kong I couldn't care less about phones. It's been quite liberating to be honest. YMMV of course but I'm very happy with it
Yeah, I've looked a the sizes
XZ2 Compact 135 x 65 x 12.1 mm. Area 87.75.
S10E 142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9 mm. Area 99.39.
Only 13.3% larger in area (which is more important for me than volume), but that's assuming that the XZ2 is as small as folk would be prepared to go.
Samsung S10e is all of teh orsum, but alas fails on the above.
As an s10e owner, I agree, they're awesome.
Worth looking at the phone it "replaced", ie compact, no edge screen, waterproof, great camera, etc.
The S7.
Looks like you can get "as new" refurbs in budget and a actual new ones not far off. Thing worth noting is that they're no longer waterproof after replacement battery so this needs to be good if this is an issue.
Edit : can get an actual boxed new one for 180 notes.
Whenever this question crops up its always worth reminding people that modern phones are virtually “all screen” so not actually that much bigger than an old compact phone with a big bezel.
Each time I've needed a new phone I've ended up having to get something that's 'not that much bigger'. End result is my current phone is 4cm longer and a cm wider than the smartphone i had 3 phones ago, and it looks like I can't even get something that 'small' now. I have small hands, i can't comfortably hold a bigger phone, I don't care if it's nearly all screen and no bezel if I can't actually hold the thing
Re size. Looking at my previous two phones.
S10e
Screen 5.8inches
Height: 142.2 mm Width: 69.9 mm Depth: 7.9 mm Weight: 150 grams
S7
Screen 5.1 inches
Height: 142.4 mm Width: 69.6 mm Depth: 7.9 mm Weight: 152 grams
Size is basically identical for a noticeably bigger screen. Almost so identical it suggests some kind of researched specific size.
Works for me anyway. I've done these big screen thing but it's just a pain.
Google “prison phones”, they’re on the small size as they have a very specific need. Limited functionality mind you.
Smashing your budget again but you might get one a bit cheaper nearly new/used...
Pixel 4a.
Brilliant for absolutely everything except perhaps high end gaming. Easily fits in one hand for use.
So, quick update, I've taken a punt on a new S7 for £135:
Not arrived yet, and possibly too good to be true, but if it is a brand-spanker for 135 notes then I reckon that's a bargain.
Dad recently got a phone off Ebay (pretty sure it was an S7) on behalf of one of his friends, when it arrive it was intended for russian market. It was fine once changed to english language and the UK sim works fine though. not a bad buy if it's new, as you say
Anyone more more up to date with phones with phone prices? My phone is bricked and actually need rather than want a new one. Samsung due to launch new models on 14th (available by end of month) - so the old models tend to get cheaper after that date or is what is for sale now about as good as it will get. With lockdown and an old iphone 5c dragged from the draw I can hang on a bit but not forever.
My phone is bricked and actually need rather than want a new one. Samsung due to launch new models on 14th (available by end of month) – so the old models tend to get cheaper after that date or is what is for sale now about as good as it will get
They never get cheaper the new ones just get priced higher than the previous gen.
Iv'e had a pixel 4a for a few months now, not sure it fits the definition of compact, but it's not what I'd call large. it's great. Paid cash for it, so I could make my monthly contract cost cheaper, I'm now paying about £18 per month rather than £30+
Mostly got it as it was £320 on sale... I don't think i'll ever go back to £500+ flagship models, they just don't do anything to justify the price over what a ~£300 phone can do.
Well, thread update. The S7 arrived, and it's original-cellophane-wrapped-box-brand-spanking-new. Powered up it becomes clear that it's an AT&T branded one from the States, but was easy enough to clear down/Disable all the AT&T bloatware.
However... It's Android 8.0 and won't go higher. That normally wouldn't bother me in the slightest, but it seems that my super-cautious workplace will only allow access to MS Outlook and Teams on Android 9.0 or later, so I can't use it for work. Crap.
If anyone's interested in buying a now-not-quite-but-still-basically-brand-spanking-new S7, let me know...
@matt_outandabout - is that XZ1 still for sale? (and I can't believe I have genuinely only just noticed the offer *facepalm*)
@matt_outandabout – is that XZ1 still for sale?
just pointing out that Sony do an XZ1 and an XZ1 compact - they're different phones, not sure which one @matt_outandabout is offering
Ah, yeah, good point, I nearly bought a non-compact XZ1 on eBay. It's a compact I'm after.
It is a normal size XZ1, sorry...
I just fitted a new battery to my XZ1 compact as I couldn't find anything to replace it with.
The battery randomly shorted, the phone got really hot and wouldn't turn on. Apparently they have a habit of it.
Oh and I broke the screen taking it apart, so I fitted a new screen too.
Been using my wifes old Nokia 7+ in the interim, hate it, hate having to use 2 hands, hate it not fitting in my howies jeans pocket its massive.
Still using an original iPhone SE here.
Perfect size for me, robust design, headphone port.
Wish the camera was better and that it was waterproof - but not enough to move to an SE2 or 12 Mini (and I'd like to stay in the Apple ecosystem due to tie in with other devices, apps, FaceTime etc).
Update - I bought a Google Pixel 5. I had an iphone 7+ before this that I bricked in error.
A bit underwhelmed to be honest. I like the physical size and being modern its all screen so still works for my middle aged eyes. It feels like a good compromise to me.
But the camera is crap. Which is odd because that is apparently one of the best features in reviews. My wife's Huawei p30 Pro camera is vastly better - a different league. But that is a stellar camera so maybe my standards are a bit skewed. I'm not sold on Android 11 either. Maybe I'll get used to it.
I find the all screen thing a bit irksome. It looks nice, but it's annoying to use one handed because you get a lot of false presses.
I recently bought a Pixel 4a and am a big fan. The integration of the front camera into the screen (it's just a pinhole in the display), the overall finish of the OS and so on are all excellent, and I like the fact it's smaller than my old OnePlus.
Convert, interesting point you make about the camera. Google has very publicly not upgraded the camera hardware for about 2 generations of Pixel now, focusing instead on the software rather than the lenses etc. I was coming from a broken lens on my OP so anything's an improvement, but even being critical I've found the Pixle camera to be pretty good.
I need to replace the screen on my XZ1 compact, I've now dropped it twice and the cracks are spreading. I've done fairly well though as this is the first screen crack in 20 years of owning a mobile...
I've just had a look on CeX and I can get a XZ1 compact from them for £130, and they'll buy the S7 off me for £111, so I'll just sort it through them and chalk £20 up to experience...