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I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

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Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#51

Unfortunately this still hasn't happened yet. There are almost no good options for reasonable size Androids anymore. Zenfone 10 is pretty good, especially with the headphone jack, but it's already out of print and will be obsolete before long. And smaller would be nicer. Any other current gen recommendations?

I had to make this decision yesterday and picked Galaxy S25. A lot lighter than my work Pixel 9.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#52

Funny enough, in 2023, Asus released a good very close to iphone Mini-size android phone. The asus zenfone 10. https://www.asus.com/us/mobile-handhelds/phones/zenfone/zenf...

I don't know why it was reported so frequently as a compact phone, the ZenFones are much larger than the iPhone mini. It's the same size as a standard iPhone or Galaxy S series.

https://www.phonearena.com/phones/size/Apple-iPhone-13-mini,...

I was convinced you were wrong but that's correct. The Mini is much smaller and the Zenfone is about the same size as the regular iPhone.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. I'd prefer a modern iPhone the size of an iPhone 4, it was perfegt. I made the same "upgrade" from 12 mini to 16 Pro, and the 16 Pro is so large and heavy. Feels like we're moving backwards in time.

2026 iPhone Fold is rumored iPhone Mini size unfolding to iPad Mini size. https://9to5mac.com/2025/04/28/iphone-18-fold-details-launch...

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Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#54
post #8

My cynical take is that small phones don't exist because they are not the product. Similar to vape pens the product is the addictive substance the device loads. In this case its apps and ads. A smaller screen probably negatively impacts KPIs on many levels, at Google/Apple/Meta/X and on down through the ecosystem. I understand that Apple did not make enough money to make it worth their while to continue the iphone mi…

That makes no sense. The only phone companies that make money from how often you use your phone and buy apps on it are Apple and Google. If there were a market for it other companies would make them.

As far as the mini phones - because physics - the battery life is atrocious. That was one of the main drivers for me to get a larger phone. Well that and because I can pull down the Control Center and use the widget to make everything on my phone larger and still be able to use it without wearing my glasses. With my glasses, I keep everything the smallest size

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#55

Unfortunately this still hasn't happened yet. There are almost no good options for reasonable size Androids anymore. Zenfone 10 is pretty good, especially with the headphone jack, but it's already out of print and will be obsolete before long. And smaller would be nicer. Any other current gen recommendations?

blackview n6000. Bombproof. Cheap. Almost a week's battery life.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#56
My iPhone 12 Mini's camera just broke (the zoom is failing..) I have been poking around for any solution that is around the same size. The best answer is generally never-heard-of companies that pop new phone models out and no certainty as to how long they'll last or be supported. That's on top of having to switch platforms (again).

I'm resigned to getting a new iPhone in Sept - reluctantly.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#57

Funny enough, in 2023, Asus released a good very close to iphone Mini-size android phone. The asus zenfone 10. https://www.asus.com/us/mobile-handhelds/phones/zenfone/zenf...

Not only is it not a very small phone, I can't even properly type this message one handed. It's also not a good phone which I regret purchasing.

Zenphones until the 10 had easy to unlock bootloaders, leading to long in official support by the community. However with the 10 ASUS stopped that tool and they've been lying ever since that they're still working on it.

My zenfone is now on its final major android update, the rather minor android 15 version, and I've only got two years of security updates left until I need to look for a new phone. That's one thousand euros for barely four years of software support, it's such a disappointment.

That aside the camera is lackluster, it's auto whitebalance is horrific, turning the same snowy scene into a sunset or illuminated by fluorescent light depending on the phase of the moon and it's sampling questionable making images much more blurry in a surreal way. But the optical stabilisation is seriously impressive. Overall I preferred the pixel 4a's images though. A smaller phone and my zenfone's predecessor.

At least I get to just plug it into my stereo thanks to the 3.5mm jack though.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#58
post #18

There is Unihertz, but their 5G model is crap. They also don't update their OS. I believe the big manufacturers don't want to make a small phone (as other users have indicated) because of the big screen's addictiveness. Also, they can't fit a large battery in them so battery life would be a few hours with 1000mp 16k cameras. I'd rather carry a 1" thick, 4" tall phone than a 0.3" thick 8" tall phone. No pants pockets…

Got two weeks ago a update for my jelly star. Don't know what they changed, whas not many, maybe some bugfixes. But I would be really angry when they just change the android version and the way I have to use the phone just with a over the air update that is installed without warning with one button press.

Android 16 is out, and Jelly Star is still Android 13. Unihertz doesn't even have that many phones to worry about updates. I don't understand why they aren't updating it to the latest. Look at the iPhone 11. Got iOS 18 after 6 years.

Re: I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

#60
post #44
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>No major player wants a smaller screen because it has downstream impacts on the pipeline of addictive material and ad pixels they can stuff into ocular nerves. There are lots of phone manufacturers who have no ads business. They just make phones so why would they care? Size is dictated by trouser pocket size/handbag size and usage. Editing photos and movies to upload onto social media is probably better on a big scr…

I think photos are a big deal, but IMO it's more about the photo quality. And if you put a nice fancy camera on the phone, suddenly the device gets pretty expensive. And so while there are people who want "small screen + nice camera". There are people who want "small screen + small price". There are many people who _don't want the small screen_. So you have this phone that can cost a lot of money (in a pretty messy m…

I have an iPhone mini, and my understanding is that I lose quite a bit of battery life also by not having the full sized version. The market definitely prefers long runtimes, free from frequent charging, while I need to carry a charge pack sometimes, although just when I expect it to be needed.
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