Best Small Phones to Buy Used in 2026

The iPhone 13 mini is still the best small phone you can buy in 2026: 131.5 mm tall, 141 grams, and the last mini Apple made. Samsung’s and Google’s newest base flagships, the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 11, both have 6.3-inch screens, so a truly compact phone now usually means buying used. This guide defines small with real measurements, then ranks the compact iPhone, Galaxy, Pixel and flip phones by size, updates, battery and Swappa sale price.

Quick Answer

For a truly small phone, buy a used iPhone 13 mini: a 5.4-inch screen in a 131.5 x 64.2 mm body that runs iOS 27, for about $250 with 128GB on Swappa. On Android, the Galaxy S25 is the smallest and lightest Android phone in this guide at 146.9 x 70.5 mm and 162 grams, with updates to about 2032, for about $417. Every small phone gives up some battery life, so check the battery health in the listing before you buy.

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What Counts as a Small Phone in 2026?

“Small” is relative now that a 6.1-inch screen counts as compact. This guide sorts phones into three size classes, using each maker’s own spec sheet:

• Mini class: under 140 mm tall, under 68 mm wide and under 145 grams. In this guide, only Apple’s iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13 mini and iPhone SE (3rd generation) qualify.
• Compact: roughly 147 to 153 mm tall and 72 mm wide or less, with a 6.1-inch to 6.3-inch screen. The iPhone 16e, the Galaxy S24, S25 and S26, and Google’s base Pixel models sit here.
• Flip foldables: 85 to 89 mm tall when closed, with a full-size screen inside.

For scale, the standard iPhone 17 is 149.6 mm tall, 71.5 mm wide and 177 grams, according to Apple’s spec page.

Sizes and weights come from Apple, Samsung, Google and Motorola spec pages. Swappa sale data from October 7, 2026 shows the average sale price for the storage tier listed; the 12 mini and SE sell for about $165 and $168 with 128GB. Prices move with condition, carrier and demand, so check current Swappa prices before you buy.

Two numbers in that table surprise people. The 13 mini is 6.9 mm shorter and 3.1 mm narrower than the iPhone SE even though its screen is bigger, because its display runs nearly edge to edge instead of sitting between a wide top bezel and a Home button. And the Pixel 10 weighs 204 grams, 3 grams more than Apple’s 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus. A 6.3-inch Pixel is compact in footprint, not in weight.

What Is the Best Small iPhone?

The iPhone 13 mini is the one to buy. Apple’s spec page lists a 5.4-inch OLED screen, the A15 Bionic chip and a 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.65 mm body that weighs 141 grams. It is on Apple’s iOS 27 compatibility list, so it still gets Apple’s current software and security updates.

Swappa sale data from early October 2026 puts the 13 mini at about $250 with 128GB and about $315 with 256GB. That is a few dollars more than the full-size iPhone 13 at about $245, so you are paying for the size, not getting a discount for the smaller battery. Check current iPhone 13 mini prices before you buy.

When the 12 mini makes sense. The iPhone 12 mini has the same 131.5 x 64.2 mm footprint and weighs only 135 grams. It costs less, about $143 with 64GB or $165 with 128GB, but it runs the older A14 Bionic, Apple rates it for 15 hours of video instead of 17, and it launched in 2020, which makes it one of the oldest phones on the iOS 27 list. Buy it as a budget small phone, not one to keep for many years.

When the iPhone SE makes sense. The iPhone SE (3rd generation) is the small iPhone with a Home button and Touch ID, which some people simply prefer. It shares the 13 mini’s A15 chip but has a 4.7-inch LCD screen in a slightly larger 138.4 x 67.3 mm body, and it sells for about $120 with 64GB or $168 with 128GB.

If you only want an iPhone and size is one factor among several, What iPhone Should I Buy in 2026? Picks for Every Need matches a model to each kind of buyer. If price matters most, Best Cheap Phones Under $300 in 2026: iPhone and Android ranks the strongest picks in that range.

Shop the iPhone 13 mini on Swappa

What Is the Best Small Android Phone?

The Galaxy S25 is the smallest and lightest Android phone in this guide: 146.9 x 70.5 mm and 162 grams with a 6.2-inch screen, per Samsung’s spec page. Samsung promises the S25 series seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from its early 2025 launch, which runs to about 2032. It sells for about $417 with 128GB.

Galaxy S24 for less. The Galaxy S24 is almost the same phone in your hand: 147.0 x 70.6 mm, 167 grams and the same 4,000mAh battery as the S25. Samsung gave the S24 series the same seven-year promise when it went on sale in January 2024, so its updates run to about 2031. At about $327, it is the value pick for a small Galaxy.

Galaxy S26 for the newest. The Galaxy S26 grew to a 6.3-inch screen and 149.6 x 71.7 mm, but it kept the weight at 167 grams and moved to a 4,300mAh battery, according to Samsung’s spec sheet. It is the most expensive compact phone here at about $611 with 256GB, and its seven-year support runs to about 2033.

The Pixels are compact, not light. The Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 10 share a 6.3-inch screen and a 152.8 x 72.0 mm footprint, but Google’s spec page lists them at 198 to 204 grams. The Pixel 9 (about $371) is the value choice. The Pixel 9 Pro (about $458) adds a 48 MP 5x telephoto camera and 16GB of memory in the same body, and the Pixel 10 (about $466) brings a 5x telephoto to the base model. The newer Pixel 11 keeps the same footprint at 197 grams for about $595 with 256GB.

Pixel 8 for a smaller, cheaper Pixel. The Pixel 8 is smaller than its successors at 150.5 x 70.8 mm and 187 grams, with a 6.2-inch screen. At about $256, it is the least expensive non-folding Android phone here, and it gets updates through October 2030.

For generation-by-generation detail, see Used Samsung Galaxy S Buyer’s Guide: Which Generation to Get and Used Google Pixel Buyer’s Guide: Which Pixel Is Worth It, or browse used Galaxy S phones and used Pixel phones on Swappa.

Are Flip Phones a Good Way to Go Small?

The Galaxy Z Flip6 folds to 85.1 x 71.9 mm, shorter than any phone above, and opens to a 6.7-inch screen. The Galaxy Z Flip7 folds to 85.5 x 75.2 mm and raises the cover screen from 3.4 to 4.1 inches. The catch is thickness and weight: closed, the Flip6 is 14.9 mm thick and 187 grams, against 7.65 mm and 141 grams for the iPhone 13 mini. Samsung promises seven years of OS and security updates for the Flip6, and the two sell for about $373 and $514 with 256GB.

The Motorola Razr (2025) folds to 88.1 x 74.0 mm and weighs 188 grams, with a 3.6-inch cover screen and a 6.9-inch inner screen, per Motorola. At about $272 it is the cheapest flip here, but Motorola’s support site lists its security updates ending in June 2029, years before Samsung’s flips. A hinge adds wear points a slab phone does not have, so read Buying a Used Galaxy Z Fold/Flip: What to Check before you buy any flip, and browse used Galaxy Z phones on Swappa.

How Much Battery Do You Give Up With a Small Phone?

Some, and it is worth knowing how much before you buy. Apple publishes a video playback rating for every iPhone, and the small models sit at the bottom:

Those ratings describe a new battery. A 13 mini launched in 2021, so a used one has been through years of charging, and the battery health of the exact phone matters more than the rating. If a full-size phone barely gets you through the day now, a mini will not.

On Android, the trade-off shows up as capacity. The Galaxy S24 and S25 carry 4,000mAh batteries, and the S26 moves to 4,300mAh with a rating of up to 30 hours of video. The heavier Pixels carry more: 4,700mAh in the Pixel 9 and 4,970mAh in the Pixel 10.

The best compromise is the iPhone 16e. At 146.7 x 71.5 mm and 167 grams it matches a Galaxy S24’s weight, but Apple rates it for up to 26 hours of video, 9 more than the 13 mini, for about $370 with 128GB. For full rankings, see iPhones With the Best Battery Life in 2026, Ranked and Phones With the Best Battery Life in 2026 (Used Picks).

How Long Will Each Small Phone Get Updates?

Apple publishes no end dates, but iOS 27 supports every iPhone in this guide. Samsung counts its seven years from each phone’s global launch, so the Samsung dates above are estimates. Google counts seven years from the month a Pixel first went on sale in the US Google Store, and Motorola lists a security end date for each model on its support site. How Long Will a Used Phone Get Updates? explains the difference between OS updates and security updates.

How to Buy a Small Phone Used on Swappa

• Check battery health first. Swappa has no minimum battery-health percentage to list, but iPhone sellers must disclose when health is below 80% and Apple’s battery service message is showing. iPhone Battery Health: What to Check on a Used iPhone explains how to read it. On a Pixel 9 or newer, battery health is in Settings; the Pixel 8 does not show it, so ask the seller how long a charge lasts.
• Look at the edges. Make sure the screen sits flush with the frame all the way around, since a raised edge can be a sign of a swelling battery.
• Get 128GB if you can. The 12 mini and SE start at 64GB. Their 128GB versions cost about $22 and $48 more on Swappa.
• Filter for unlocked. An unlocked phone is not tied to one carrier, which keeps prepaid plans open. Use the carrier filter on a model page, such as unlocked iPhone 13 mini listings, or browse all unlocked phones on Swappa. Unlocked vs. Carrier-Locked Phones: What It Means When Buying Used covers the details.

Real people approve Swappa listings before they go live, and devices must meet Swappa’s listing criteria: a clean IMEI, no Activation Lock or FRP lock, no cracked glass or water damage, and a fully functional battery. Payments run through PayPal with buyer protection, the 3% buyer fee is already in the listing price, and if a phone arrives not as described, you are entitled to a refund. Some listings also include a seller-offered one-year limited warranty. For the full buying process, see Used Phones: The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling.

Trading down from a bigger phone? Sell your phone on Swappa to cover part of the cost.

FAQ

What is the smallest phone worth buying in 2026?

The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini are the smallest phones in this guide at 131.5 x 64.2 mm, and both run iOS 27. The 12 mini is the lightest at 135 grams, but the 13 mini has the better battery. On Android, the Galaxy S25 is the smallest flagship at 146.9 x 70.5 mm and 162 grams, and a closed Galaxy Z Flip6 is just 85.1 mm tall.

Is the iPhone 13 mini still worth it in 2026?

Yes, if size matters more to you than battery life. It runs iOS 27, has the same A15 Bionic chip as the iPhone SE (3rd generation), and sold for about $250 with 128GB on Swappa in early October 2026. Apple rates it for up to 17 hours of video playback, 2 hours less than the iPhone 13, so check the battery health before you buy.

What is the best small Android phone?

The Galaxy S25. It measures 146.9 x 70.5 mm, weighs 162 grams, has a 6.2-inch screen, and gets updates to about 2032 under Samsung’s seven-year policy. It sold for about $417 with 128GB on Swappa in early October 2026. The Galaxy S24 is almost the same size for about $327, with updates to about 2031.

Do small phones have worse battery life?

Usually, yes. Apple rates the iPhone 13 mini for up to 17 hours of video playback, against 26 hours for the iPhone 16e and 30 hours for the iPhone 17. On Android, the Galaxy S24 and S25 use 4,000mAh batteries, while the larger Pixel 10 has 4,970mAh. On a used phone, battery health matters as much as the rating.

Is a flip phone a good small phone?

It can be, if pocket size matters more than thickness. A Galaxy Z Flip6 folds to 85.1 mm tall but is 14.9 mm thick and 187 grams when closed, and its hinge adds wear points to inspect. Samsung promises the Flip6 seven years of updates, while Motorola lists June 2029 as the end of security updates for the Razr (2025).

How long will the iPhone 12 mini get updates?

Apple does not publish end dates. The iPhone 12 mini runs iOS 27, but it launched in 2020 and is one of the oldest iPhones Apple still supports, so it will likely lose support before the iPhone 13 mini. Treat it as a budget small phone rather than a long-term one.

Conclusion

Small phones did not disappear; they moved to the used market. The iPhone 13 mini is the best truly small phone, the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone SE (3rd generation) cover smaller budgets, and the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S24 are the smallest Android flagships with long update windows. Every one of them trades some battery life for size, so buy from a listing that shows battery health and choose 128GB or more.

Shop Used Phones on Swappa