Over the past few years, smartphones have become so large that they’ve become uncomfortable to hold even in a strong man’s hand. And while many people genuinely enjoy “slabs,” sometimes you just want something small. Finding a compact smartphone in 2026 is difficult, but thanks to silicon-carbon batteries, they are gradually making a comeback. And we managed to find about a dozen small models that can be purchased in Russia or ordered online.
Choosing a compact smartphone for 2026. Image: Techmo
Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S26 — The Most Compact Smartphones
For several years now, any base Samsung flagship has been called the benchmark for a compact smartphone. In particular, the body width of last year’s Galaxy S25 is only 70.5 mm, and this little guy weighs just 162 grams.
By today’s standards, this is a truly small smartphone that easily fits in a pocket while still delivering a flagship-level experience, thanks to the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and a decent set of cameras with optical zoom.
Two compacts: Galaxy S25 (left) and Galaxy S26 (right). Image: Techmo
Price: from 50,000 ₽
Just recently, the Galaxy S26 came as its replacement — another compact Samsung smartphone that, admittedly, costs significantly more for now. But it has the newest processor, a more impressive screen, and a battery that’s no longer an embarrassing 4,300 mAh.
You can learn more about the differences between the two latest Samsung flagships in our comparison of Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S26, and we’ll move on — to the next compact smartphones of 2026.
Compact Flagships Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 17
One of the main contenders for the title of best compact smartphone right now is the Xiaomi 17. With a body width of 71.8 mm, it is indeed small, yet it hides a massive 6,330 mAh battery inside.
Moreover, the Xiaomi 17 is a full-fledged 2026 flagship. It features the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, four 50 MP cameras, an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, a great vibration motor, and bass-rich speakers.
Great Xiaomi compacts: 15 (right) and 17 (left). Image: Kingmi Mobile
Price: from 63,000 ₽
Those looking to save can check out another compact Xiaomi smartphone — the Xiaomi 15. It’s a previous-generation flagship that’s flying off store shelves.
The main difference between Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 17 is the battery. The previous-generation model has a smaller one, but compared to Samsung’s battery, even 5,240 mAh looks like a decent capacity. The cameras are nearly identical, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor doesn’t lag behind the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in everyday tasks.
Compact Budget Smartphones from vivo
Relatively affordable smartphones in a compact body include the vivo X200 FE and vivo X300 FE. These are sub-flagships that outperform competitors from Samsung and Xiaomi with their impressive telephoto lens featuring 100x zoom, as well as a massive 6,500 mAh battery — on par with large “slabs.”
vivo also knows how to make compact smartphones. Image: GSMArena Official
Price: from 55,000 ₽
Where did they cut costs? First, these vivo smartphones don’t use the most powerful chips. The vivo X300 FE has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 without the “Elite” designation, while the vivo X200 FE runs on a Dimensity 9300+. Second, both models feature a frankly mediocre ultra-wide camera, typical of a budget phone.
However, this doesn’t mean that the vivo X200 FE and vivo X300 FE will disappoint you. Not at all! At the system level, they perform just as fast as Samsung and Xiaomi flagships, and the main camera combined with the excellent telephoto lens takes truly great photos.
vivo X300 — The Best Compact Camera Phone
If you don’t want to make compromises, take a look at the vivo X300. As of today, it is the best compact camera phone. The main focus here is on mobile photography, as indirectly evidenced by the “puck” on the back.
The king of cameras among compacts. Image: Beebom
Price: from 63,000 ₽
A 200 MP main camera, a 50 MP front camera and ultra-wide with autofocus, plus a periscope-type telephoto lens with 3x optical and 100x digital zoom. A setup worthy of large camera phones, but in a compact body just 71.9 mm wide.
The remaining specifications of the vivo X300
