We ’ve had companies render making small phones in the yesteryear , but they could n’t tolerate the trial run of time . Apple tried the small iPhones with the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 13 miniskirt , but like most small-scale phones , they were hassle by bad bombardment lifespan and saw underwhelming sales — despite the much - darling pocket-sized size .
But 2024 redefine what “ small ” means in flagship telephone set . This was a year when summary equipment finally stopped playing second fiddle to their enceinte sibling , but there ’s still one omit objet d’art that needs to be addressed .
True small Pro flagships are here
For years , little Pro flagship have been treated like a 2nd idea in terminus of glasses . For instance , Apple limited the new 5x telephoto television camera to theiPhone 15 Pro Max , while theiPhone 15 Profeatured one-time optics . In terms of numbers , both these phones had a 48MP main plus 12MP ultrawide plus 12MP telephoto photographic camera . The zoom crystalline lens featured the same aperture , and the new 5x optic zoom was limited to only the Pro Max phone .
On the Android side , theGalaxy S24doesn’t have the same photographic camera frame-up as theGalaxy S24 Ultra — alike to theGoogle Pixel 8andPixel 8 Pro . On Samsung , you get an extra periscope telephotograph camera with the Ultra , while the vanilla extract Pixels have had the zoom lens missing for years without a small Pro Pixel phone .
sound companies have gatekept the best oculus for their most expensive openhanded phones . So you had to select between have the good cameras or the little phase factor . But things changed in 2024 .
Apple and Google made flagships that retained the optic art of their bigger sibling while retaining a small size . Both iPhone 16 Pro headphone now sport the same primary election , ultrawide , and telephotograph tv camera with the same computer software feature film congeal .
The Modern Google Pixel phones also had the same tactics . The company introduce a fresh XL model while the Pixel 9 Pro shrank in size this year . It allowed Google to deliver three Pixel 9 speech sound , out of which thePixel 9 ProandPixel 9 Pro XLfeatured the same camera system but differ in sizing and price .
In 2024 , you could in conclusion have the best tv camera organisation on smaller phones . This meant spend at least $ 100 less and not going for an inconvenient phone size when prioritize the optics on your next phone . But these “ small telephone set ” are n’t the same size as the stocky sound from yesteryears .
Size is relative . It take little phones get bigger for brands to give us reliable Pro flagship in a compact size of it . I ’m not complaining , though . In my legal opinion , a 6.3 - inch display is the thoroughgoing form factor for a pocketable headphone . It ’s not too modest to compromise on the shelling life and display , and not so big it ca n’t fit in your pocket . I like the Xiaomi 14 for the same reason .
I remember shifting from the iPhone 14 Pro Max to theiPhone 14 Proand then to the iPhone 15 Pro and missing an all - day battery life . For age , I ’ve want a comparatively small speech sound to last me an integral day . The current - gen compact flagships are n’t there yet , and the assault and battery life of the iPhone 16 Prohas only exasperate with each update . But both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro are getting there . The bigger phones still last longer , but now you do n’t have to compromise on specs to get the earpiece size that fits your liking .
The future is even more exciting
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro have attain a point where you get the best camera organisation , but the electric battery prowess is still lack . The main culprit is using older barrage fire tech . To take an example from outside the U.S. , Vivo also deliver a small Pro flagship in 2024 .
TheVivo X200 Pro Minifeatured the serious cameras in a 6.3 - inch screen variety factor while also packing a big 5,700mAh electric battery that ’s likely to last you longer than the Apple and Google phone with much small cells . relatively , the Galaxy S24 pack a 4,000mAh barrage fire , while the Pixel 9 Pro has a 4,700mAh battery .
For context , the Vivo X200 Pro Mini offers a larger battery than the biggest Pixel earpiece . The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 5,060mAh battery , while the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 5,000mAh cell . This is only possible because of the latest institution in barrage technical school , which gave us silicon C batteries .
I have n’t test this particular mini Vivo phone , but I have some experience with silicon carbon electric battery - equipped phones , including theHonor wizardly V3,Oppo Find X8 Pro , andVivo X200 Pro . These have lasted me at least a day , even on heavy usage , and up to 1.5 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. on average utilization . I ’ve been pleasantly surprised by not having to burden my phone double a twenty-four hours . And even when necessitate , I can get a full thrill within an hour , thanks to super - fast charging from these Chinese brands .
I hope this trend continues
Both Apple and Google made us believe it ’s potential to have true Pro flagships with the good television camera systems , but the only way for a small headphone to have an on - par battery aliveness with bigger phone is with atomic number 14 carbon battery . That ’s because these are more vigor - obtuse and can hold more battery capacitance in a smaller size . Thus , cutting the weight and deliver a well electric battery life for each charge . I hope U.S. phone manufacturers sweep up this battery design next class .
look in front , Samsung is unlikely to introduce the same camera setup on itsGalaxy S25as the Galaxy S25 Ultra , but this is a vogue that I hope will carry on . 2024 test it ’s possible to deliver honest Pro features in a compact size of it .
While Samsung ’s Galaxy S25 might not follow this trend , Apple , Google , and especially Vivo have shown what ’s achievable . With silicon carbon paper battery paving the way , 2025 could be the year small flagships truly make out into their own . Imagine having a globally available phone with flagship photographic camera and dandy battery life in a 6.3 - inch screen form factor . I desire this dream becomes a reality next year .
