Lets face it – size matters.
And when it comes to mobile phones, smaller is better.
Or at least it used to be.
Now it seems to be more about who can make the skinniest handset.
The human race seems obsessed with making every gadget the tiniest, thinnest and lightest it can possibly be.
But sometimes, particularly when it comes to phones, this can come at a cost, with important features sacrificed to shave off those valuable grams and inches.
So which handset is able to overcome this obstacle and combine efficiency with miniature style?
Lets look at some of the contenders for the best compact phone.
Weighing in at just 120 grams and measuring just 90mm high by 55mm wide, the X10 Mini Pro packs a considerable punch for such a diminutive device.
You get a full Android experience, a 5MP camera, an excellent battery and a full slide out QWERTY keyboard.
Yes, that last feature does make the phone a little bit chunky but it’s certainly not excessive.
Interestingly, the standard X10 Mini – without the keyboard – isn’t much thinner (just 1mm), which makes this pro version all the more impressive.
Just how did they cram so much into such a phone that’s the size of a pack of cigarettes?
The Motorola Flipout is another handset with a hidden keyboard, this time with a slightly quirkier design.
Measuring 60mm by 60mm, it’s perfectly square, which is strange for a mobile phone.
It weighs 110 grams, making it slightly lighter than the X10 Mini Pro.
Like Sony’s phone, you get Android, which is a definite plus, but it’s not quite as slick on this handset.
The camera isn’t as good as the X10’s either, making you settle for a measly 3.2 megapixels, which don’t translate to particularly clear shots.
Still, if it’s innovative design you’re after with your compact phone, then this could be the handset for you.
OK, so it’s not a smartphone, but I’ll never stop flogging this beauty of a handset just because it’s so damn cool.
I love everything about the Gleam, from it’s classic clamshell design to the retro LEDs on the lid.
It’s cheap too, so if you’re after a compact phone that does nothing more than make calls and sends texts, you can pick this baby up for next to nothing.
Weighing in at just 105 grams, it’s the lightest of the three phones and at 14mm it’s the thinnest too.
It comes in three colours and is guaranteed to turn heads. Consider it the ultimate in glam phone chic.
The result
All three phones bring something different to the table, but the best all-rounder is unquestionably the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro.
And if you don’t want the keyboard, you can get the standard X10 Mini, which is just as a good and a millimetre more compact.
The other two phones are really more about style over substance, but if your old-school and just use your handset to make calls, go for the Gleam.
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