How popular are 4-5 inch smartphones today? You might think that everyone has forgotten about them, because the mobile market trends have changed a lot by 2022. This is true, so finding good miniature models with similar sizes today is very difficult. There are almost no models with a stated size of 4 inches on the market, so below you will find devices that are similar in size.
Most of the devices on this list belong to the budget and mid-budget segment, but there was also room for a couple of expensive phones for users who want to get the most out of their mobile “companion”. If you want more choice and are willing to consider 5-inch and slightly larger screens, then check out our other selections: “Best Compact Smartphones” and “Best 5-inch Smartphones.”
iPhone SE 32GB
iPhone SE essentially has no competitors. Why? Yes, because it is a flagship smartphone with the smallest 4-inch display. In other words, if you absolutely want a powerful and premium smartphone with the smallest display, you need to look at the iPhone SE.
Despite its size, this is truly a flagship smartphone: a metal body, an excellent display, very fast system operation, hardware from the older iPhone 6S model, an excellent rear camera - at the level of many modern flagships.
What might be confusing? The case is from an iPhone 5S, one SIM card and no memory card slot. But the cost of the iPhone SE can hardly be called high, although you can’t call it cheap either.
- Screen diagonal: 4 inches
- Screen resolution: 1136x640
- Weight: 113 g
- Number of SIM cards: 1
- Processor: Apple A9
- Memory capacity: 32 GB
- RAM capacity: 2 GB
- Battery capacity: 1624 mAh
- Rear camera: 12 MP
- Front camera: 1.2 MP
- Memory card support: no
Results
Choosing a smartphone with a 4-inch screen is quite difficult, and yet there is no reason to worry about it. You shouldn't hope for a super phone that will put flagships to shame, but with due diligence you can find a very good device.
Yes, compact phones are not good with cameras. Only with expensive options can you find something intelligible. But a lot depends on the manufacturer’s software, since compact phones rarely have good optics and matrix.
The battery is another sore point. Modern compact phones can't count on a lot of battery life, so it's rare to see a capacity larger than 2000 mAh. The only thing that can save is hardware optimization of electricity costs, carried out at the production stage.
In general, those who want to get a smartphone that is small in size and powerful in terms of power will not find it easy to find one. And therefore, in the search for the best options, sooner or later the potential buyer will have to make some compromises.
Digma HIT Q401 3G
Digma HIT Q401 3G is a budget smartphone with a classic design. The case is plastic, nice, and there are several colors to choose from.
Screen diagonal - 4 inches, resolution typical for this price category - 800x480 pixels, Spreadtrum SC7731 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of ROM, two cameras, memory card slot.
Of course, 4G is not supported.
- Screen diagonal: 4 inches
- Screen resolution: 800×480
- Weight: 129 g
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- Processor: Spreadtrum SC7731
- Memory capacity: 8 GB
- RAM capacity: 1 GB
- Battery capacity: 1600 mAh
- Rear camera: 2 MP
- Front camera: 0.3 MP
- Memory card support: yes
- 4G network support: no
BQ BQ-4028 UP!
This is a “budget” from BQ. It has small dimensions and light weight - only 112 g. Pay attention to the large number of shades of the case, there are even pink and red colors.
The device is powered by a MediaTek MT6570 processor, the built-in memory is 8 GB, but the RAM is not enough - 512 MB. On the other hand, this is still a budget smartphone.
Camera resolution is 2 MP and 5 MP (front and rear, respectively).
- Screen diagonal: 4 inches
- Screen resolution: 800×480
- Weight: 112 g
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- Processor: MediaTek MT6570
- Memory capacity: 8 GB
- RAM capacity: 512 MB
- Battery capacity: 1500 mAh
- Rear camera: 5 MP
- Front camera: 2 MP
- Memory card support: yes
- 4G network support: no
Viking Thor plus - an eternal smartphone
Viking Thor plus
Viking Thor plus bears its name for a reason - the manufacturer gave it a waterproof (IP68) and shockproof (MIL-810G) case that can easily withstand a fall from a height of several floors. Obviously, such a smartphone was created for a fairly narrow group of people who are interested in extremely extreme types of outdoor activities.
The 4-inch screen with a resolution of 800x480 is additionally covered with protective Gorilla Glass 5, which completely protects the screen module from scratches and cracks even after heavy load.
The smartphone has a modest MediaTek MT6582 processor with 4 cores and a frequency of 1300 MHz. But there is also an impressive 2650 mAh battery, which will allow you to use the device for a long time without recharging.
The downside is that the phone runs Android 4.4 out of the box, but there is no update available. To conclude, this smartphone is needed by those who need a reliable assistant on their hikes, and who do not want to constantly spend money on repairing more expensive devices.
Digma LINX ATOM 3G
Stylish smartphone from Digma: pay attention to the small border around the main camera: it is made in black, while the body color may be different, for example, red.
Digma LINX ATOM 3G received a 4-core Spreadtrum SC7731 processor, 512 MB of RAM and 8 GB of ROM. Battery capacity - 1200 mAh.
You can note the latest version of Android - 8.1.
- Screen diagonal: 4 inches
- Screen resolution: 800×480
- Weight: 129 g
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- Processor: Spreadtrum SC7731
- Memory capacity: 4 GB
- RAM capacity: 512 MB
- Battery capacity: 1200 mAh
- Rear camera: 2 MP
- Front camera: 0.3 MP
- Memory card support: yes
- 4G network support: no
iPhone 5S 16GB
Do you know what year the iPhone 5S was first shown? Back in 2013! All the more surprising is the fact that it is still found on sale - albeit rarely.
Of course, if possible, it is better to buy an iPhone SE: not only is it more modern, it will have the latest firmware, and also have much better specifications. But the iPhone 5S is also good at something, for example, at taking photos (this means the main camera).
And be careful when purchasing, because they may sell a refurbished smartphone under the guise of a new 5S.
- Screen diagonal: 4 inches
- Screen resolution: 1136x640
- Weight: 113 g
- Number of SIM cards: 1
- Processor: Apple A9
- Memory capacity: 16 GB
- RAM capacity: 1 GB
- Battery capacity: 1624 mAh
- Rear camera: 8 MP
- Front camera: 1.2 MP
- Memory card support: no
Samsung Galaxy J1 Mini Prime (2016)
It’s by no means the newest model from Samsung, but you can find it on sale. Among the main features of this device is the stated support for 4G, which is still rare in this price class.
What else? For example, it has a nice body, a recognizable appearance, and good battery life. Rear camera resolution is 5 MP.
- Screen diagonal: 4 inches
- Screen resolution: 800×480
- Weight: 126 g
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- Processor: Spreadtrum SC9830
- Memory capacity: 8 GB
- RAM capacity: 1 GB
- Battery capacity: 1500 mAh
- Rear camera: 5 MP
- Front camera: 0.3 MP
- Memory card support: yes
- Support for 4G networks: yes
BQ BQ-4072 Strike Mini
4-inch budget from BQ. Pay attention to the back cover - do you see the texture on it? Yes, it is indeed made of metal, which is generally rare in this price class. So it’s not surprising that the smartphone looks much more expensive than its cost.
The rest are typical characteristics: Spreadtrum SC7731 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of ROM, battery capacity - 1300 mAh, two cameras, the latest version of Android 7.0.
- Screen diagonal: 4 inches
- Screen resolution: 800×480
- Weight: 128 g
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- Processor: Spreadtrum SC7731
- Memory capacity: 8 GB
- RAM capacity: 1 GB
- Battery capacity: 1300 mAh
- Rear camera: 5 MP
- Front camera: 2 MP
- Memory card support: yes
- 4G network support: no
iPhone SE 128GB
The same iPhone SE, only with more memory - as much as 128 GB. Is it worth paying extra for them? This question remains with the buyer. We think that 32 GB may not be enough, although you can use cloud services, but 128 GB should be more than enough - even despite the lack of memory card support.
- Screen diagonal: 4 inches
- Screen resolution: 1136x640
- Weight: 113 g
- Number of SIM cards: 1
- Processor: Apple A9
- Memory capacity: 128 GB
- RAM capacity: 2 GB
- Battery capacity: 1624 mAh
- Rear camera: 12 MP
- Front camera: 1.2 MP
- Memory card support: no
Sony Xperia J – permanent from 2022
Sony Xperia J
Xperia J is one of the unique smartphones that has been sold unchanged since 2022. At one time, it was one of the most successful phones from Sony, due to the filling that was quite interesting at that time and a convenient form factor. At the moment, it is difficult to talk seriously about the competitiveness of this device on the market.
It has a single-core Qualcomm MSM7227A processor with a frequency of 1000 MHz and 512 megabytes of RAM. It also contains an Adreno 200 video accelerator and 4 gigabytes of permanent memory.
You can expand the volume by installing a flash drive up to 32 GB. Despite its age, the phone can take interesting pictures due to good firmware and a 5 MP main camera. Good autonomy is provided by a 1750 mAh battery.
BQ BQ-4077 Shark Mini
A very interesting device from the BQ company, as you can see in the image - it has a shock-resistant case. As for protection from water, we found information in open sources that its degree is IP65.
It features a powerful battery for this class - as much as 2800 mAh. The rear camera resolution is 8 MP, there is no 4G support, and the processor is MediaTek MT6580M.
- Screen diagonal: 4 inches
- Screen resolution: 800×480
- Weight: 155 g
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- Processor: MediaTek MT6580M
- Memory capacity: 8 GB
- RAM capacity: 1 GB
- Battery capacity: 2800 mAh
- Rear camera: 8 MP
- Front camera: 2 MP
- Memory card support: yes
- 4G network support: no
Fly FS408 Stratus 8
A smartphone with one very interesting feature that can be noticed if you look at the front panel. Missing here... Guessed it? Front-camera! Moreover, the rear is in place.
The device is powered by a MediaTek MT6570 processor, it has 512 MB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory. There is support for 3G, GPS, two SIM cards and a memory card.
- Screen diagonal: 4 inches
- Screen resolution: 854×480
- Weight: 109 g
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- Processor: MediaTek MT6570
- Memory capacity: 8 GB
- RAM capacity: 512 MB
- Battery capacity: 1300 mAh
- Rear camera: 2 MP
- Memory card support: yes
- 4G network support: no
Which 4-inch smartphone is better to choose?
When choosing smartphones with a 4-inch screen, we first of all paid attention to expert opinions and customer reviews. The list of companies producing the most reliable and interesting devices included the following:
- BQ – produces budget gadgets, including smartphones. Each device undergoes mandatory testing by technologists before going on sale. This control is so thorough that it reduces to almost zero the likelihood of purchasing a defective product. The key feature of BQ is its wide selection of devices to suit any budget.
- Prestigio is a popular company that has been producing a variety of electrical equipment for 15 years. The company's devices run on the latest Windows and Android operating systems. The company produces not only smartphones, but also laptops, navigators, and video recorders. Its devices are successfully sold in more than 30 countries around the world.
- BlackBerry - the company's history dates back to 1984, its first devices were pagers with large screens. The company has successfully established itself as a mobile phone manufacturer that sets trends in the market. Its gadgets are used by many famous personalities, including former US President Barack Obama.
- Sony is a Japanese company that has existed for over 60 years. The company is not only a successful manufacturer of household and digital equipment, but also conducts active research work. Sony often creates really good phones with a 4.5-inch screen and more, for which there are no alternatives. Cell phones from this manufacturer are always popular in Russia and other countries of the world.
- Apple is an American corporation that produces today's most popular mobile devices, tablets, laptops and desktop computers. Its software is rightfully considered the most convenient among existing analogues. Thanks to the use of innovative technologies and successful design, Apple gadgets are considered iconic - people line up to become the first owners of new products.
- Nokia is one of the oldest cell phone manufacturers. The company constantly introduces new technologies, and gadgets are developed and tested in its own laboratory. Nokia not only took a direct part in creating the 5g network and virtual reality gadgets, but is also developing digital medical equipment.
- Vertex is a relatively young manufacturer of portable electronic devices and related accessories. The company strives to become a leader in the Russian digital technology market, offering customers high-quality, innovative products. The appearance of her gadgets is always very bright and memorable, and Vertex devices are convenient to use. At the same time, it offers an excellent combination of price and quality.
- Fly - the company has been operating in the markets of Russia, Europe, Africa, the CIS countries and the Middle East for just over 10 years. All smartphones from the manufacturer are necessarily adapted to the needs of customers. The company's designers follow new trends, selecting interesting color combinations and the highest quality materials. Before releasing each smartphone, Fly performs additional quality checks using the most modern equipment.
Each of the above companies deservedly made it into this review. Their smartphones are in greatest demand and meet all the requirements of modern users.
Ginzzu RS71D
You won’t immediately understand that this device has a protected body - it’s not particularly noticeable from the front, which, in our opinion, is a plus. Protection against water and dust is claimed, but its degree is not known exactly. Presumably - maximum IP68, but only presumably.
In addition to the 4-inch screen, the smartphone received 4G support, a MediaTek MT6735M processor, 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory, and a large battery capacity of 2800 mAh.
- Screen diagonal: 4 inches
- Screen resolution: 800×480
- Weight: 168 g
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- Processor: MediaTek MT6735M
- Memory capacity: 8 GB
- RAM capacity: 1 GB
- Battery capacity: 2800 mAh
- Rear camera: 8 MP
- Front camera: 2 MP
- Memory card support: yes
- Support for 4G networks: yes
BlackBerry Classic – old on the outside, updated on the inside
BlackBerry Classic
BlackBerry has released an updated smartphone in the company's classic case with a physical QWERTY keyboard. The smartphone is positioned as a working device for people who are used to typing text on a physical keyboard.
The phone has a dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 processor at 1500 MHz and 2 gigabytes of RAM. This is enough for fairly fast work in the browser and work applications. Obviously, no one expects the power of a flagship phone and ideal performance in 3D applications from this device.
Among the special advantages are excellent build quality and communication via the mobile network. BlackBerry is very attentive to such details, as they position their device as a premium device for those who know what they want from their phone.
Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks - the built-in 2515 mAh battery is barely enough for long-term operation without recharging. Most likely, the culprit is BlackBerry OS's own shell, which is not properly optimized for long battery life.
VERTEX Impress Funk
New budget budget from VERTEX. Please note the screen diagonal is 3.97 inches. Let's note the latest version of Android - 8.1.
The typical screen resolution is 800×480 pixels. VERTEX Impress Funk operates on a platform consisting of a MediaTek MT6580M processor, 512 MB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory.
- Screen diagonal: 3.97 inches
- Screen resolution: 800×480
- Weight: 110 g
- Number of SIM cards: 2
- Processor: MediaTek MT6580M
- Memory capacity: 8 GB
- RAM capacity: 512 MB
- Battery capacity: 1600 mAh
- Rear camera: 5 MP
- Front camera: 2 MP
- Memory card support: yes
- 4G network support: no
ZTE Blade A5 – a modest smartphone for modest money
ZTE Blade A5
ZTE Blade A5 fully corresponds to its fairly low price. Essentially, this phone is a device for making calls.
It has a budget quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor at 1200 MHz and 512 megabytes of RAM. This leads to significant drawdowns and slowdowns when working in almost any application.
The firmware does not work correctly, not unloading inactive programs from the background, which leads to rapid discharge of the already small 1400 mAh battery.
Some users encounter problems with the camera, which takes quite bad photos and, due to a software error, may completely refuse to work.
