I like the feeling of holding and using a phone in one hand. I am using a Pixel 5 right now, but it feels a bit too large for me. I know nobody makes phone that small like the iPhone 4S or the Samsung S3 mini anymore, but is there at least a phone smaller than the Pixel 5? Maybe around the size of a iPhone 12/13 mini?
Its either Galaxy S21/22/23, Asus Zenfone 8/9 or Sony Xperia 10 or 5 Series. Unfortunatly it doesn't get smaller without landing firmly in gimmick phone land (like the Unihertz Jelly)
Also if don't mind older hardware there is the really compact Sony Xperia XZ2 compact.
Galaxy S21/22/23, Asus Zenfone 8/9 or Sony Xperia 10 or 5 Series
These are very good phones but they are not small enough for me.
The size of XZ2 compact is very nice but I hate the curved edges and back panel. I think XZ1 compact actually suits me better, but it is almost 6 years old now. I don't think I will be able to use it for long.
Nah, it works perfectly fine. Matter of fact, even the precedessor - Xperia Z5 compact can run 95% of Apps just fine due to almost all Apps still supporting Android 7. I got all 3 of them - Z5 Compact, XZ1 Compact and XZ2 Compact and all of them still hold up (my XZ1 compact however developed a quite a few dead pixels sadly).
Also from what I have seen Sony phones seem to get decent Custom ROM support - but I haven't tried to custom ROM any of these myself.
I think the XZ1 still has two years in the tank - maybe even more with LinageOS. Its remarkably fast in my use due to the awesome Snapdragon 835, 720p and lightweight Software.
Maybe the XZ1 compact can last quite a while before it really becomes obsolete, but I don't want to just buy an old phone just to throw my current Pixel 5 aside. I think I will keep waiting for a new small phone for now.
Actually, come to think of it, I think Sony has been releasing 5" phones as the Xperia Ace series. They are budget phones that are only available in Japan. I heard the spec is not very good, so I didn't bother to get one.
The Galaxy S21/22/23 is slightly larger than the OP's Pixel 5 however. The Zenphone 9 might be a good option as it's around 2mm narrower - not a lot but it'd be noticeable for one handed usage.
Unfortunatly it doesn’t get smaller without landing firmly in gimmick phone land (like the Unihertz Jelly)
Imo more of a gimmick phone in this size-range has to be the Palm "companion" phone. I think it may be a little too small tbh (kinda like the Jelly), but honestly, I'd like something close-ish to either its size or the Jelly's with better specs.
The Palm is so close for what I'd like, I think, but its gimmick as a companion device is holding it back so much.