The smartphone market is dominated by models of 5 inches and more. To give you an idea, the future iPhone 12 will have a 5.1-inch screen compared to 6.7 inches for the Pro Max version. Next to it, the 4-inch smartphone is making its way. Are you a fan of smaller phones too? Read this guide to the best 4-inch smartphones.
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Our selection
"Launched in 2013, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini continues to seduce. Compact, powerful and affordable, it has everything you need to meet the demands of…"
"The Teeno FR4-Gold is the best 4-inch entry-level smartphone. Offered at less than 36 €, this model has some unexpected qualities that may convince you…"
"Released very recently, the iPhone SE offers a 4.7-inch screen for a configuration worthy of the most powerful smartphones of the moment. It deserves its…"
"Fully waterproof and offering a battery life of up to 30 days, the Crosscall Trekker-M1 Core is for lovers of hiking and outdoor adventures, but…"
Launched in 2013, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini continues to seduce. Compact, powerful and affordable, it has everything you need to meet the demands of small smartphone lovers.
See the priceWith its 4.3-inch screen, this smartphone wears its Galaxy S4 mini name very well. Its small size is its strength and greatly improves its grip. In addition to these small dimensions, the typical Samsung design with rounded edges and the Home button placed just below the OLED screen whose resolution is 540 x 960 pixels.
In terms of configuration, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini has nothing to envy to more recent models. Its Dual Core processor of 1.7 GHz offers a very satisfactory execution speed. It is doubled by an expandable internal memory of 8 GB. Its 8MP dual-sensor main camera offers exceptional photo quality. Best of all, the Galaxy S4 mini supports 4G/LTE and offers a slew of features that expand its usage domain.
The Teeno FR4-Gold is the best 4-inch entry-level smartphone. Offered at less than 36 €, this model has some unexpected qualities that may convince you to adopt it.
See the priceWith a price not exceeding 40 €, the Teeno FR4-Or is undoubtedly one of the cheapest entry-level smartphones on the market! The model is minimalist with a 4 inch screen and a 1 GB RAM. Of course, the Teeno FR4-Or runs on Android.
The Teeno FR4-Gold offers a storage memory of 8 GB expandable via a micro SD card. The 2G/3G/4G compatibility is offered on this model. It is also equipped with a 5MP main sensor to capture your best memories. The slot for two SIM cards is an advantage in addition to the ordinary options like Wifi and Bluetooth.
Released very recently, the iPhone SE offers a 4.7-inch screen for a configuration worthy of the most powerful smartphones of the moment. It deserves its place in this comparison.
See the priceThe iPhone SE is one of the great revelations of the moment. Behind its iPhone 5 look, this model is a real concentrate of high technology that makes it one of the best 4-inch smartphones of the moment. This screen, despite its small size, uses Retina HD technology and offers True Tone display.
It isequipped with the powerful A13 Boinic chip. In the long list of its configuration we can pin the main sensor of 12 MP with 4K support in video mode, the Face Time HD front camera, the Touch ID function, the 6th generation Wifi, the IP67 certification or the battery with very high autonomy of 13 hours under video playback.
Fully waterproof and offering a battery life of up to 30 days, the Crosscall Trekker-M1 Core is for lovers of hiking and outdoor adventures, but not only!
See the priceThe thick shell of the Crosscall Trekker-M1 Core is suggestive. It is indeed a fully waterproof and shockproof smartphone. To avoid any clutter, its screen is limited to 4.5 inches. The grip is guaranteed! Hiking and camping enthusiasts will be delighted. The smartphone was designed to adapt to extreme conditions. The autonomy of its 3,000 mAh battery ranges from 20 hours of communication to 30 days of standby.
The Crosscall Trekker-M1 Core immortalizes your adventures with its 8MP and 2MP cameras. The smartphone offers 16GB of storage space expandable up to 128GB. The device runs on Android 6 Marshmallow and is 4G compatible.
Any specific needs?
The best 4-inch smartphone in 2021
The best entry-level 4-inch smartphone
The best high-end 4-inch smartphone
The best waterproof 4-inch smartphone
Your guide :
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
8/10 |
7/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Samsung Galaxy S4 mini
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Teeno FR4-Gold
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Apple iPhone SE
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Crosscall Trekker-M1 Core
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Launched in 2013, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini continues to seduce. Compact, powerful and affordable, it has everything you need to meet the demands of small smartphone lovers.
|
The Teeno FR4-Gold is the best 4-inch entry-level smartphone. Offered at less than 36 €, this model has some unexpected qualities that may convince you to adopt it.
|
Released very recently, the iPhone SE offers a 4.7-inch screen for a configuration worthy of the most powerful smartphones of the moment. It deserves its place in this comparison.
|
Fully waterproof and offering a battery life of up to 30 days, the Crosscall Trekker-M1 Core is for lovers of hiking and outdoor adventures, but not only!
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Display
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4.3" super AMOLED 16.7 million colors
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4" high definition
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4.7" Retina HD with True Tone display
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4.5", 854 x 480 pixel resolution, 16 million colors
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RAM / ROM
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1.5GB / 8GB
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1 GB / 8 GB
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2GB / 64GB
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2 GB / 16 GB
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Expandable storage memory
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Micro SDXC up to 64GB
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Yes
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Non
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Micro SD up to 64 GB
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OS
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Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
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Android 7
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iOS 13
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Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
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Photosensors
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8MP autofocus, 1.9MP front camera
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5 MP, 2 MP front camera
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12MP with auto HDR and 4K video at up to 60fps, 7MP front camera with Facetime HD and auto HDR
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8 MP with LED flash + Autofocus
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Like other categories of smartphones, those with a 4-inch screen are classified into several ranges. Logically, an entry-level model will not be able to compete with a high-end model in terms of performance and quality. There is a big difference, up to several hundred euros, in the price. Generally speaking, the choice of the range will depend on your expectations, but especially on your budget. An entry-level model will suit you if you have a budget of less than €150. A 4-inch smartphone of intermediate range costs between 150 € and 300 €. You'll have to pay at least €400 to afford a top-of-the-line model.
A 4-inch smartphone consumes less battery power than a model with a larger screen. Even so, battery life remains a major criterion for choice. The goal is to choose a model that offers extended usage time between charges. This way, you can avoid battery failure at an inopportune moment. The models offered on the market have very varied autonomies. Some operate for 6 to 8 hours while others discharge after several weeks. Don't forget to consider the charging time. Indeed, it is not recommended to use the device while the battery is charging.
The internal storage capacities of 4-inch smartphones follow the general trend of increasing. Today, some models offer up to 256GB of internal storage. Yet others are limited to the classic 8GB/16GB/32GB. It's more practical to buy a smartphone with more storage space if you're going to keep large amounts of data on it. Check if the storage space is expandable. If so, you could insert a micro SD card for additional storage.
Like
any modern smartphone, those with a 4-inch screen are also used for taking pictures. To get satisfactory shots, you should opt for a model with a powerful photo module
. You will find 4-inch smartphones that can compete with some photophones. In addition to the main sensor, the front camera should also provide satisfactory photo quality especially if you like to take selfies to post on social networks.
We choose a 4-inch smartphone for its small dimensions, but also for its weight. It would be superfluous to buy a model that is small in size but weighs as much as a phablet. Ideally, the 4-inch smartphone weighs between 200 g and 350 g. Waterproof and shockproof models are heavier. Indeed, the additional protective shell increases the weight of the device.
A 4-inch smartphone is used like any other smartphone. There is no particular approach or technique to handle this type of device. On the other hand, you will benefit from a gain in comfort in terms of handling.
Also note that the operating systems of inch smartphones are designed to make your life easier. You should therefore not have any difficulty in getting used to the various operations, even if you are using an inch smartphone for the first time.
There are 3 main types of inch smartphones. They differ by their characteristics, but also by their designs. Each type has its advantages, disadvantages and targets.
These are smartphones that are a smaller version of a reference model. This is the case, for example, of the Samsung S3 mini, S4 mini and S5 mini models. They are not only smaller than the reference models, but also slightly less powerful. This decrease in performance is very limited. A mini model remains similar to the reference model. However, they are distributed at much lower prices.
Benefits
Disadvantages
Who is it for?
This type of inch smartphone reaches a very wide audience. It can be used by teenagers, but also by adults whether they are novices or used to handling smartphones.
These
are models designed to cope with harsh external conditions. A waterproof 4-inch smartphone not only resists splashes, but also full immersion for a shorter or longer period of time. It also has an ultra-resistant shell that protects it from shocks. Its battery has a very long autonomy. In some cases, it can be used as a power bank to recharge other devices.
Advantages
Disadvantages
Who is it for?
The 4-inch waterproof smartphone is mainly intended for lovers of hiking and wilderness escapades. It is also ideal for professionals who work in harsh conditions on construction sites and in wet and rough areas.
The
high-end 4-inch smartphone stands out from the crowd in several ways. It has a superior configuration (processor, RAM, internal storage...). It is therefore more powerful and also offers a much better photo quality. The same is true for the materials and their finishes. On a high-end 4-chip smartphone, we find materials such as brushed aluminum and crystal.
Advantages
Disadvantages
Who is it for?
Buying a high-end 4-inch smartphone requires a lot of money. You need to have a large budget to afford this type of device, as its price is not affordable for everyone.
The 4-inch Android smartphone is the most common. Google's operating system powers the vast majority of smartphones sold worldwide. It comes in several versions and is offered with regular updates. A 4-inch Android smartphone is easy to use and has a lot of features. It also comes with a very long list of applications, most of which are free to download.
The 4-inch smartphone under iOS is rarer. It concerns only the models offered by Apple. The brand's smartphones are known for their great performance and superior quality. Nevertheless, their use is much more restricted due to their limited compatibility with other Apple devices.
You can therefore opt for a 4-inch iOS smartphone if you work in a more or less complete Apple environment (MacBook, iPad, iPhone...). If you don't use any other Apple device, turn to a 4-inch Android smartphone.
Handling
Thanks to its reduced size and weight, the 4-inch smartphone offers a better grip than an XXL model.
Price
A 4-inch smartphone is generally more affordable than a 5-inch or larger model. You will therefore save a lot of money by choosing this type of smartphone.
Battery life
The screen consumes a large part of the energy supplied by the battery. If it is small, it consumes less. You will therefore benefit from a gain in autonomy by preferring a 4-inch smartphone to an XXL model.
The small size
If you don't like to be bulky, the 4-inch smartphone is for you. It slips easily into your pockets and does not take up much space in handbags and briefcases.
Performance
Admittedly, 4-inch smartphones are generally less powerful than larger models. However, there are some models with surprisingly good configurations, but with prices that are always more affordable.
Although a smaller screen consumes less energy, the autonomy will depend mainly on the battery itself. Some inch smartphones therefore have very limited autonomy because of their low capacity batteries.
Activate the simple mode.
Some 4-inch smartphones include a simple mode. This is the case of the Samsung S4 mini. You can activate this mode to use your smartphone more easily. Besides, this mode is mainly suitable for novices who are using a smartphone for the first time.
Install a screen protector.
It is
very common for the screen of a smartphone to break. This can affect the touch function. To avoid breaking your screen quickly, install a protective glass on the 4-inch smartphone you plan to buy.
Charge the battery correctly.
To
extend the life of the battery, you can adopt simple correct charging habits. Avoid using the smartphone while it is charged. If possible, prevent the battery from going completely flat and use a suitable charging case.
Choose your installed applications carefully.
Suspicious apps can introduce malware and viruses into your 4-inch smartphone. For this, download and install only the applications offered on official stores like Google Play store and App Store.
Update your system.
Updates
are regularly offered on operating systems (Android and iOS) and applications. These updates increase and improve the capabilities of your smartphone, but also strengthen its protection against external risks.
The best 4-inch smartphone depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are the best at the moment.
To prevent your device from draining very quickly, opt for a 4-inch smartphone that packs a 3,000mAh battery and above.
Every month, new models of 4-inch smartphones arrive on the market. They are added to a catalogue full of models, some of which have been on the market for more than 5 years.
The small size of the screens of 4-inch smartphones has no real impact on the display quality. This depends mainly on the type of screen (LED, AMOLED, OLED...) and its resolution and not on its size.
Certainly, some 4-inch smartphones are particularly targeted at teenagers. However, these devices are not reserved for this category of users. Generally speaking, anyone can use a 4-inch smartphone as long as the device meets their requirements.
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