The case for small phones

I have used an iPhone 13 mini for two years, and every time I pick up a modern 6.1-inch phone it feels like a small tablet.

What small phones get right

• You can reach every corner of the screen with one thumb while holding a coffee or a child’s hand.
• They fit in every pocket, including the small ones on running shorts.
• They make you use your phone a little less, which is no bad thing.

What they get wrong

Battery life. The mini lasts a day for me, but not a heavy day. Typing is more error-prone, and video is less immersive.

What we would like

A 5.4-inch phone with a modern, efficient chip and a slightly thicker body for a bigger battery. Many readers have written to say the same. Until then, the 13 mini lives on in our drawer, freshly re-batteried.