Note 4, iPhone 6 Plus move aside: Here are the best pocket-sized smartphone alternatives

Rumour has it that Apple is working on a 4-inch iPhone that is scheduled for launch next year. While the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 has broken smartphone records , there are many who find the new iPhones too large compared with older models. It’s no surprise that the iPhone 6 has performed better than the iPhone 6 Plus, even though the latter packs better features. The iPhone 6 Plus not only has a larger display, but also a bigger battery and a better camera. Other premium phablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Nexus 6 and the LG G3 come with top-notch hardware, but have not seen the same success as their more pocket-sized options such as the original Note, the Galaxy S4 or the Nexus 5. Despite the upgrade in specs, phablets overlook one key factor – portability. While high-end specs and features are great to have, it’s crucial that a phone is also easy to use. Not everyone has large enough hands to handle phablets comfortably. No matter how many goodies a smartphone packs, not everyone likes to be seen talking on one that covers half  the face. If you are one such user looking to buy a smartphone that’s easy to carry and use one-handed - here are the phones that should top your list. 1. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Price: Rs 30,990

The Z3 Compact sacrifices the full HD panel for a 720p display and eschews the metal frame of the larger Z3 for a lighter plastic build. It comes with a smaller 2,600mAh battery too. However the scaled-down dimensions and the 4.6-inch display means it is a lot easier to use one handed and fits inside pockets. Its vital stats are 127.3 x 64.9 x 8.6 mm in dimensions and weighs only 129 grams - 26 grams lighter than the 5.2-inch Xperia Z3. What’s more? Both phones are identical in terms of specs otherwise. The Z3 Compact hones the same 20.7MP rear camera and 2.2MP front camera as the Xperia Z3. Sony has added a new lens and some key Cyber-shot elements to the camera firmware. There’s ISO 12800 sensitivity for better low-light shots and the lens has been upgraded to 25mm for wider shots. It’s waterproof, supports cards up to 128 GB and runs on the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset. 2. Apple iPhone 6 Price: Rs 53,500 (16GB)  The iPhone 6 is the smaller of the two models launched this year, which sports a smaller 4.7-inch screen compared with the iPhone 6 Plus, which sports a larger 5.5-inch display. Apart from the larger screen, the iPhone 6 is quite similar to its larger sibling including the design and features. The iPhone 6 might not look as big or come with high-end specs as some premium mammoth-sized smartphones in the market, but in our review , we found that it’s easily one of the best smartphones you can buy right now. The slim design and lightweight aluminium chassis leaves it tipping  the scales at just 129 grams. The iPhone 6 performs well in all important areas. It has a brilliant display, one of the best cameras you’ll find on a smartphone, excellent call sound quality and it’s super-fast to use. 3. Motorola Moto X (first gen) Price: Rs 23,999  The 4.7-inch original Moto X might be hard to find in stores, but it’s arguably one of the best Android smartphones we’ve seen. Priced at Rs 23,999, it’s ideal for those looking for power-packed Android without shelling out a premium. There’s lots that is unique about the first generation Moto X. It runs stock Android, has a simplistic user interface, features a dinky 4.7-inch display and packs a dual-core processor. In our tests , we found that not only is it more powerful than phones packing more ‘cores’ in their chipsets, but it also has a better display, camera, intuitive controls and fits everyone’s pocket (quite literally as well). 4. Samsung Galaxy S4 Price: 24,499  Samsung’s flagship for 2013, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is a lot more ergonomic compared with many 5-inch smartphone you’ll find on the market. It’s also been a more successful flagship than the 5.1-inch Galaxy S5. Though it’s a 5-inch phone, it fits easily in most pockets as it measures just 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9  millimetres and weighs only 130 grams - almost the same as the iPhone 6. You get a full HD AMOLED display, a range of camera features and it’s also super fast in operation. In our tests, we found the Galaxy S4 to have a good battery life, great sound quality from the supplied headphones and a brilliant camera, too. As the phone is more than a year old, you can buy the phone at half the price that it was launched at.