Three years ago, Apple ditched the iPhone mini and focused on larger phones with larger displays. We don’t expect the NanoPhone to fill that void, but for a phone as small as a stack of credit cards, it definitely has enough features to turn heads. Almost comically compact, the NanoPhone looks and feels like a smaller version of the iPhone Pro, with a 3-inch IPS touchscreen, and packs in quite a few impressive features. It has 4G support, dual SIM trays, expandable storage, and a 2000mAh battery, which should last quite a while considering how small the whole device is. This phone runs Android 10, so it’s not a flagship, but it’s the perfect backup smartphone or a functional phone for kids who aren’t old enough to give them a flagship. The NanoPhone has Play Store access, runs all the apps you need from your phone, and costs just $99 (with discounts), so it’s a no-brainer if you need a spare phone that will turn heads.
Designer: Nanophone
At first glance, it looks like your iPhone Pro has been hit with a shrink beam, but when you turn it on, you’ll see what’s really going on. This phone has thick bezels, which was somewhat tolerable 3-4 years ago, but not anymore. But then again, that’s all you can buy for $100, right?! The HD screen (not even 1080p) comes with a custom theme designed to look like iOS, but the bottom You’ll immediately notice that there’s an Android button on the , and a Play Store icon on the home screen. Flip the phone over and you’ll see a faux camera setup that looks like three lenses, but is actually just a single 5MP shooter. Don’t expect portrait mode or night mode from this bad guy. The photo should just barely pass. There’s also a 2MP forward-facing shooter, but it obviously doesn’t have FaceID or even fingerprint detection. Just the old-fashioned pattern and PIN.
However, the NanoPhone is a fully functional smartphone despite its size and OS limitations. Run all apps available on the Android Play Store that are compatible with the OS. Yes, you can now browse Instagram and TikTok (and Snapchat for the younger ones) and WhatsApp for the older ones. YouTube and Netflix feel especially weird considering the small screen, but yes, these work perfectly too. Dual SIM support means the little smartphone can support two carriers at the same time (it also supports 4G functionality and WiFi), and the 2Gb of RAM is more than enough to handle all your daily tasks. Masu. The NanoPhone also comes with 16 gigabytes of internal storage, which is expandable thanks to a memory card slot. Additionally, phones of this size aren’t particularly battery-hungry. That means the 2,000 mAh battery is more than enough to last you an entire day. Don’t expect wireless charging from this. A USB-C port is enough to drain the NanoPhone’s battery.
It’s tempting to look at what the NanoPhone doesn’t have, like a better camera setup, a modern operating system, and a bezel-less display, but the fact that it’s a tenth of the price of a flagship makes it a great choice for a high-end foldable phone. At one-tenth the size of a phone, you’ll see what’s special about it. It’s only a little bigger than a watch, but it runs the full smartphone experience. The NanoPhone is the perfect spare for people who have multiple SIMs or just want a smaller phone without the addictive features of flagships. A 3-inch screen is far from immersive or addictive. In fact, it’s honestly perfect for people who like the idea of their thumbs being able to reach every part of the display, especially kids who often struggle with large, heavy, and expensive smartphones.
