Overwhelmed By Large Devices? Check Out The Best Smartphones That Are Modest In Size

It seems like android smart phones these days are constantly moving towards bigger screens and larger devices. The lines between tablet and phone are morphed into phablets. With these bigger devices, it gets much harder to be able to use them with one hand. Now, I have some pretty decent sized mitts, so handling these devices is no issue for me. However, if you are not a guitar or piano player -- or just don't have large hands in general -- these can be trying times for you.

Most smaller devices on the android market are older, or are low-end phones barely slugging along with a single-core processor and struggling to run a buggy build of ICS. If you want a device you can actually be comfortable holding without duct-taping it to your hand, you just have to suffer or jump ship to the dark side. However, in the past year there have been a few higher-end devices released with screens of under 4.3 inches. So fear not folks with pequeño paws, there are some great phones out there for you.

The Sony Xperia Z1f: although only available in Japan currently, there have been rumors of this device being released globally within the next month. A miniature monster, the Z1F houses a 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor and 2 GB of RAM -- more than enough for your basic tasks -- and uses a 2,300 mAh battery to power it. The camera is a whopping 20 MP, (Sony's specialty) and your pictures are displayed on a 720p display. Although that seems small, so is the screen, so you still get well over 300 ppi. LTE-A compatibility is also built in with this device. If this device never makes it out of Japan, then I'm sorry for the disappointment. However, we may be seeing more of a move back towards more manageable sizes for the majority if the populace.

The Droid Mini: another device featuring a 720p display on a 4.3" display, the Droid Mini uses the same X8 mobile computing system as the Moto X, and has the same 2 GB RAM and 10 MP camera. Even more important, the device costs as little as $400 brand new. Active display and always listening Google Now are features on this almost vanilla Android device, just like the rest of Motorola's phones this year. There are some complaints about the cheaper LCD display compared to its AMOLED brothers, and other people say it feels cheap, but for the price and power, there's not much worth complaining about.

While those are the better small devices, there are some midrange small devices based off of some larger flagships.

The Galaxy S4 mini is a huge step down from its larger brother, featuring only a 1.7 GHz dual-core processor, a qHD screen, and an 8 MP camera. The RAM is a decent 1.5 GB, and storage starts at a respectable 16 GB with expansion of up to 64. The screen is a compact 4.3 inches, and the battery is a bit weak, with only 1,900 mAh. However, I'll give credit where it is due, since Smart Features are still included and it has those touchwiz features consumers have grown to crave. My major gripe though? The $500 price tag.

The HTC One mini features a similar downgrade from its namesake with similar complaints from reviewers, since it features the same processor as the GS4 Mini with only 1 GB RAM and a 1,800 mAh battery. However, the Mini still features favorites like BlinkFeed and BoomSound for only $430.

Still too pricey? Try last year's step down GS3 Mini ($285) or the handsomely priced and built Droid Razr M ($350).

So take heart! There is usually an answer to your smartphone woes. Manufacturers do gno ive you a few options for good to great devices at a reasonable size. So why don't you show them some gratitude and give them a hand?

Note: All of these prices were found by hunting through the Internet for deals. You will not find deals like this buying through your carrier or straight from the manufacturer.