The "compact" phones in the Sony Xperia line are really the only ones that come close. My wife is still happily using her Z3 Compact though its successor, the Z5 Compact, didn't review as well. The newest Xperia X Compact is getting decent reviews.

Another vote for the Z3C. Small, fast enough for me, and I can easily get two days out of it.

Is the Z3C getting Android updates? How is the Sony software/skin/bloatware/addons compared to the cleanness of the Nexus line?

Sony provided an update to 6.0.1 I did not think the bloatware was as bad as a carrier-branded phone and most of it appears easy enough to delete. For a personal phone, I'd buy the Z3C again. (For my second, work phone, I liked the Z3C enough that I decided to go with a Z3, which I also like.)

On the Z3C, the Sony bloatware is bad. Apparently they've reduced it a bit since then but I haven't gone back. The hardware is nice, it's a shame they have to ruin it with crap.

I fiddled with various settings, and I think managed to disable almost all the bloatware. I get a notification about every two months that Sony's updater needs an update.

I'm pleased with the phone otherwise, and would buy it again.

Check the Sony compact series, or some Chinese brand phone.