I'm in exactly the same boat. 6" was too big, and my current phone (Moto x4) is just slightly too big at 5.2". I just want a 5" phone with decent specs, but it seems that phone manufacturers want me to buy a huge screen.

I have pretty big hands (L men's gloves are usually just perfect, maybe a little small), and I just can't figure out how all of these small handed people are using phones bigger than mine. I refuse to buy one of those add-on grips since they essentially double the size of the phone, and I don't want to have to use two hands to type.

Using a 6.7" phone now (S10 5G), with size L hands (when buying bike gloves) it's surprising how fine it is to use one handed in general. For typing I do need two hands, but the same was the case for my older smaller phones.

I do love the real estate the 6.7" provides me, and am quickly getting used to this as the new standard for myself going forward.

I had an iPhone 6 for awhile, and though I could manage it with one hand, I found it hurt my thumb a bit more, it was harder to grip with the round edges, and bigger in my pocket.

You didn't have a case on it, did you?

Madness. Sheer madness.

I did have a case on it! But I'm pretty sure I dropped it more than my SE. Maybe the overall size contributed to that, but I've gotta think the rounded edges play a factor, even when a cast gives a bit more grip/thickness.