I think Eric Migicovsky, the founder of Pebble, has decided he will have a go at an iPhone 13 mini sized android phone, since nothing exists in that space anymore.
Android rather than iPhone, but I've also recently given up hoping Apple would release a small phone. I recently bought a used iPhone 13 mini when my minor-regret-sized SE 2022 started playing up and I saw that all the rumours pointed at this 16E being huge.
It makes the phone less durable for a useless screen size, its pocket ability isn't much better because it is just bulkier (easier to enter in small pockets, but bigger deformation and feel) and it's just less convenient because you have to open it anytime you want to use it.
There is no replacement for a small phone, some manufacturer has to do it.
Regarding your second one, I have some good news though: ASUS Zenfone 10 is smaller than iPhone 16 by 1.1mm x 3.5mm, Samsung S24 (base model) is 0.6mm x 1.0mm smaller, and Sony Xperia 5 V is only slightly bigger.
