those folding phones are permanently bulging and enormous.

I feel like I'm the only person on earth sometimes who just wants the phone to be small so it's easy to carry and use one-handed.

I want to live life when I'm out and about, the phone I have is the heaviest thing I am constantly carrying.

Yes but smaller than an iPad mini.

My pockets are not wide enough for a mini but would take a folding phone - the depth is much less of an issue.

If the alternative is carrying a tablet then a folding phone is smaller.