My memory is from around 1998-1999 when I did some research to buy my first phone. From memory, I think that at that point Ericsson was winning that race in the more affordable end of the market, with models that I remember being smaller than Nokia models from the same time, such as:

* https://www.gsmarena.com/ericsson_pf_768-108.php

* https://www.gsmarena.com/ericsson_t10s-115.php

* https://www.gsmarena.com/ericsson_gf_788e-110.php

And Motorola had the smallest/lightest phones at the premium end of the market, with the StarTAC line.

* https://www.gsmarena.com/ericsson_gf_788e-110.php

* https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_startac_85-74.php

In the end I realised that size was not the most important factor for me so instead I got a Motorola 8700 [1] which I didn't enjoy using, then sold it shortly after to get a Nokia 5110 [2] which I liked very much.

[1] https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co80944...

[2] https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_5110-7.php

The one I have more vivid memories of is Nokia 8210, pretty small

https://www.businessinsider.com/drug-dealers-are-buying-noki...

https://photogallery.indiatimes.com/gadgets/phones/most-icon...

Yes I forgot about Ericsson, same era.

Funny how these are now classified dumb phones, while they have some odd niche market yet :-)