are there any new-ish phones that are small?

Not really, and the reason is very simple. Ordinary folks don't buy computers any more. A mobile device is all they need. So might as well get one with as big a screen as possible.

There are a handful of niche brands that make small models for weird people like us, including Cubot and Unihertz. I have one of the former, it's tiny and works fine.

Clarification. I have a Cubot King Kong Mini. 3.5in screen or thereabouts, standard 2 cameras (i.e. as many as you need), NFC, unskinned stock Android latest version. People assume its a dumbphone although really it's not. But I don't use it for much, intentionally.