And in the past year, there were precisely 2 Android phones with <= 4.7" screens. Lava Z40 and BLU Advance L5. There were zero that were as narrow as the original SE.
I haven't tested it but people have had success with adding an "alternative appearance" in the FaceID settings and having it scan your face with half of it covered by a mask. Here is an article with pictures describing the process:
I can see people not liking phones like > 6" screens because they are too hard to hold but it seems like 4" screens are too far in the opposite direction.