I was in the mini camp as well, but the reality is that even the mini can't be used one-handed with ease. Based on that, I switched to a pro max model and haven't looked back. If no one-handed option is available then I'll take the most useful two-handed option, even if it pains me to do so. The 4S was the last true one-handed option in my opinion.
New ones don’t seem to be available any more, you probably need to go refurbished. Last year some third-party sellers still had new units available. Replacing the battery is always an option.
It doesn’t look like Apple will be going back to something smaller than the 17e. Unless you count the upcoming foldable, which while shorter than the mini, however is also wider, thicker and heavier.