"To run the smartphone" means to operate or control the smartphone. It includes tasks such as using apps, making calls, sending messages, browsing the internet, and managing settings. Full definition
So are the small 7 - inch tablets running the smartphone OS counted in the numbers? (gigaom.com)
This is an Android 6.0 OS running smartphone with front facing landscape stereo speakers. (techandroids.com)
We've been running the smartphone equivalent for a little while now, so we thought it only fair to give the now - mature tablet category one of its own. (engadget.com)