The term sub-Neptune can refer to a planet with smaller radius than Neptune even though it may have a larger mass or to a planet with a smaller mass than Neptune even though it may have a larger radius like a

super-puff A super-puff is a type of exoplanet with a mass only a few times larger than Earth's but with a radius larger than that of Neptune, giving it a very low mean density.

and both meanings can even be used in the same publication. Neptune like planets are considerably rarer than sub-Neptune sized planets, despite being only slightly bigger.Superabundance of Exoplanet Sub-Neptunes Explained by Fugacity Crisis
Edwin S. Kite, Bruce Fegley Jr., Laura Schaefer, Eric B. Ford, 5 Dec 2019 This “radius cliff” separates sub-Neptunes (radii < 3 Earth radii) from Neptunes (radii > 3 Earth radii). This radius-cliff is thought to arise because during formation when gas is accreting, the atmospheres of planets that size reach the pressures required to force the hydrogen into the magma ocean stalling radius growth. Then, once the magma ocean saturates, radius growth can continue. However, planets that have enough gas to reach saturation are much rarer, because they require much more gas.

References

{{Exoplanet Exoplanets

See also

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References