Xiaomi 17 Review: Compact & Capable
The Xiaomi 17 is a compact flagship phone that offers top-tier performance, a capable Leica camera system, feature-rich software experience, a sharp colorful display, and an outlandishly large battery. It stands out among other compact flagships on the market today, making it a compelling choice for those looking for a smaller yet powerful device.
Design & Build:
The Xiaomi 17 features an elegant design with a flat-backed and flat-sided form factor. It has a thin and lightweight build, making it comfortable to hold and use. The phone comes in Black, Ice Blue, Alpine Pink, and Venture Green color options. It has thin bezels around the display, giving it a premium look. The phone is IP68-certified for dust and water resistance and features Xiaomi Guardian Structure and Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0 for durability.
Screen & Speakers:
The Xiaomi 17 boasts a 6.3-inch 1.5K 120Hz LTPO AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 3,500 nits. The display offers sharp visuals and supports HDR content. The phone also features Dolby Atmos stereo speakers that deliver a decent sound quality with minimal distortion.
Specs & Performance:
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, the Xiaomi 17 offers impressive performance with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It supports Xiaomi Offline Communication and features advanced connectivity options such as WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The phone delivers smooth gaming performance and efficient power usage.
Cameras:
The Xiaomi 17 comes with a quad-camera setup, all featuring 50MP sensors. The Leica-tuned cameras deliver excellent still photography with accurate colors and minimal noise. The telephoto lens offers a unique telemacro shooting experience, while the portrait mode provides natural-looking bokeh effects. The phone supports up to 4K 60fps recording with Dolby Vision.
Battery Life & Charging:
The Xiaomi 17 packs a massive 6,330mAh Xiaomi Surge Battery, which provides long-lasting battery life. The phone supports 100W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 22.5W reverse wireless charging. The battery capacity and charging speeds make it a standout feature of the device.
Software & AI:
The Xiaomi 17 runs on HyperOS 3 based on Android 16. The software offers a clean and customizable user experience with useful features like HyperIsland and wireless file sharing. The phone also includes Google Gemini integration with Mind Space and promises five years of OS updates and six years of security updates.
Price & Availability:
The Xiaomi 17 is competitively priced starting at £899 for the base model and £999 for the 512GB variant. It offers excellent value for money compared to other flagship devices on the market. The phone is not available in the US but is widely accessible in other regions.
In conclusion, the Xiaomi 17 is a standout compact flagship phone that excels in performance, camera quality, battery life, and software experience. It offers a compelling combination of features that make it a top choice for those seeking a powerful yet compact device.
