Phone with incredible battery life puts Samsung to shame

Xiaomi has already introduced some unique features in its 17 series: for example, the Pro models with a secondary screen on the back or the camera kit for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. 

A new phone with many unique features

Now we’ve had the chance to test another unusual phone in the series: the Xiaomi 17 Max. It features a massive 6.9-inch AMOLED screen with barely visible bezels. It also features a flexible camera system with a 200-megapixel main camera and 3x telephoto zoom. Like the Pro models, however, it’s only officially available in Asia.

Our test unit came from TradingShenzhen, a retailer specializing in imports, where the phone is currently available for around US$ 770. 

However, due to the Chinese software, there are a few peculiarities: For example, English is the only Western language you can select; it doesn’t offer eSIM or Android Auto support; and there’s no official commitment regarding the update schedule.

What does the 17 Max offer?

These are significant limitations, but on the other hand, you get a lot for relatively little money: In our test, for example, the Wi-Fi with WiFi 7 support was really fast—we achieved data throughput of over 3 gigabits per second. The screen is also bright enough for HDR content and offers very accurate color reproduction.

The processor is really fast, but it does throttle quite heavily under heavy load at times.

The battery is extremely long-lasting

But the real highlight is the extremely high-capacity 8,000-mAh battery, which gives the phone a runtime that other high-end phones can only dream of: The smartphone lasted over 33 hours in our Wi-Fi test. 

Since it supports charging at up to 100 watts, the battery recharges quite quickly, and you don’t really notice the weight of this powerful battery either: At 225 grams, the Xiaomi 17 Max is actually lighter than an Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max.

All in all, you’ll need to weigh your options before making a purchase. To help you make an informed decision, check out our in-depth review of the Xiaomi 17 Max.