Update | Redmi Note 17 Pro now available globally for $300, but there is a catch

Xiaomi's Redmi Note 17 Pro has landed on Hong Kong online retailer Giztop with a starting price of $299, undercutting typical launch pricing for a device of this caliber. While the price makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious shoppers, there is a catch: the phone is an imported Chinese model rather than an official global model. This has several major implications:

1. Chinese and English are the only supported system languages.
2. Certain network bands may be missing for specific countries.
3. eSIM is not supported.
4. Support for Android Auto, Quick Share, WearOS services, certain regional banking services, et cetera are missing by default, and will require hacks to install, as Chinese HyperOS builds lack the required underlying Google framework needed for these to work properly. Even after manually enabling Google Play Services and downloading the Google and Gemini apps, these can be limited in their functionality due to system-level restrictions (e.g. hands-free voice activation or "Hey Google" is not possible).
5. Buyers lack warranty rights. Giztop does have its own warranty policy, which can be read in full here.

Either way, the Redmi Note 17 Pro offers competitive specs for the price. It features a 6.83-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and up to 3,500 nits of peak brightness. Under the hood is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 processor, paired with multiple RAM and storage configurations, ranging from 8GB+128GB to 12GB+256GB.

The smartphone also packs a massive 9,000mAh battery with 67W fast charging and 22.5W wired reverse charging. Other highlights include a 50 MP main camera, an 8 MP selfie camera, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, a 3.5mm headphone jack and an infrared blaster. In sum, those willing to import will get flagship-like specs at a mid-range price. Buyers should also factor in long-than-usual delivery times and possible taxes and/or a customs fee.