Xiaomi Redmi Note 17 5G review: Battery monster on a budget

With the Redmi Note 17 5G, Xiaomi is pursuing an unusual strategy: Instead of consistently improving its popular mid-range all-rounder, the manufacturer is focusing primarily on maximizing battery life. To that end, capacity has grown to a whopping 7,700 mAh. Elsewhere, however, significant cuts have been made.

Instead of a mid-range SoC, it now uses only the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4. RAM has also been reduced to 6 GB, even in the 256 GB version. In everyday use, this manifests itself in occasional stutters and longer loading times. The stripped-down HyperOS also lacks features such as split-screen and floating windows.

Further cuts affect the cameras: The new main sensor is smaller and has a lower resolution, while the ultra-wide-angle camera has been removed entirely. It still takes decent photos in daylight, but clear weaknesses emerge in low light and when using digital zoom. The AMOLED display loses a considerable amount of peak brightness compared with its predecessor. There is also pronounced 120 Hz modulation and a switch from stereo to mono speakers. Accurate color reproduction, long-term update support and the microSD slot remain positives.

The Redmi Note 17 5G shows its greatest strength in the battery test: With 21 hours and 8 minutes in the Wi-Fi test, it lasts an exceptionally long time. Compared with its predecessor, however, battery life increases by only eleven percent, even though battery capacity has grown by almost 40 percent. Energy efficiency is therefore disappointing.

The Redmi Note 17 5G is thus a long-lasting step backward. Anyone looking for maximum battery life will be happy. Those who prefer a balanced overall package will find the predecessor the more compelling alternative.