I enjoyed using the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G. I use it as my main phone on non-work days. As I mentioned in my review, I loved using my REDMI Note and felt confident in its durability. Now that I have the new REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G, I am hoping it would have newer features to like that would kick out my 15 Pro 5G out of my phone rotation.
Table of Contents
REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G Specs
| OS: | Android 16, Xiaomi HyperOS 3 |
|---|---|
| Processor: | 2.4 GHz Qualcomm SM6435-AA Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 Octa-Core; Adreno 710 GPU |
| Display: | 6.83″ FHD 1280 x 2772 pixels AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate |
| Wireless Connections: | 5G, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, Infrared |
| Memory: | 6GB+128GB |
| Connectors: | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| Cameras: | Rear Camera: (Main) 50 MP, f/1.8 OIS (Ultrawide) 8MP, f/2.2 Front Camera: 16 MP, f/2.4 |
| SIM Card Slots: | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), 1 eSIM support |
| Battery: | Silicon Carbon 8340mAh 67W wired 22.5W reverse charging |
| Price: | 6GB+128GB: Php 22,999 |
The Unboxing
Xiaomi decided to redesign again the packaging of the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G. It now has a light metallic silver color instead of red with the fonts and Mi logo colored black. At the bottom is a sticker of the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G’s image with its battery capacity, charging, memory and storage shown.
Watch this Unboxing Video:
Inside the box are the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G, Silicon Case, Type-C USB Cable, 67W Charging Head, and User Manuals.
The Built and Design
My impression of the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G is pretty much the same as its predecessor. They both have the same size and height, except for their thickness. The Note 17 Pro 5G’s thickness is 8.7mm, 0.7mm thicker than the 15 Pro 5G. Same rounded corners, same matte finishing.
Volume rocker and power button are located on the right side of the phone.
At the bottom are the SIM Card slot, Type-C USB Port, and speaker. The other speaker is found on top of the phone. The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G can accommodate two Nano SIM Cards and an eSIM.
The back of the REDMI has a matte finish which is prone to fingerprint smudges. Thankfully, it can be wiped clean with a cloth. The camera module is moved back to the left side and it’s smaller this time.
The REDMI Note series is being marketed as Titan Tough thanks to its build quality. It has an advanced waterproof architecture with IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings which passed a demanding 2-meter, 72-hour water-resistance test. Basically, the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G can survive numerous accidental drops and resistant to water and dust. It also has been tested to withstand drops from up to three meters onto granite surfaces.
Like the Note 15 Pro 5G, the new REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G is also comfortable to hold. The weight is noticeably heavier since the Note 17 Pro 5G weight 16 grams more.
The Display and Sound
The display of the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G is a 6.83″ AMOLED Display with a resolution of 1280 x 2772 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the REDMI’s display from breakage on the screen when dropped on rough, hard surfaces.
Viewing the phone’s display outdoors is possible thanks to its peak brightness of up to 3,500 nits. Its 240Hz touch refresh rate was helpful whenever I play games.
The REDMI’s stereo speakers sounded solid whether I play music through Spotify or through streaming video platforms. Maxing out the volume didn’t produce any distortion.
The Performance
When I thought the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G will have new features, I didn’t expect it to be some sort of a downgrade. It is powered by a 2.4 GHz Qualcomm SM6435-AA Snapdragon 6s Gen Octa-Core processor supported by an Adreno 710 GPU. For this review, I was given a 128GB/6GB configuration. Before I discuss this further, let’s check the benchmark scores.
Honestly, I scratched my head when I learned that Xiaomi chose the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 processor for the Note 17 Pro 5G. I realized it was a new processor but I felt the Mediatek Dimensity processor of the Note 15 Pro 5G is still superior.
I couldn’t believe that I would still see a 6GB memory being sold in 2026. Usually, the minimum is 8GB in this price range but due to the rising prices in memory, tech companies like Xiaomi have no choice but to go for a lower memory capacity. This also affects the official prices of the REDMI Note 17 Series.
Realistically, it didn’t feel like a downgrade when it comes to everyday use, even with 6GB of RAM. It supports virtual memory that uses the phone’s storage to be able to keep up with demanding tasks. During my two-week review period, I didn’t encounter any problems multi-tasking on the phone.
I only played one game – Genshin Impact to test the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G’s limits in gaming. Graphic settings were set to Highest and FPS to 60. I immediately noticed the game stutter every once in a while and I also felt the phone starting to heat. The lower graphics settings as default is highly recommended if you play this game as well as other similar games.
The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G has Xiaomi HyperOS 3 based on Android 16 pre-installed. What’s new with this Operating System is the addition of AI features related to imaging. Users who love tinkering with their photos taken on the REDMI might spend more time editing their photos. Xiaomi said they will provide 4 years of major Android updates.
The Cameras
The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G is a dual camera set-up composed of a 50 Megapixel main camera and an 16 Megapixel ultra-wide. This is a big downgrade from the Note 15 Pro 5G’s 200 Megapixels. We know that both the 15 Pro 5G and 17 Pro 5G don’t have telephoto lens, so the former relied on its 200 Megapixel sensor to properly produce long-focus shots. I zoomed in 2x and immediately noticed my photo to be grainy.
Here are some sample photos:
The REDMI’s 50 Megapixels camera ain’t bad at all. Outdoor photos turned out quite well, while night photos looked decent. The colors on the plushies were punchy and fine details of my cat Suki’s fur and paws were captured.
Selfies taken with good lighting showed my clear facial details. My second selfie with my cats didn’t go well due to poor low light conditions.
The Battery Life
Aside from its durability, this is where the REDMI Note 17 Series want you to focus on – Battery life. The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G has a battery capacity of 8,340 mAh. I believe this phone has the highest battery capacity I’ve owned so far.
In my PCMark Battery Test, the result was 23 hours and 11 minutes, much longer than another phone we reviewed earlier this year with almost the same battery capacity.
The battery capacity may be huge, but thank goodness Xiaomi included a 67W fast charger. I was able to charge my Note 17 Pro Max in over an hour. It could also charge another phone or device with its reverse charging feature if you don’t have your powerbank around.
DR’s Conclusion
Let’s be real. It wasn’t Xiaomi’s fault they ended up with these specs and official prices. The rising costs of components, including memory and storage have driven up their prices. This is probably the reason why Xiaomi is offering again a 6GB memory with extended memory utilizing phone’s storage. Personally, the choice of a Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 isn’t that bad for everyday usage. The 50 Megapixel camera is still fine for taking snaps especially for social media.
Focusing now on the REDMI Note 17 series’ main selling points, Titan Durability and Battery Life, the Note 17 Pro 5G is not a phone that you can easily dispose after 2 years. Xiaomi envisions REDMI to have long-term reliability for its customers. We’re not only talking about hardware here, but also software which Xiaomi promises 4 years of OS updates and around 6 years of security updates. So even with the price increase, your investment for this phone is still worth it.
Do you want to buy a REDMI Note 17 Series that’s lower than their SRP?
Take advantage of the REDMI Note 17 Series early bird promo! Click on this link for details.
