The new Xiaomi Redmi 17 5G is already available at a very low price: You can get it for around US$ 222 at amazon.com, for example.
Of course, even Xiaomi cannot work miracles and build such an inexpensive smartphone with perfect specifications in every area.
But the manufacturer has clearly made an effort to pack as much as possible into this budget phone: It features a multicolor notification LED on the back, a sturdy case available in three colors, security updates until 2032 and a very long battery life of well over 25 hours in our real-world Wi-Fi test.
The competition can barely keep up in two areas
The update period and battery life are particularly impressive when you look at some competing phones: Motorola, for example, offers just three years of updates for the Moto G47, while the Samsung Galaxy A17 5G manages only slightly more than 50% of the battery life.
But the Xiaomi phone also has some clear weaknesses
Elsewhere, however, the necessary cuts to the specifications become apparent: Xiaomi uses the Snapdragon 4 Gen 5, a very slow SoC that offers hardly any performance headroom.
Although the display does not use PWM, its resolution of 1,600 x 720 pixels is not particularly high, and its maximum brightness is only mediocre.
The main camera on the back will not give photography enthusiasts much joy: We even see jagged diagonal edges in some photos taken in good light. Bright areas also quickly become overexposed.
There is no eSIM support, and the fact that Xiaomi’s software still displays ads and comes with a large number of preinstalled apps is not particularly consumer-friendly either.
Potentially a good choice as a long-lasting secondary phone
However, if you are looking for a secondary phone that primarily offers long battery life and remains secure to use for many years, this phone could certainly be an interesting option.
You can find more details about the phone and our final rating in our in-depth review of the Xiaomi Redmi 17 5G.
I initially wrote about gaming laptops when I joined Notebookcheck in 2009. I was then involved with the setup of the comparison portal Notebookinfo and worked with social media concepts for large companies like BMW and Adidas, while also returning to work for Notebookcheck in 2012. Nowadays, I focus on smartphones, tablets, and future technologies. Since 2018 I have been Managing Editor for mobile device reviews, working alongside my colleague Daniel Schmidt.
