Xiaomi 17 GBAtemp review
Hardware
Product Information:
In time for an annual update, Xiaomi has launched its latest mainline flagship smartphone line: the Xiaomi 17 Series. As a series of smartphones, there are tiered models, and here we’ll take a closer look at the base model, the Xiaomi 17.
Xiaomi 17 contents and specs
Xiaomi has priced the 17 starting at £899/€999 for the 12+256GB version. The package comes with the following items:
Specs of the Xiaomi 17 can be found below:
Compact, classy and… uninspired?
In recent years, smartphones have tended to become taller and wider, to the detriment of one-handed usability. The Xiaomi 17 counters this trend with a compact design. At 191g and a 6.3" display with remarkably thin bezels (1.18mm), it fits neatly in the palms and offers a more comfortable one-handed usability experience than its taller counterparts (although it still requires some degree of reach).
The Xiaomi 17’s design also contributes to its comfort. Its rounded edges and relative lightweight enable a secure, reliable grip without having the fingers reach out too much to access parts of the screen. The aluminium frame, IP68 certification and Xiaomi Shield Glass (Xiaomi’s proprietary protective glass tech) offer peace of mind when using the device as a daily driver. It is compactness meets classiness embodied.
While I’m fond of its minimalist look, I feel like its visual identity is somewhat uninspired. The iPhone-style off-centre camera island feels dated, especially considering that Xiaomi has issued more uniquely designed phones in recent years.
Like Apple, Xiaomi has omitted the charging brick. It’s a disappointing trend, especially as the Xiaomi 17 supports 100W HyperCharge, and you’ll have to make a separate purchase to benefit from this feature. However, unlike Apple’s iPhones, Xiaomi pre-installs a protective film on the device’s display and also includes a bumper case, which are welcome additions.
Gaming performance of the Xiaomi 17
As a flagship phone, the Xiaomi 17 sports a flagship chipset, more specifically, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip. As expected, GeekBench 6’s CPU and GPU benchmarks position it in the top tier.
With its specs, you can expect to throw any native Android games at it, and the Xiaomi 17 will handle it with ease. From Dead Cells to Zenless Zone Zero, the device is suited to take on 2D and 3D games alike on high graphical settings.
When it comes to emulation, it is also well capable of handling a range of systems. Older systems such as Dreamcast and Gamecube (3x resolution) run flawlessly at 60fps.
Even more demanding systems such as the PS2 and Wii can run games smoothly at 2x resolution. For instance, The Last Story on the Wii plays steadily at its capped 30fps, and PS2 games Ratchet & Clank and Shadow of the Colossus play at 60fps.
For the Switch, performance is title-dependent and can improve with emulator updates. For example, Cuphead would run at a smooth 60fps while Untitled Goose Game would be stuck on the loading screen when starting a new game.
Despite its sleek appearance, the Xiaomi 17 packs a decent-sized, massive 6330mAh battery. This allows you to comfortably game for extended stretches. It’s just a shame that the 100W charger isn’t included, as it would make a stronger case for gamers with its super-fast charging.
One downside for gamers is that this phone does not support expandable storage. It’s a bummer, especially for transferring your retro games catalogue, but it still holds plenty of on-board storage for most of your gaming needs. Another downside that I noticed is that extended gaming sessions, especially for demanding systems gets the device noticeably hot. This is more likely to be an issue for the power user and general daily usage isn’t affected like this.
The Xiaomi 17 daily driver experience
Of course, Xiaomi bills its latest flagship as your next daily driver, and the Xiaomi 17 lends itself well to this moniker. Not only does its classy, minimal look make for an aesthetically pleasing device to carry, but it is also comfortable to use. This phone also boasts a Leica-branded triple camera system and, as expected, it takes stunning, detailed shots.
The 6.3" OLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate is well-suited for gaming as well as general entertainment uses. Visuals are crisp, and colours pop. In particular, the thin bezels make for a noticeably immersive experience. The stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support deliver quality audio that complements the visual experience.
The Xiaomi 17 won’t leave you wanting as a daily driver and handheld gaming companion. I’m not particularly fond of its uninspired design and the omission of the charging brick. That said, these do not impede the device from offering a true flagship daily driver experience; but this experience does come at a steep cost.
Verdict
- Remarkably thin bezels
- Great performance for gaming and general entertainment
- Compact and classy look
- Bumper case included, and screen protector preinstalled
- Uninspired design
- Pricey phone
- No charging brick included
- Does not support expandable storage
