Xiaomi 17T Review: A Midrange Phone That Shadows the Flagship

Xiaomi’s 17T arrives soon after the launch of the flagship Xiaomi 17, offering a lighter, cheaper alternative that looks very similar to the higher-end model. The phone was reviewed in Israel courtesy of Hamilton, Xiaomi’s local importer, and it costs about 2,200 to 2,400 shekels depending on storage. It is positioned as a “premium minus” device, with only limited compromises compared with the flagship.

Physically, the 17T is slightly larger and heavier than the Xiaomi 17, with a 6.59-inch display versus 6.3 inches and a weight of about 200 grams, roughly 10 grams more. It uses Gorilla Glass 7i instead of Xiaomi’s own protective glass, but still carries an IP68 rating for dust resistance and water immersion up to 30 minutes at 1.5 meters. Xiaomi warns, however, that it is not meant for long or extreme underwater use and that liquid damage is not covered by warranty.

Inside, the phone runs on MediaTek’s Dimensity 8500 chipset with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage, plus support for memory expansion and eSIM. Performance is strong, it handles demanding games without overheating, and the 6,500mAh battery lasts about a day and a half to two days. Charging is fast, with the included 67W charger taking the battery from 15% to 50% in about 20 minutes and to full in nearly an hour.

The phone ships with Android 16 and HyperOS 3. Xiaomi has reduced some of the usual clutter, but the browser still pushes game recommendations, and the software includes AI tools such as writing help, PDF summaries, web translation into Hebrew, image enhancement, and video editing. Hebrew transcription support is still missing in the recorder. The Leica-branded cameras are a major strength, with a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. The review says photos are sharp and rich in daylight and strong at night, making the 17T unusually capable for a midrange phone.