Xiaomi 17T Launched in India: Price, Specs, Is It Worth Buying?

After much speculation and teasers, the Xiaomi 17T is now official in India. The near flagship smartphone was recently launched in global markets as the successor to the Xiaomi 15T. Notably, the Xiaomi 17T features Leica-tuned optics and a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto camera, suggesting that it is a camera-centric smartphone. Other highlights include the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra chipset, a 6,500mAh battery, a 120Hz display, and much more. Let us take a look at the details of the Xiaomi 17T.

Xiaomi 17T Price in India

The Xiaomi 17T has been launched for Rs 59,999 for the 12GB + 256GB model, while the 12GB + 512GB storage variant costs Rs 64,999. However, as part of the introductory sales offer, buyers can get them for Rs 54,999 and Rs 59,999, respectively, as Xiaomi is offering an instant discount of Rs 5,000.

The smartphone will be available for purchase in four colour options, including Black, Blue, Opal White, and Violet, via the company's online channels, Amazon, and retail outlets starting June 10.

What's New in the Xiaomi 17T?

• Compared to the Xiaomi 15T, which offers a bigger 6.83-inch display, the Xiaomi 17T boasts a compact 6.59-inch display.

• The Xiaomi 17T offers a slightly brighter display with 3,500 nits peak brightness, while the predecessor has 3,200 nits peak brightness.

• The Xiaomi 17T offers a 6,500mAh battery compared to the 5,500mAh battery on the Xiaomi 15T.

• Furthermore, the successor supports 22.5W wired reverse charging, while the Xiaomi 15T does not.

• The Xiaomi 17T is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra chipset, compared to the Dimensity 8400 Ultra on the Xiaomi 15T.

• The Xiaomi 17T runs on Android 16-based HyperOS 3, while the Xiaomi 15T was announced with Android 15-based HyperOS 2 but later received the upgrade to HyperOS 3.

• The successor supports 120x digital zoom, whereas the Xiaomi 15T supports only 60x digital zoom.

What's the Same?

• The Xiaomi 17T and Xiaomi 15T boast a 120Hz refresh rate and AMOLED displays.

• They offer Leica-tuned triple cameras, consisting of a 50MP OIS main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP OIS telephoto periscope camera, alongside a 32MP selfie camera.

• Both T-series smartphones are equipped with 67W wired fast charging support.

• The Xiaomi 17T and Xiaomi 15T have the same IP68 rating and Gorilla Glass 7i protection.

• Both phones have dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, and an IR Blaster.

Xiaomi 17T Specifications

The Xiaomi 17T features a 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 3,500 nits peak brightness, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ support, which enhances the overall experience for media consumption and gaming. Meanwhile, Gorilla Glass 7i offers improved durability against everyday damage.

The smartphone packs the Dimensity 8500 Ultra chipset, which is touted as one of the strongest chipsets for near-flagship smartphones, such as the POCO X8 Pro and the Redmi Turbo 5. The chipset offers smoother frame rates and more stable sustained performance with the Mali GPU and higher clock speeds, resulting in an enhanced gaming experience.

With this chipset, users can expect better power management without a major trade-off in battery life and heavy multitasking. Furthermore, the chipset offers smoother multitasking, faster app launches, and an overall more responsive experience. The phone also features Xiaomi's 3D IceLoop cooling system, designed to efficiently dissipate heat during prolonged gaming and heavy usage.

The smartphone ships with Xiaomi HyperOS 3 based on Android 16, offering enhanced cross-platform connectivity, personalised on-device AI, and desktop-class multitasking. It will receive four Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates.

The camera setup is one of the major highlights of the Xiaomi 17T, featuring a 50MP OIS Leica Light Fusion 800 main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP OIS periscope telephoto camera.

While the main camera is claimed to deliver detailed and vibrant shots, the ultrawide sensor enables wider landscape and group shots. Another standout feature is the periscope telephoto camera, which enables 5x optical zoom and AI-backed digital zoom of up to 120x. Optical zoom retains image quality by using lens optics, while digital zoom enlarges a cropped image and may result in a noticeable loss of detail.

For selfies and video calls, the Xiaomi 17T is equipped with a 32MP sensor that is said to offer detailed self-portraits. Additionally, the rear cameras support 4K video recording at 60fps.

The smartphone offers a 6,500mAh battery with 67W wired HyperCharge. Notably, it is touted to offer up to 1.5 to 2 days of battery life with normal usage on a single charge and can be charged from 0 percent to 100 percent in 58 minutes. Furthermore, the smartphone is also equipped with 22.5W reverse charging support.

For durability, the Xiaomi 17T features an IP68 rating, meaning it is completely dust-tight and can survive immersion in freshwater up to 1.5 metres deep for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, other features include dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, and an IR Blaster.

Is the Xiaomi 17T Worth Buying?

The newly announced Xiaomi 17T is a strong all-rounder -- with a major focus on cameras -- and a good buy at the current price point. However, there are a few options available right now in this segment, such as the Vivo X200T, OnePlus 15R, iQOO 15R, and Motorola Signature, which are currently priced at Rs 54,999, Rs 50,999, and Rs 54,848, respectively, for the 12GB + 256GB storage options.

The OnePlus 15R, iQOO 15R, and Motorola Signature are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, while the Vivo X200T (which was recently available for Rs 49,999) features the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+. It is worth noting that the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra on the Xiaomi device can handle everyday use and moderate gaming well but falls slightly behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and Dimensity 9400+ phones in sustained high-performance scenarios.

While the Xiaomi 17T offers an enhanced 50MP 5x periscope telephoto sensor alongside the 50MP main sensor, the Vivo X200T comes equipped with a well-balanced 50MP triple Zeiss camera setup, which is claimed to offer excellent all-round performance, especially in colour accuracy and portraits.

Additionally, the Motorola Signature also comes with a triple 50MP camera system, which includes a 50MP 3x telephoto periscope sensor. Meanwhile, the OnePlus and iQOO devices offer a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera and an 8MP ultrawide sensor.

However, the OnePlus 15R and iQOO 15R excel in terms of battery and fast charging support, offering a 7,400mAh battery with 80W charging and a 7,600mAh battery with 100W charging, respectively. On the other hand, the Vivo X200T and Motorola Signature fall a little short with 6,200mAh and 5,200mAh batteries, respectively, but offer faster 90W charging support.

When it comes to display and design, the Motorola Signature stands out with its ultra-slim 7mm profile, premium Pantone-inspired colours, lightweight build, and a smooth 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 165Hz. The OnePlus 15R also offers a large LTPO AMOLED panel with a high refresh rate, while the Xiaomi and Vivo models feature bright 1.5K AMOLED displays with 120Hz refresh rates, making them excellent choices for media consumption and everyday use.

Overall, the Xiaomi 17T is a good option for users who prioritise camera performance and a balanced flagship experience. Its upgraded periscope telephoto camera gives it an edge over many rivals in the camera department. However, those looking for top-tier performance may find better value in the OnePlus 15R or iQOO 15R, while users seeking a more versatile camera setup or a distinctive design may want to consider the Vivo X200T and Motorola Signature, respectively.

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