REDMI devices are not a new name for entry-level and mid-range devices because they offer attractive specifications at affordable prices. This is my first time reviewing a device from REDMI so is the REDMI 17 5G capable of offering a good user experience at a price that is comparable to what it offers. I will explain further in this review article.
REDMI 17 5G
IPS LCD screen, 120Hz, 825 nits
6.9-inch 1600 x 720 pixels
(~256 ppi density)
Corning Gorilla Glass 7i
Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 processor (4 nm)
2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 chip
6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55
Adreno 613 Graphics Chip
RAM 4GB LPDDR4X RAM
Virtual RAM (+12GB RAM)
Internal Storage 256GB UFS 2.2
Primary Camera 50 MP, f/1.8 (wide)
Front Camera 8 MP, f/2.05 (ultra-wide)
7500 mAh battery
45W Fast Charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM Nano /Micro SD/ 5G
NFC Yes
Infrared None
Waterproof IP64
Scan System Fingerprint scan
Scan face
Selling Price RM769 (4+128 GB)
RM869 (4+256 GB)
Design
In terms of visuals, the REDMI 17 5G looks like a device that is more expensive than its price, especially for the Vivid Orange color. The back panel uses a leather finish and is combined with gold elements on the camera module and the device frame. However, as soon as you hold this device, it immediately feels like a slightly cheap device because it uses a completely plastic construction.
On the REDMI 17 5G camera module, there is an RGB light placed under the flash light. This light works like most other RGB lights on other brands such as notifications, charging the device and also during gaming sessions. Although there is nothing special, you can get this RGB light on a device sold under RM1000.
Although the device is quite large with a size of 6.9″, it does not feel too heavy and expensive, the grip in the hand also feels quite good. It also comes with IP64 water and dust resistance, it is not the best but for the price offered it is quite adequate.
In terms of button layout, on the right side of the device there are volume buttons and a power button that has a fairly fast fingerprint sensor function. The bottom of the device houses a type-C charging port, a speaker and a SIM slot that can also accommodate a MicroSD card. On the top of the device, there is something that is quite 'rare' now, namely a 3.5mm audio jack and a second speaker.
Screen
The REDMI 17 5G uses a 6.9" screen with a 720P resolution plus a 120Hz refresh rate. This screen specification is actually quite disappointing for the year 2026 because you should get a device with an OLED panel at least. The bezel on the chin of this screen is also very thick, providing a less than satisfactory experience.
The brightness level is also quite low, at 825nits, so using this device under the hot sun can test one's patience. This screen also only has 8-bit color depth so the color reproduction is not very vibrant but for casual use this is not a big issue. Perhaps one of the positive things with this screen is that it has a TUV Rheinland rating for eye safety and the durability of Gorrilla Glass 7i.
Software – HyperOS 3
Like most other Xiaomi devices, this REDMI 17 5G also runs HyperOS 3 based on Android 16 right out of the box. To be honest, I didn't have any major issues with this HyperOS 3 before, the interface design looks simple and minimal and uses a flat and colorful icon design.
I actually quite like the interface design of this HyperOS because it doesn't look too colorful like most operating systems from other Chinese brands. The personalization for this HyperOS is not as extensive and comprehensive as what competitors offer but this is not a big problem for me.
My main problem when using this device is the ads that appear. There are ads that will appear randomly and sometimes quite annoying. There are also quite a lot of bloatware applications as soon as you turn on this device. For people like me who are used to turning off ads a little, this may not be a problem, but for other users it may make them a little annoyed with these ads.
Performance
The REDMI 17 5G is equipped with the latest chip, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 5, which is a chip in the entry-level class. It is matched with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM and storage options of up to 256GB UFS 2.2. Based on these specifications, you certainly don't need to expect impressive performance from this device and you can judge for yourself from the benchmark scores below.
Vivo Y31s 2026 – Snapdragon 4 Gen 2
Realme P4 Power – Mediatek Dimensity 7400 Ultra
Vivo V70 FE – Mediatek 7360-Turbo (4nm)
Samsung Galaxy A37 5G – Exynos 1480 (4nm)
Infinix Note Edge – Dimensity 7100 (6nm)
Honor 600 Lite – Dimensity 7100 Elite (6nm)
Nothing Phone (3a) – Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4nm)
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G – Exynos 1680 (4nm)
Antutu 3D
Score Device
REDMI 17 5G 626,878
Vivo Y31s 5G 636,064
Realme P4 Power 1,011,190
vivo V70 FE 940,342
Samsung Galaxy A37 5G 1,059,377
Infinix Note Edge 805,806
Honor 600 Lite 726,401
Nothing Phone (3a) 803,992
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G 1,373,996
Geekbench 6
Single Core Multi Core Device
REDMI 17 5G 972 1626
Vivo Y31s 5G 919 2122
Realme P4 Power 1043 2890
vivo V70 FE 1021 2941
Samsung Galaxy A37 5G 1138 3489
Infinix Note Edge 972 2827
Honor 600 Lite 867 2660
Nothing Phone (3a) 1146 3123
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G 1238 4410
3DMark Wildlife Extreme
Device Score
REDMI 17 5G 350
Vivo Y31s 5G N/A
Realme P4 Power 1021
vivo V70 FE 870
Samsung Galaxy A37 5G 1042
Infinix Note Edge 692
Honor 600 Lite 640
Nothing Phone (3a) 1043
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G 1713
The performance provided by the REDMI 17 5G was quite disappointing during my two weeks of use. When I only used this device for basic tasks, I always faced the problem of micro lag which was quite annoying. This may be due to the use of only 4GB of RAM which for me is no longer relevant in 2026.
In gaming sessions this problem becomes more critical. Games like PUBG Mobile can be played in the lowest settings but can get high frame rates but as soon as in a big battle the micro lag turns into a very bad lag. However, during gaming sessions, the device does not feel too hot and is still acceptable.
Camera
The camera part is also the biggest weakness of this device and to some extent it is due to its performance. Although it seems to have two lenses, only one lens can be used, which is 50MP f/1.8 without OIS and also an 8MP selfie lens.
The experience when taking pictures with this device is very disappointing because of its performance. The micro lag also occurs when using this camera, making this device have shutter lag so you must need a high level of patience when using it.
The image results are also not the best. The color production is still okay, but the sharpness is a bit less and the picture looks softer in sufficient light or during the day. The features in the camera application are also nothing special, only having all the basic settings. I can understand that this device does not focus on the camera and photography, but my experience after using the REDMI 17 camera is very unsatisfactory.
Battery
I think maybe the only part of the battery that can be praised a little because it has a large capacity of 7500mAh with Silicon Carbon technology. The performance is as expected with a chip that does not consume too much power, making the device last more than 8 hours for a day of use.
In terms of charging, it supports 45W fast charging, certainly not the fastest but enough to use at the end of the day. Charging from 20% to 90% can take almost 1 hour. This device also has a 22.5W reverse charging feature, again not a new feature but quite useful in emergencies.
Audio
For this Android device under RM800 you already get speakers with a stereo configuration although I admit the sound produced feels a bit empty and less dynamic. But what is more important is that this device has a 3.5mm audio jack which I often use when using this device for 2 weeks.
What's in the Box
Here's what's included in the box we received:
1 x REDMI 17 5G.
1 x 45W Charger Head.
1 x USB-C to USB-A Cable.
1 x Silicone Case.
1 x User Manual.
1 x SIM Pin.
Conclusion
I'm actually not sure who is the right group to use this REDMI 17 5G. If given to small children, they may get angry quickly because the device doesn't work smoothly due to the small amount of RAM.
As for the golden group, it's a bit of a pity for them to use this slow device. If you want to use this device as a second phone, it also seems less suitable due to its performance. I can recommend this device as an emergency device only if your main phone is broken or is being repaired.
Pros
Affordable price.
Large 7500 mAh battery.
Splashproof.
Stereo audio system with audio jack.
Cons
Small RAM size.
Low chip performance.
Normal camera, slow auto focus.
