Xiaomi 17T vs 17T Pro: Don’t Buy The WRONG One!

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This is the Xiaomi 17T and the Xiaomi 17T Pro. On paper, both of them look like great phones, which is exactly the problem because if you walk into a store and see both of them side by side, you’re going to stand there for a very long time.

In this article, I’m going to do “the work” for you because you’ll know exactly which one is worth your money and which one you should probably skip. So, watch first and buy smart.

Same Same But Different

Before I go into the details, just so you know that both phones share a lot of the same DNA:

• the same Leica camera system,
• the same Gorilla Glass 7i,
• the same IP68 rating,
• the same HyperOS 3, and;
• both get 5 years of OS updates + 6 years of security patches.

So, now let’s talk about the difference.

Design & Size

So, if you regularly watch YouTube videos in bed or scroll through a lot of content or use your phone as a secondary screen when you’re traveling, especially on a plane, you are definitely going to love this.

Camera

Next, the cameras. Because both phones have:

• the Leica Summilux lenses,
• a 50MP main,
• a 50MP telephoto lens with a 5x zoom.

And this is something worth highlighting because previously the optical 5x zoom was only available on the Pro, but right now is available on the standard as well. And this of course has a 10x lossless zoom and it also has a 12MP ultrawide camera.

So, on paper, they are nearly identical, but the differences matter depending on how serious you are about photography because this Pro runs on Xiaomi’s Light Fusion 950 sensor and is using a 1/1.31″ Ultra Large sensor with an aperture value of f/1.67 and a 13.5 EV dynamic range.

It also has the new LSC coating technology which in translation means that it will help to reduce haze and the light scattering in bright or backlit scenes. So you can think of it as wearing a pair of anti-glare lenses for your camera. And this coating is something that even flagship phones like the iPhone 17 Pro and the S26 Ultra still struggle with.

Then the standard 17T uses the Light Fusion 800 and it has a 1/1.55″ sensor with an aperture value of f/1.7. Still very solid for a phone within this price range.

But where the Pro really pulls ahead is video because it can do 4K up to 120 fps. The standard 17T gets 4K 60 fps and that’s a big deal if you shoot cinematic content.

[Check out my YouTube video for the sample footage]

The Pro also supports Log video recording up to 4K 60 fps.

And both has a variety of portrait focal length ranges of 23mm, 28mm, 35mm, 46mm, 75mm and 115mm.

So if photography and video are a big part of your life, then yes, the Pro definitely gives you more room to grow. But if you want to just get consistent shots throughout and you want to use it for social media, hobbies, or even family memories, then the standard 17T does that very beautifully.

Performance

The Pro is running on the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset. This fact is very interesting because usually the T series comes with a generation behind when it comes to the chipset. So this year, it actually comes with the latest flagship chipset, the first time on a T series.

It comes paired with the Xiaomi 3D IceLoop cooling system, what does that mean, or translation, is the fact that the phone stays cool and stays fast even with a very heavy load. So if you are a mobile gamer and if you edit videos on your phone or you don’t want your phone to slow down halfway throughout your day, then the Pro is built for that.

Then the standard 17T has the Dimensity 8500-Ultra chipset which is still a flagship grade chip.
So still smooth for everything you do daily: social media, streaming, Grab, banking apps, all of it.

But the display also reflects the difference because the Pro runs at 144 Hz where the standard 17T runs at 120 Hz. Both look great and for untrained eyes, you won’t notice the difference.

Of course, especially if you put the same wallpaper. But if you compare side by side, the Pro definitely feels slightly more fluid.

Battery

The Pro packs a massive 7,000 mAh of silicon battery with 100W of wired HyperCharge and 50W of wireless charging. So, you’re looking at a phone that can easily go through a full day of heavy use and still have juice left by midnight.

Then, the standard 17T gives you 6,500 mAh of battery with 67W of wired charging. Still very good for a phone within this price range, but this does not have wireless charging. So, keep that in mind.

So, both phones will last you the entire day or even more. But if you’re constantly using your phone, you’re constantly traveling or someone who just forgets to charge, then yes, the Pro 7,000 mAh battery will give you the extra peace of mind.

And the 100W charger is also in the box, which means that if you do need to top up, you won’t be waiting around. And the standard 17T comes with a 67W charger, so it is still fast, but not “as fast.”

Shared Wins

Before we go into the verdict, remember how I said earlier about how both phones have the same DNA, right? Well, let me quickly run through what both phones nail equally well because I don’t want you walking away thinking that the standard 17T is a compromise.

Because both phones have TÜV Rheinland Quadruple Eye Care Certification and that is the industry’s first and how it works is very simple because it covers low blue light. It also is flicker-free and also Circadian-friendly as well.

It also has Intelligent Eye Care as well, so if you stare at your phone the entire day, which let’s be honest we all do right, both displays are great and are also very easy on the eyes.

Both also have a 3,500 nits of peak brightness. It is on the custom M10 panel, so outdoor visibility is excellent.

Both are also IP68 rated and both also come with a charger inside of the box, which is a nice touch for us Malaysians and anybody who is here buying these phones.

Verdict

Alright, so here’s a verdict and the best answer before we get into the price.

You should get the Xiaomi 17T if you want a compact phone that is comfortable to use with one hand and you’re not a heavy gamer or a content creator, but you want flagship Leica cameras without going all the way up when it comes to the price.

But you should get the Xiaomi 17T Pro if screen size matters to you and you watch a lot of content on your phone and you want the absolute best camera and video performance that this series or this particular price range has to offer.

If you’re a gamer, a power user, or someone who really loves to push their phone or if wireless charging is already part of your routine and if you want a 7,000 mAh battery that you almost never have to think about charging.

Obviously, there’s no wrong answer over here because both phones are very well-rounded, but Xiaomi’s whole pitch for this series is the fact that it is a “balanced flagship”. And honestly, they pulled it off on both models.

So, it does come down to how much that you want to invest and what kind of user you are as the Xiaomi 17T starts at RM2,399 (~USD613) and the Xiaomi 17T Pro starts at RM2,899 (~USD741).

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[Watch the full review video on YouTube]

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Related:

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• New Xiaomi 15T Series Now in Malaysia, Priced from RM1,899