By Bettina V. Roc, Associate Editor
FOR MANY YEARS, the REDMI Note Series’ proposition has always been to offer premium-level devices at a more accessible price point while addressing consumers’ changing needs.
The same holds true for the brand’s new REDMI Note 17 Series smartphones, which promise reliability via the REDMI Titan Durability promise — a must at a time when new devices are only getting more expensive with every release.
The latest generation of REDMI Note Series phones were launched in the Philippines on Sept. 15. The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G, whose suggested retail price starts at P22,999, sits in the middle of this series alongside the base REDMI Note 17 and the top-of-the-line REDMI Note 17 Pro Max, a new model.
The main promise of the REDMI Note 17 Series is long-term durability, and I feel the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G lives up to this.
First is the battery. The device packs a massive 8,340mAh silicon-carbon battery, with a 67-watt (W) HyperCharge adapter included in the box that can get it from 20% to 100% in more or less an hour.
While testing this phone in real-world situations that included video and music streaming on both mobile data and WiFi, light gaming, tinkering with the camera, and even using it as a mobile hotspot, I was able to get more than two days of power on a full charge. For someone like me who can’t risk running out of battery at work, this was a huge plus as I didn’t need to lug around a power bank or the (admittedly) massive charging brick.
The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G also supports up to 22.5W wired reverse charging, so it can also share that battery power with other devices.
The brand said the phone has a TÜV SÜD 5-star Battery Performance Certification, promising a long lifespan through many charging cycles and stable performance in high and low temperatures.
Second, the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G has IP66/IP68 dust and water resistance ratings, as it passed the TÜV SÜD 2-meter, 72-hour water-resistant test. It’s also SGS certified for drops up to 3 meters.
In hand, the phone feels very sturdy. Its display is protected from drops and scratches by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. REDMI also said that the device features a Titan Structure with reinforced internal architecture.
All of these add considerable weight to the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G, which comes in at 223 grams. With its 6.83-inch screen, this is a pretty big phone, all things considered. But it’s still easy to grip, even with small hands, aided by its rounded corner design. The silky matte finish of the device made it a little slippery for me, but this was easily solved by using the silicon case included in the box.
Under the hood is a Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 Mobile Platform octa-core chip, which is able to handle most tasks easily. The review unit came in the Purple color with 6GB memory and 128GB storage, which is the base variant for this model. For me, this was more than enough for everyday use. There are several RAM and ROM options available for this device at minimal price bumps, offering choices for varied needs.
Another standout is the screen. The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G features a 6.83-inch AMOLED display with a 2,772×1,280 or 1.5K resolution, a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, a 240Hz touch sampling rate, and 3,500 nits peak brightness.
The screen renders colors very well without looking oversaturated. When watching videos, details remain sharp. With its sunlight display, it’s easy to use the phone outdoors.
The display also has various eye-care certifications, making the device comfortable to use.
Adding to the immersive user experience are the dual speakers, which support Dolby Atmos and feature 300% volume boost for that punchy sound.
Now, let’s talk about the camera system. The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G sports a 50-megapixel (MP) primary camera with optical image stabilization and an 8MP ultra-wide camera at the rear.
Design-wise, this looks very different from its predecessor, likely to accommodate the larger battery. The camera module is a raised, rounded square island at the top left part of the phone’s back, with the two lenses protruding.
Features-wise, this is probably the only area where I felt that this phone sits in the middle of the pack. The rear cameras are perfectly capable, especially in ideal lighting conditions, especially outdoors. As expected, there’s a considerable drop-off in detail and quality when zooming.
But when shooting indoors and without natural light, there’s some struggle. AI algorithms can compensate for some of them, as well as the use of flash, although I noticed some delays in its flash firing, even with HDR, AI, and Night Mode off, and be it in forced Flash On mode or in Auto.
Video recording is also capped at 1080p at 30 frames per second. This isn’t an issue for me as someone who doesn’t really record 4K videos, but it’s still worth mentioning.
All told, I still feel that the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G is a phone built to last for the long haul. It’s a battery beast that can keep up with even the most demanding use cases, making it a great everyday companion. It’s a great choice for those who want a smartphone they can use and abuse without worry, especially with its promise of durability.
