It is January 2026. The dust has settled on the iPhone 17 launch, and Samsung has just teased the Galaxy S26. But the real noise in the Indian tech market right now is coming from Xiaomi.
After launching in China late last year, the Xiaomi 17 Series (Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and the monstrous 17 Ultra) is finally knocking on India’s doors. I have been testing the Xiaomi 17 Pro (CN Unit) and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra for the past two weeks, and I have one sentence for you: Physics has been broken.
How else do you explain fitting a 6300mAh battery into a phone that is just 8mm thick?
With prices expected to start around ₹69,999 for the Pro and ₹89,999 for the Ultra, Xiaomi is no longer the “budget king.” They are coming for Samsung’s throat. But is the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and that massive battery enough to make you switch?
Quick Specs: The Numbers Are Scary
The leap from Xiaomi 15/16 to 17 is massive, primarily in battery tech and processing power.
| Feature | Xiaomi 17 Pro | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| RAM/Storage | 12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X | 16GB / 1TB |
| Display | 6.36″ LTPO AMOLED (3500 nits) | 6.9″ LTPO Quad-Curved (3500 nits) |
| Battery | 6300 mAh (Silicon-Carbon) | 6800 mAh (Silicon-Carbon) |
| Charging | 100W Wired / 50W Wireless | 100W Wired / 80W Wireless |
| Main Camera | 50MP (1/1.28″) | 50MP (1-inch Sony LYT-900) |
| Telephoto | 50MP (3.2x) | 200MP Periscope (5x Optical) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP69 (High Pressure Water |
Design & Build: Refined, Not Redesigned
If you loved the Xiaomi 14 and 16, you will feel right at home. If you hated the massive camera bumps, look away.
- Xiaomi 17 Pro (The Compact King): This is my favorite form factor. At 6.36 inches, it fits perfectly in one hand. The “Dragon Crystal Glass” back feels like ceramic—cool to the touch and scratch-resistant. It weighs just 192g, which is insane considering the battery size.
- Xiaomi 17 Ultra (The Camera Grip): The Ultra continues the “camera kit” aesthetic. The vegan leather back (in Starry Green) provides immense grip. The camera module is circular and huge, but centered, so the phone doesn’t wobble on a table.
- The Build: Both phones scream premium. The aluminum rails are polished to a mirror finish. The buttons have a satisfying click.
Display & Visuals: 3500 Nits of Sunshine
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
Xiaomi has sourced these panels from CSOT, and they are stunning.
- Brightness: The claimed 3500 nits peak brightness is not just a number. Under the harsh 1 PM sun in Delhi, I could read Google Maps directions without squinting. It is arguably brighter than the iPhone 17 Pro.
- Bezels: What bezels? The “Micro-Quad-Curved” glass makes the bezels look virtually non-existent. It’s an immersive experience.
- Colors: By default, it’s set to “Original Color Pro,” which is accurate. But switch to “Vivid,” and the colors pop like candy.
Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is a Monster
Qualcomm has outdone itself. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (built on TSMC 3nm process) is frighteningly fast.
- Benchmarks: In AnTuTu, the Xiaomi 17 Pro crossed the 3.7 Million mark. For context, last year’s flagships struggled to hit 2.5 Million.
- Gaming (Genshin Impact):
- Settings: Max Graphics, 60fps.
- Result: A rock-solid 60fps for 45 minutes. The phone got warm (42°C) but never throttled.
- Ray Tracing: Supported games look console-level. Reflections in racing games are hyper-realistic.
- Daily Use: App opening speeds are instant. HyperOS 3.0 (based on Android 16) feels lighter and more fluid than ever before.
Camera: The Leica Magic (Now with 200MP)
This is the main event. The partnership with Leica has matured into arguably the best color science in the industry.
Xiaomi 17 Pro Cameras
- Main (50MP): “Leica Authentic” mode gives you moody, contrast-heavy shots that look like film. “Leica Vibrant” is social-media ready.
- Telephoto (50MP Floating Lens): This 3.2x lens doubles as a Macro shooter. You can take close-ups of flowers or eyes from 10cm away, and the detail is mind-blowing.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra (The Zoom King)
- The 200MP Periscope: This is the highlight. It’s a 5x optical zoom lens, but thanks to the 200MP sensor, you can crop in to 10x and 20x with zero loss in quality. I took a photo of a street sign 500 meters away, and the text was readable.
- 1-inch Main Sensor: Night photography is basically daylight now. The sensor sucks in so much light that you rarely need “Night Mode.”
Battery & Endurance: The Physics-Defying 6300mAh
How did they do it? The answer is Silicon-Carbon (Si/C) battery tech. It allows higher density in a smaller space.
- Xiaomi 17 Pro (6300 mAh): This is a compact phone with a battery bigger than most massive gaming phones.
- Real World Result: I took it off the charger at 7 AM. After 5G navigation, camera usage, and calls, I ended the day at 11 PM with 35% left. This is a true 2-day phone for light users.
- Xiaomi 17 Ultra (6800 mAh): It’s a marathon runner. I got nearly 9 hours of Screen-on-Time (SoT).
- Charging: The 100W wired charging tops up the 17 Pro in about 28 minutes. Wireless charging is 50W (requires proprietary dock).
The Competition: Xiaomi 17 Series vs The World
The battlefield is tough in Jan 2026.
| Feature | Xiaomi 17 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S26 | iPhone 17 Pro |
| Price (Est.) | ₹69,999 | ₹79,999 | ₹1,19,900 |
| Processor | SD 8 Elite Gen 5 | SD 8 Elite Gen 5 / Exynos | A19 Pro |
| Battery | 6300 mAh | 4200 mAh | ~3600 mAh |
| Charging | 100W | 45W | ~30W |
| Zoom | 3.2x Optical | 3x Optical | 5x Optical |
| OS | HyperOS 3 | OneUI 8 | iOS 19 |
- Vs Samsung S26: Xiaomi destroys Samsung on battery life and charging speed. Samsung wins on software polish (OneUI is still cleaner) and video stability.
- Vs iPhone 17 Pro: The iPhone is still the king of video. But for photography, especially portraits, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s Leica look is far more artistic.
Final Verdict: The New Default Flagship?
The Xiaomi 17 Series is not just an upgrade; it is a statement. Xiaomi has solved the biggest complaint of modern smartphones: Battery Life. By giving us a 6300mAh battery in a compact size, they have embarrassed Apple and Samsung.
If you can look past the heavy HyperOS skin and the occasional bloatware (which you can uninstall), the hardware here is untouchable.
Buy it if:
- You Have Battery Anxiety: The 6300mAh/6800mAh battery is a life-changer.
- You Love Street Photography: The Leica filters and that 200MP zoom lens are incredibly fun to use.
- You Want Compact Power: The Xiaomi 17 Pro is the only phone that offers this much battery in a small size.
Skip it if:
- You Need the Best Video: The iPhone 17 Pro still handles video stabilization and audio better.
- You Hate Bloatware: HyperOS 3.0 still has some pre-installed junk compared to the clean OneUI or Pixel UI.
- You Resell Phones: Xiaomi flagships still drop in value faster than iPhones or Samsungs in the second-hand market.
FAQs (People Also Ask)
Q: When is the Xiaomi 17 Series launching in India?
While the global launch happened in late 2025, the India launch is tipped for late January or early February 2026.
Q: Does the Xiaomi 17 Ultra have a curved screen?
Yes, it has a “Micro-Quad-Curved” screen. It feels like a pebble in hand, but finding a tempered glass screen protector might be tricky.
Q: Is the battery removable?
No, the 6300mAh Silicon-Carbon battery is sealed inside the glass body.
Q: Does it support eSIM in India?
Yes, the Indian units of Xiaomi 17 Pro and Ultra are expected to support eSIM + Physical SIM configuration.
Q: Is the camera better than the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
For zoom clarity (10x-20x), the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s 200MP sensor is superior. However, for consistent point-and-shoot video, Samsung still holds a slight edge.