Xiaomi Redmi Note 17 5G hands-on review

Camera

The Redmi Note 17 has a single 50MP camera on the back and an 8MP camera in the front. Neither camera has OIS, and the front also lacks autofocus. Video recording is limited to 1080p 30fps on both ends due to the choice of the chip. In fact, the phone can't even play 4K video; local 4K files won't play and streaming apps like YouTube will only offer resolutions up to 1080p. But that's neither here nor there.

Jumping straight into the camera performance, we find that once again, the camera quality is usable. The single camera on the back produces respectable results most of the time, with a decent amount of detail and good colors. The dynamic range isn't as impressive, however, as some scenes with bright objects will usually end up getting washed out.

50MP main camera

The phone also offers a quick 2x mode that uses digital zoom. The results are a bit soft but look perfectly fine on the phone's display or on social media.

2x digital zoom mode

The 1080p 30fps video from the rear camera isn't too shabby at first glance. All the observations from the stills hold here as well. But things fall apart quickly once you start moving, as the lack of stabilization makes the videos look extremely shaky even when you're trying really hard to keep the phone stable.

Conclusion

The Redmi Note 17 is a relatively basic phone. The big battery and large, high-resolution display make it ideal for gig workers and such, looking to use their phone all day for work, or for someone seeking a simple device as a secondary phone or for the elderly. However, as a primary everyday phone, the features and performance fall short of expectations for the price, even considering the market conditions.

If you're looking to purchase in this segment, we would highly recommend spending a bit more and getting the vastly superior Redmi Turbo 5. That phone feels like it's in a different league altogether and isn't that much more expensive than the Redmi Note 17. Whatever extra you pay now will feel like a drop in the ocean considering how much longer you can use the Redmi Turbo 5 without feeling like you need a new phone in a year or so.