Xiaomi 17T Pro Review: Leica Flair and 144Hz Speed at a Deal Price

Verdict: almost-flagship done right—at the right price

The Xiaomi 17T Pro is a high-spec Leica camera phone with a 144Hz AMOLED display, Dimensity 9500 processor and a 7,000mAh battery, designed to deliver near-flagship performance at a reduced price point for value-focused buyers. At its current USD 599 (approx. RM2,760) deal price, down from USD 699 (approx. RM3,220), it makes far more sense than the standard 17T, which costs R19,500 and feels overpriced for what it offers. The Pro still carries some of the same compromises as its “almost flagship” sibling, particularly around build feel and overall polish, but the discount shifts it into a very strong flagship phone value play. This is a device for people who care about battery life, display speed and camera versatility more than glass-and-metal bragging rights.

Display and performance: where the 17T Pro feels genuinely flagship

The star of this Xiaomi 17T Pro review is the 6.83-inch AMOLED display: 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, 12-bit colour and up to 3,500 nits of peak brightness make it one of the most impressive screens you can get at this price. Compared with the already excellent 6.59-inch 120Hz AMOLED on the non-Pro 17T, which was praised for its sharp 1,268 x 2,756 resolution and HDR10+ performance, the Pro’s higher refresh ceiling and size push it further into true flagship territory. Scrolling and gaming feel fluid, and the brightness headroom makes outdoor use comfortable rather than a chore.

Under the hood, the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 3nm processor runs up to 4.21GHz and pairs with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of storage. On paper, that is a clear step above the Dimensity Ultra 8500 in the 17T, which already delivered dependable performance in benchmarks and real-world use, handling games like Asphalt Legends and intensive multitasking without complaint. The inference is simple: if the cheaper chip already felt snappy, the 17T Pro’s silicon gives it breathing room against established flagships in both gaming and AI-assisted tasks. The trade-off is that such power, especially when combined with high refresh rates, will push the battery and thermals harder during long sessions.

Leica cameras and everyday photography

Xiaomi leans hard on Leica branding here, and for good reason. The 17T Pro uses a 50MP Leica main camera with optical image stabilisation, a 50MP Leica 115mm floating telephoto with OIS, and a 12MP ultra-wide, plus a 32MP in-display selfie camera. According to one review of the standard 17T, "it was difficult to take a bad image" with its Leica-backed triple camera system, with the 50MP main and 50MP telephoto both described as worthy daily shooters. The Pro shares this philosophy but enhances it with the dedicated 115mm Leica telephoto, positioning it firmly as a photography-focused flagship for portrait fans and travellers.

In practice, this Leica camera phone is tuned for sharp, colourful shots out of the box. Casual users can rely on auto mode to deliver Instagram-ready results, while more demanding shooters can dive into Leica-style profiles and manual settings to fine tune the look. The presence of dual OIS on both the main and telephoto lenses helps in low light and when shooting at longer focal lengths, where hand shake would otherwise ruin pictures. Where it falls short of ultra-premium flagships is not core image quality but the lack of the extra polish in video modes and software extras; it is excellent for its price but not a new gold standard.

Battery life, charging and software experience

If you want a flagship phone value story centred on endurance, the Xiaomi 17T Pro delivers. Its 7,000mAh cell is larger than the 6,500mAh battery in the standard 17T, which already "excelled" by easily lasting a whole day of heavy use without massive dips. Fast charging is another clear upgrade: 100W HyperCharge, 50W wireless and 22.5W reverse wireless charging mean you can both fill the phone quickly and top up other devices when needed. For comparison, the 17T’s 67W charging brought it from empty to full in a little under an hour, so you can expect the Pro to cut that time significantly.

The trade-off for that huge battery is weight and bulk. The 17T design already looked and felt like an iPhone-style slab with rounded corners, a massive camera cluster and notable heft, and it relied on an all-plastic frame to keep costs in check. The glass front uses Gorilla Glass 7i and can take a knock or two, but fingerprints and the protruding camera module make a decent case essential. On the software side, HyperOS 3 with full-screen gestures and an in-display fingerprint reader gives a modern experience, supported by 5G and Wi-Fi 7 for fast connectivity. Day-to-day, that makes the phone feel quick and current, even if the build materials do not scream luxury.

Price, positioning and whether the deal makes it worth it

The non-Pro Xiaomi 17T earned the label of “almost flagship, almost worth it” because at R19,500, its compromises were hard to ignore, especially when stronger alternatives existed at the same price and it "comes close, but falls short" of a true flagship experience. The 17T Pro flips that value equation. At USD 599 (approx. RM2,760) from Giztop, down from USD 699 (approx. RM3,220), with global shipping, it suddenly offers the Leica cameras, 144Hz AMOLED display and Dimensity 9500 performance at a price many mid-range buyers can stretch to. As one source puts it, "with its flagship specifications and the current USD 100 discount, the Xiaomi 17T Pro offers excellent value for anyone looking to upgrade to a premium smartphone".

That does not mean trade-offs vanish. The plastic frame and iPhone-like but not quite premium design still betray its almost-flagship roots, and those who demand the absolute top-tier feel and the best cameras on the market will find better—if more expensive—options. But the discounted price pulls the 17T Pro out of the awkward zone the 17T occupies: instead of being priced against the best while feeling a step below, it undercuts many rivals while offering comparable core hardware. If you can live with some cosmetic and polish compromises, the deal makes a powerful case for the 17T Pro as one of the more sensible performance-camera bargains around.

Buy if / Skip if

• Buy the Xiaomi 17T Pro if you want a Leica camera phone that makes it hard to take a bad photo and value simple, colourful results.
• Skip the Xiaomi 17T Pro if you demand a metal-glass body and ultra-premium feel; the plastic frame and large camera bump will disappoint you.
• Buy the Xiaomi 17T Pro if you care more about a 144Hz AMOLED display and smooth gaming than about brand prestige.
• Skip the Xiaomi 17T Pro if you already own a recent top-end flagship and only upgrade for major camera or design leaps.
• Buy the Xiaomi 17T Pro if you want long battery life, 100W wired and 50W wireless charging, and the ability to reverse-charge accessories.
• Skip the Xiaomi 17T Pro if you dislike large, heavy phones with pronounced camera clusters and prefer compact devices.
• Buy the Xiaomi 17T Pro if you are a value