Redmi Note 17 Pro Max 5G review: huge battery, limited performance

Battery life is the headline feature

The Redmi Note 17 Pro Max 5G stands out chiefly for endurance. According to Notebookcheck, the phone carries a 9,210 mAh battery and lasted 33 hours and 42 minutes in the site's Wi-Fi test, a result few rivals can match.

There is a caveat: measured against its battery capacity, the phone only finishes mid-pack on efficiency. In other words, the sheer size of the cell, rather than frugal power use, drives the long runtime.

A bright screen and a sturdy but heavy body

Notebookcheck highlights the AMOLED display as another strength, describing it as very bright. Build quality is said to feel premium, and the chassis carries both IP66 and IP68 ratings, meaning it resists dust and water.

The review also notes weaknesses in the hardware. The body creaks audibly when twisted, and at 225 grams the phone is fairly heavy for everyday carrying.

Performance takes a step back

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 processor is described as a step backward compared with the previous Redmi Note 15 Pro+. Everyday use is generally smooth, but occasional stutters appear, and gaming exposes the gap: Notebookcheck's GameBench measurements recorded significant frame rate drops, especially shortly after a game launches.

For buyers who value speed, the site points to the Poco X8 Pro Max, which also has a large battery but is considerably faster. The OnePlus 15T is cited as another alternative, achieving slightly longer Wi-Fi battery life despite a smaller cell.

Cameras and compromises

Xiaomi has cut corners on imaging, per the review. The smaller main sensor produces decent daylight photos but struggles to keep fine detail, and bright areas tend to blow out. The ultrawide camera and digital zoom are described as disappointing.

Other drawbacks include slow Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, and speakers that distort at high volume. The software also draws criticism: ads and numerous preinstalled third-party apps sit uneasily on a phone at this price.

Who should buy it

The review concludes that the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max 5G suits buyers who put battery endurance above everything else. For a launch MSRP of nearly €600, the compromises on processor, cameras and features are hard to overlook for anyone else.

Note that these findings come from a single review and reflect Notebookcheck's own testing methodology; real-world experiences may vary.