In this installment of *How Confused Are You by Chinese Phone Models?*, we have the Xiaomi 17T series. That’s right, my already confused tech heads. The Xiaomi 17 family, which already includes the Ultra, the Pro series, and the regular 17, has just welcomed not one but two more 17 models. There’s the Xiaomi 17T and Xiaomi 17T Pro.
Both models feature camera systems co-engineered with Leica and are marketed as “Telephoto Masters.” That title comes courtesy of a Leica 115 mm periscope telephoto camera capable of up to 120x AI Ultra Zoom. There is also Leica Live Moment, powered by a Leica Summilux optical lens system featuring a 1G+6P hybrid lens and a precision multi-coating process designed to keep images clear and pure.
At a glance, the two phones look nearly identical. But they are not.
Aesthetically, they differ mainly in size. The design language is shared across both devices, though only the Pro is specifically stated to have a flat aluminum alloy frame. The regular 17T does not appear to have visible antenna bands around its frame, which suggests it may be using a different material altogether.
Xiaomi 17T Pro: The One That Wants Everything
The Xiaomi 17T Pro is the larger and more powerful of the pair. It measures 162.2 x 77.5 x 8.25 mm and weighs 219 g.
Its Leica Professional Triple Camera system is led by a 50 MP Light Fusion 950 main camera paired with an f/1.67 aperture, OIS, and 2.4 μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel technology. Supporting it are the aforementioned 50 MP Leica 115 mm periscope telephoto camera with OIS and macro capability down to 30 cm (11.8 inches), plus a 12 MP Leica 15 mm ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view.
The imaging experience is packed with Leica goodies, including Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant photographic styles, Leica filters, Leica watermark, Leica shutter sounds, Stage Mode, Master Portrait, and the new Leica Live Moment watermark.
Video is where the Pro really stretches its legs. It supports 8K recording at 30 fps, 4K recording at up to 120 fps, HDR10+ recording, Log video, Movie Mode, LUT support, and even 4K slow motion at 120 fps.
Powering the device is MediaTek’s flagship Dimensity 9500 built on a 3 nm process, paired with LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.1 storage in configurations up to 12 GB RAM and 1 TB storage.
The display is a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED panel with up to 144 Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and a peak brightness of 3,500 nits.
The battery is equally impressive. Xiaomi has stuffed in a massive 7,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery with 100 W wired HyperCharge, 50 W wireless HyperCharge, PPS charging support, and 22.5 W reverse wired charging.
Other highlights include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, Xiaomi’s 3D IceLoop cooling system, IP68 dust and water resistance, NFC, IR blaster, in-display fingerprint sensor, AI face unlock, and HyperOS 3 with Xiaomi HyperAI features.
Xiaomi 17T: The One Most People Will Probably Buy
The Xiaomi 17T is smaller, lighter, and arguably the more sensible option.
It measures 157.6 x 75.2 x 8.17 mm and weighs 200 g, making it noticeably easier to handle than its Pro sibling.
The camera setup is remarkably similar. You still get the Leica 115 mm 50 MP telephoto camera with OIS and macro capability, the same 12 MP Leica ultra-wide camera, the same 32 MP selfie camera, and the same Leica photography experience.
The main difference lies in the primary camera. Here, Xiaomi uses a 50 MP Light Fusion 800 image sensor measuring 1/1.55 inches, paired with an f/1.7 aperture, OIS, and 2.0 μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel technology.
Video capabilities are scaled back, topping out at 4K HDR10+ recording at 60 fps. If you want 8K, the Pro remains the only option.
The Xiaomi 17T is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8500-Ultra processor, backed by LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. Configurations are available with up to 12 GB RAM and 512 GB storage.
Its 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED display still looks premium on paper, offering up to 120 Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and the same eye-care certifications as the Pro.
Battery capacity remains generous at 6,500 mAh thanks to silicon-carbon battery technology, though charging is limited to 67 W HyperCharge. It still supports 22.5 W reverse wired charging.
Like its bigger sibling, it packs IP68 protection, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, NFC, Bluetooth 6.0, Xiaomi’s 3D IceLoop cooling system, HyperOS 3, and Xiaomi HyperAI.
Same Same, But Different
The Xiaomi 17T and 17T Pro share far more similarities than differences. Both are serious Leica-powered camera phones with capable telephoto systems, bright AMOLED displays, huge batteries, flagship-level durability, and a long list of AI-powered software features.
The Pro simply gets the better processor, more advanced video capabilities, wireless charging, a larger battery, a larger display, and a more premium frame.
In other words, if the Xiaomi 17 lineup was not confusing enough already, Xiaomi has thoughtfully provided two more options for you to think about.
Pricing and availability
The Xiaomi 17T and Xiaomi 17T Pro have been launched globally with a starting price of €749 and €899, respectively.
Images: Xiaomi.
