A giant display, highly effective digicam system, and top-notch efficiency can eat proper into your battery life, however Xiaomi has managed to pack a 6,000-mAh battery into the 17 Extremely (up from 5,410 mAh final 12 months). The leap provides it severe stamina, and this cellphone can go a few days between fees.
I want Xiaomi had discovered a strategy to embody Qi2, as magnetic wi-fi charging is the one factor I missed in switching from the Pixel 10 Professional XL (although you’ll be able to form of add it with the pictures equipment case). The 17 Extremely does help wi-fi charging at an impressively quick 50-watt fee, however the digicam module makes it awkward to make use of with some wireless chargers. Wired charging goes as much as 90 watts with the fitting adapter (not included).
Software program was the large caveat, however I didn’t discover a lot to complain about with the 17 Extremely. Xiaomi’s HyperOS apes iOS in locations, and I nonetheless don’t just like the unlabeled quick-settings icons, nevertheless it’s largely completely wonderful. The Leica interface, with minimalist app icons and pictures widgets, is far nicer than the marginally cartoonish HyperOS, nevertheless it’s very simple to customise. I don’t suppose bloatware has anywhere on a flagship cellphone, so I’m at all times aggravated to see apps like Fb and TikTok preinstalled.
There’s loads of AI onboard, when you care, and you should utilize Google’s Gemini or Xiaomi’s HyperAI for all types of picture and video modifying, transcription, translation, summarization, and extra. It’s not fairly as slick and stylish as Google’s Pixel, however you’ll be able to broadly obtain all the identical outcomes.
The Xiaomi 17 Extremely shouldn’t be formally out there within the US, however you’ll be able to decide it up for £1,299 within the UK (1,499 euros in Europe). The Leitzphone prices £1,799 (1,999 euros). For folk who can get their palms on the worldwide mannequin extra simply, it’s a near-flawless flagship contender that can fulfill anybody craving an enormous, highly effective, photography-first cellphone.
