I completely adored Xiaomi and Leica’s Leitzphone — and the many stunning photos I took with it — however at £1,700 ($2,279) it is out of attain for these of us who do not have “CEO” or “Oil Baron” in our job title. However fortunately Xiaomi makes a wide range of telephones with rather more affordable costs. Its newest midrange cellular — the 17T Professional — has lots to supply for its affordable price ticket.
From its metallic design and its Leica-branded rear digicam setup to its stable efficiency, it packs just about the whole lot you’d want from a telephone each day. Higher but, its 899 euro (round £779 or $1,045 though it will not be formally bought within the US) means it will not break the financial institution both.
I’ve had the telephone in my hand for a matter of hours so I can not but give a verdict on whether or not this telephone is a competitor to finances telephones just like the Pixel 10A, equally priced telephones such because the iPhone 17, or pricier fashions similar to Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra. However I’ve had some early ideas I wished to share. So right here we go.
Xiaomi 17T Professional: A slick, blue design
The telephone’s physique is constituted of metallic and I believe it feels nice to carry. It is obtained a solidity to it that makes it really feel extra premium than you may anticipate at this value. I just like the deep blue colour as properly — it manages to look each fashionable but in addition good. I like tech with a little bit of character (like Nothing’s pink Phone 4A Pro or my newly reskinned pink Leica Q3 43) so something that goes past the standard black, silver or white is sweet for me.
Blue metallic is sweet metallic.
It is IP68 rated for cover in opposition to water or mud and its 6.83-inch show is huge, shiny and daring sufficient to do justice to cellular video games and YouTube movies.
Xiaomi 17T Professional: Leica cameras
The telephone packs the standard trio of rear cameras together with a 50 megapixel fundamental digicam, 50 megapixel telephoto digicam (providing 5x optical zoom) and a 12 megapixel ultrawide digicam. The principle digicam apparently makes use of a Leica Summilux lens aspect for clearer photographs, which I am wanting ahead to making an attempt out. I do not anticipate it to compete with the pictures prowess of the Leitzphone — that telephone packs some critically superior imaging tech, therefore the worth — however I do anticipate it to have the ability to ship handsome snaps in most circumstances.
It is obtained quite a lot of competitors although as even budget-focused telephones just like the Pixel 10A and the Nothing Cellphone 4A Professional are in a position to supply vibrant, punchy photographs at inexpensive costs, so I am eager to see how properly the 17T Professional stacks up in opposition to the competitors.
The Leica identify is prominently displayed.
Xiaomi 17T Professional: Processor and battery
Powering the telephone is a MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor which delivered stable scores on our benchmark take a look at. It was according to final yr’s elite just like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 17, however not fairly difficult right now’s flagships just like the S26 Extremely or Honor Magic 8 Professional. For the worth although, it is a superb effort and I discovered it to be greater than able to taking part in video games like PUBG at max settings whereas nonetheless delivering clean gameplay.
It runs on a capacious 7,000-mAh silicon carbon battery, which I anticipate to supply all-day utilization. And in the event you do begin to run quick within the night then it helps 100W wired charging to get the juice again in very quickly in any respect — so long as you’ve gotten a appropriate charger.
That display screen is shiny and daring.
Xiaomi 17T Professional: Do you have to purchase it?
Whereas it’s miles too quickly for me to present a closing verdict on the 17T Professional, it ticks quite a lot of the containers I would search for in a telephone of this value. The digicam specs are stable, the battery dimension seems very beneficiant and I’ve already been impressed with its processor efficiency. The good blue end is a cherry on high.
Whereas it will not be difficult the Leitzphone for the pictures crown of 2026, its all-round specs make it appear to be a stable on a regular basis choice for these of you not eager on spending each penny in your checking account on a brand new telephone. Keep tuned for extra as I see what this telephone can do.
