An enormous 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 yr). The bounce provides it critical stamina, and this cellphone can go a few days between fees.
I want Xiaomi had discovered a option to embrace Qi2, as magnetic wi-fi charging is the one factor I missed in switching from the Pixel 10 Professional XL (although you possibly can type of add it with the pictures package case). The 17 Extremely does help wi-fi charging at an impressively quick 50-watt price, 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 advantageous. The Leica interface, with minimalist app icons and pictures widgets, is way nicer than the marginally cartoonish HyperOS, nevertheless it’s very straightforward to customise. I don’t assume bloatware has anyplace 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, in case you care, and you should use Google’s Gemini or Xiaomi’s HyperAI for all kinds of photograph and video enhancing, transcription, translation, summarization, and extra. It’s not fairly as slick and stylish as Google’s Pixel, however you possibly can broadly obtain all the identical outcomes.
The Xiaomi 17 Extremely is just not formally out there within the US, however you possibly can 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 arms 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.
