Durability takes center stage, not benchmark scores.

Honestly, before laying my hands on the REDMI Note 17 Pro, my expectations for budget smartphones were pretty low. Sometimes, I even lacked the enthusiasm to review them. After all, in this unique era, budget smartphones are most susceptible to cost constraints, inevitably leading to reduced specs and declining value for money.

However, as a domestic 'price disruptor,' REDMI's decision to launch the Note 17 series at this crucial juncture hints at a unique ace up their sleeve.

Without further ado, let's delve into the performance of the REDMI Note 17 Pro, born at this pivotal moment, with Leitech (ID: leitech).

The design language of the Note 17 Pro embraces a minimalist and refined aesthetic. My favorite aspect is the shift of the camera Deco from the centered circular design of previous generations to a corner-mounted Deco. The lens module is neatly tucked in the top-left corner, arranged in multiple stages, with a glass-like base at the bottom. The three lenses are encased in metal rings, blending seamlessly with the body, a step up from previous generations.

(Image source: Leitech)

Despite its budget-friendly price, the Note 17 Pro boasts flagship-level four-micro-curved mid-frames, with an arc that perfectly contours to the palm, ensuring a comfortable grip. However, its 226g weight makes prolonged single-handed use a bit of a stretch, but considering its built-in 9000mAh extra-large capacity battery, it's a small price to pay.

The front of the device features a 6.83-inch straight screen, with the narrowest bezel measuring a mere 1.5mm, nearly uniform on all four sides, and an R-corner radius of 10.45mm. If you place a flagship and the Note 17 Pro side by side, they might be indistinguishable at first glance. Although the chin is slightly wider than the other three sides, not achieving complete symmetry, it's quite restrained for its price range. The advantages of a straight screen are also apparent: cheaper screen protectors and no edge greening or accidental touches, unlike curved screens.

The narrowest bezel is 1.5mm, nearly uniform on all four sides, with an R-corner radius of 10.45mm on the front. This setup belies its budget smartphone price range. However, the chin is slightly wider than the other three sides, not achieving complete symmetry, but it's quite restrained at this price point.

Incidentally, the actual viewing experience of this screen somewhat exceeds expectations, as it uses the same luminescent material as the Xiaomi 17 series, with a peak brightness reaching 3500nits. Honestly, most budget smartphones falter outdoors, but the Note 17 Pro, with its 3500nits peak brightness, at least ensures a 'no squinting in sunlight' experience. When using it at night with the lights off, the minimum brightness can go down to 1nit. Previously, I would hold my phone farther away at night, but with the Note 17 Pro, even at close range, it's not glaring.

(Image source: Leitech)

In terms of eye protection, it supports DC dimming, 3840Hz PWM, TÜV Rheinland triple eye protection certification, sleep eye protection, gaming eye protection mode, and more.

Regarding color options, REDMI offers four choices. I received the Nebula Purple, the most distinctive among the four, with a purple base radiating a soft glow, reminiscent of the faint light at the intersection of dusk and night, understated yet unique.

(Image source: Leitech)

Talking about the feel might seem abstract, but its feel truly makes you appreciate its craftsmanship upon first touch, something competing budget smartphones with plastic mid-frames and back panels cannot match.

In fact, starting two or three years ago, the selling point of budget smartphones evolved from 'durability' to 'drop resistance.' Previously, accidentally dropping a phone would often result in a 'spiderweb' cracked screen, but the likelihood of such damage on budget smartphones has significantly decreased.

The REDMI Note 17 Pro continues this advantage. On the first afternoon of use, while replying to WeChat messages at my desk, my elbow accidentally swept the phone off the table. From a height of just over a meter, although the floor was carpeted, I had previously experienced shattered screens from drops.

At that moment, I thought, 'Oh no, the new phone review isn't even finished, and it's already dropped.' But after picking it up and inspecting it thoroughly—the screen was spotless, the frame without dents, and carefully checking each corner confirmed no damage.

(Image source: Leitech)

This isn't mystical; it's because the REDMI Note 17 Pro uses Corning GGV2 glass, typically found only on devices priced at two to three thousand. The overall structure adopts a new Diamond Structure, with noticeably thicker corners on the mid-frame compared to ordinary budget smartphones, dispersing impact force when dropped corner-first, protecting the screen and motherboard.

Internally, REDMI has also made significant efforts, replacing the metal die-cast bracket inside the mid-frame with a higher-rigidity HZH5.9 alloy, solving the issue of mid-frame deformation. Secondly, the motherboard is shortened by 8.75mm, reducing bending during impacts. The gap-filling adhesive between the screen glass and battery has also been reformulated, acting like an invisible airbag for additional cushioning.

Of course, these modifications are imperceptible in daily use, cannot be measured by benchmark scores, and their usefulness isn't apparent on specification pages. However, their importance becomes clear only when you truly need them, no less significant than battery life, imaging, or performance.

While drop resistance was expected, the waterproof performance of the REDMI Note 17 Pro truly surprised me.

Officially, the REDMI Note 17 Pro boasts four waterproof certifications: IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K. In other words, it not only supports regular splash resistance but also withstands immersion in up to 2 meters of water for 72 hours and high-temperature, high-pressure washing.

Of course, I couldn't test it by submerging it for three days. However, considering daily water splashes and immersion pose no challenge, I directly placed it in a basin of Coca-Cola. Carbonated beverages are far more corrosive to electronic components than plain water, and if its waterproofing wasn't adequate, I might have had to purchase this phone myself.

(Image source: Leitech)

Fortunately, REDMI did not disappoint. After soaking in the Coca-Cola for three and a half minutes and wiping it dry, apart from interference with screen touch, functions like screen off/on, app opening, and charging worked normally.

(Image source: Leitech)

In terms of durability, the REDMI Note 17 Pro is indeed 'quite ruthless.'

Finally, let's address battery life, a major concern for many. The REDMI Note 17 Pro houses a 9000mAh large battery with 13% silicon-carbon content and an energy density of 842Wh/L. These numbers might not be intuitive, so let's discuss practical usage.

My typical phone usage involves replying to WeChat, browsing short videos, reading news, and occasionally taking photos. With a full charge at 8 AM, I usually have around 20% left by 11 PM when I go to bed. Under the same conditions, the REDMI Note 17 Pro still had 61% battery remaining before sleep, and even if I forgot to charge it before bed, I wouldn't panic the next morning, as it could last another day and a half.

Honestly, most people's battery anxiety stems not from insufficient capacity but from the fear of sudden depletion. The 9000mAh battery largely eliminates this anxiety.

Charging performance is average, taking approximately 84 minutes to fully charge the 9000mAh battery from zero. This speed is below average, but considering the massive battery size, it's acceptable. Additionally, PPS supports up to 55W, compatible with most third-party chargers on the market. The 22.5W reverse charging is sufficient for topping up earphones on the go.

Other configurations are briefly mentioned here: the processor is the fourth-generation Snapdragon 6s, adequate for daily WeChat use, video watching, and light gaming like Honor of Kings. However, if your usage involves high-settings Genshin Impact or full-frame Honkai: Star Rail, this device isn't for you, as it's not designed for gaming.

The camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor with OIS optical image stabilization, paired with a depth sensor, and an 8MP front camera. If photography is your primary purpose for buying a phone, there are other options in this price range. The Note 17 Pro's camera is 'usable' but not a selling point.

Does full-chain anti-fraud really work?

I've always felt that anti-fraud features on phones are ineffective. Previous so-called spam blocking were merely blacklists, and scammers could still reach you with a different number. So, upon seeing 'full-chain AI anti-fraud' on the Note 17 Pro, my initial reaction was skepticism.

(Image source: Leitech)

However, after thorough testing, I found that REDMI has indeed put significant effort into this feature. Its logic starts as soon as a scammer attempts to contact you: fraudulent SMS and links are directly filtered into the trash, invisible to you. If you still receive a strange call, the phone analyzes the conversation in real-time during the call, identifying fixed scam scripts like 'you're suspected of money laundering' or 'you have a lost package,' and alerts you with vibrations and pop-ups, indicating you might be speaking to a scammer.

Additionally, there's an AI face-swapping detection feature that automatically detects if the person on the other end of a WeChat or QQ video call is an AI-synthesized face. Honestly, I couldn't test this myself without using AI face-swapping software on myself. However, logically speaking, cases of scammers impersonating acquaintances via video calls for fraud have increased in recent years, so having this detection is better than not. The official says future OTA updates will include a model developed in collaboration with Peking University, improving recognition speed and accuracy.

Lastly, there's NFC anti-skimming, which targets scams involving luring you to download an APP with a tap, then secretly skimming your bank card bypassing system security. The Note 17 Pro can directly cut off suspicious payment channels from the system level. Moreover, this feature is enabled by default and cannot be turned off, which I think is great, as ordinary users wouldn't even think to enable it.

Finally, following Leitech's tradition, here's a brief summary of the REDMI Note 17 Pro's pros and cons:

Pros:

1. Exceptional drop and waterproof capabilities, highly durable;

2. Good screen display, usable indoors and outdoors;

3. The 9000mAh extra-large capacity battery allows charging every two and a half days;

4. Creative and practical AI anti-fraud features;

Cons:

1. Average performance, not suitable for heavy gaming;

2. Charging takes 84 minutes, considered moderately slow.

In terms of pricing, the REDMI Note 17 Pro is priced at 1599 yuan for the 8+128GB variant, 1699 yuan for the 8+256GB variant (first sale price), 1999 yuan for the 12+256GB variant (first sale price), and 2099 yuan for the 8+512GB variant (first sale price).

This phone doesn't excel in any particular aspect—performance is average, photography is decent, and charging speed isn't fast. However, it excels in what budget smartphone users need most: peace of mind from drops, no panic from rain, no anxiety from two days without charging, protection for parents from scams, and a battery that lasts three to four years without degradation.

If you're buying a phone to play Genshin Impact at full settings, look elsewhere. But if you or your parents want a hassle-free, durable phone, the Note 17 Pro is hard to overlook at this price point.

Budget Smartphone, Redmi, Durable Phone, Waterproof

Source: Leitech

All images in this article are from the 123RF licensed image library. Source: Leitech