Xiaomi has launched the REDMI Note 17 Series in Australia, including the first Pro Max model in the REDMI Note line.
The series includes the REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G and REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G, with prices starting at AUD $599 before introductory discounts. Launch offers reduce the entry price to AUD $399 and include a free 120W charger with any model in the range.
The launch also marks a shipment milestone for the wider product family: the REDMI Note series has now passed 500 million units shipped worldwide.
The new handsets place their strongest emphasis on battery size, durability and software support. The REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G has a 9,210mAh battery, which Xiaomi described as the largest ever fitted to one of its smartphones, while the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G has an 8,340mAh battery.
The Pro Max model supports 100W charging and 27W reverse charging, while the Pro model supports 67W charging and 22.5W reverse charging. Xiaomi says both phones are designed to retain at least 80% of battery capacity after 1,600 charge cycles, which it equates to about six years of use.
Durability push
Durability is another central part of the launch. Both Pro models carry IP66 and IP68 ratings for dust and water resistance, and Xiaomi says they passed a 72-hour water-resistance test at a depth of two metres.
The devices have also been tested for drops from up to three metres onto granite surfaces, with reinforced internal structures intended to protect key components. Both models use Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Xiaomi says the two phones are the first to receive TÜV SÜD 5-star Titan Quality Certification, a standard it says was co-developed with the testing group around drop resistance, water resistance and battery performance. The Pro devices also carry SGS certification for drop resistance.
Software longevity is part of the broader pitch. The REDMI Note 17 Series is set to receive four generations of operating system upgrades and up to six years of security updates, while battery health support also extends to up to six years across the line-up.
The Pro Max model carries an additional claim of what Xiaomi calls a six-year like-new software experience, based on internal testing.
Design and hardware
Both devices use a 6.83-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution, peak brightness of 3,500 nits and refresh rates of up to 120Hz. Xiaomi has introduced a flatter design, revised camera housing and rounded corners across the new series.
The REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G comes in 256GB and 512GB variants priced at AUD $799 and AUD $999. The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G is available in 128GB and 256GB versions priced at AUD $599 and AUD $699.
The Pro Max model uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 Mobile Platform, while the Pro model runs on the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 Mobile Platform. Xiaomi positions the top device for heavier gaming, multitasking and 4K video recording.
Camera specifications differ between the two handsets. The Pro Max includes a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilisation, an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 32MP front camera. The Pro model has a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 16MP front camera.
Xiaomi has also added a set of artificial intelligence features across both phones, including editing tools and Google Gemini support. According to the company, the Pro Max includes Xiaomi HyperAI functions such as AI Writing, AI Interpreter and AI Speech Recognition.
After-sales offer
Alongside the phones, Xiaomi is introducing an after-sales package for Australian buyers of the REDMI Note 17 Series. It includes a 36-month free battery replacement if battery health drops below 80%, a 24-month free screen replacement for accidental damage, and a 24-month free replacement for the back cover or camera lens in eligible cases of impact damage.
The package also includes 24-month dedicated customer support and several trial subscriptions, including YouTube Premium, Google One and Spotify Premium.
Xiaomi also used the smartphone launch to add four products to its Australian AIoT range: the Xiaomi Smart Band 11 Active, REDMI Watch 6 Lite, REDMI Watch 6 Active and Xiaomi Sound Play 18W. These products are being sold with separate launch offers.