Xiaomi introduced the Redmi 17C. It brings back a cheap entry-level model, but compared to the 15C, it reduced battery and camera.

Xiaomi has expanded the cheapest class of its offering with the Redmi 17C. The phone is currently only aimed at the Chinese market and relies on a large display, the newer HyperOS 3 system, and especially a low price. However, it’s worth noting that compared to last year’s Redmi 15C, it has rather reduced than added in several aspects.

What does the Redmi 17C offer?

The Redmi 17C received a 6.88″ LCD display with a resolution of 1640 × 720 pixels, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and brightness up to 600 nits; the manufacturer also mentions triple TÜV Rheinland certification for eye comfort. Performance is handled by an octa-core MediaTek Helio G81-Ultra clocked up to 2.0 GHz, complemented by 4 GB of RAM and 64 or 128 GB of storage. We already wrote in early June that even cheaper Redmi phones would skip the number 16.

Power is provided by a 5160 mAh battery, which the phone charges via cable at up to 18 W – however, the package reportedly only includes a 10W adapter. The photo equipment is dominated by a single 13Mpx main sensor, with a 5Mpx camera on the front. There is also a side fingerprint reader, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the ability to control with wet hands. The phone only supports 4G networks and weighs 206 grams.

Why is it not a step forward compared to the 15C?

When we compare the Redmi 17C to last year’s Redmi 15C in the 4G variant, which shares the same chip, the new model has rather regressed in several parameters. The battery dropped from 6000 to 5160 mAh, charging slowed from 33 to just 18 W, and the main camera fell from 50 to 13 Mpx; the front camera from 8 to 5 Mpx. Furthermore, the RAM ceiling shrunk from the previous 8 GB to 4 GB.

What remained practically unchanged are the display and processor. The main difference, therefore, ultimately lies not in the features, but in the price and software: the new model brings back the cheap basic 4+64 GB configuration, which Xiaomi omitted in the 15C, and adds the newer HyperOS 3 system.

Who will the cheap Redmi be enough for?

It makes sense mainly for those who want the cheapest possible new phone with a large display and an up-to-date system, and for whom specific features are completely irrelevant. In practice, this will mainly be for children or seniors, or users looking for a secondary mobile for only the least demanding tasks (e.g., making calls).

We are curious whether the European version of the Redmi 17C, if one even exists, will be as strangely equipped as the Chinese one. In such a case, it would be difficult to recommend it instead of the current Redmi 15C, which can currently be bought for just over 2 thousand crowns.

Would you rather take the new Redmi 17C, or last year’s 15C on sale?

Sources: Xiaomi, ITHome, Gizmochina