Xiaomi Announced its First Smartphone with a Massive 10,000mAh Battery

Xiaomi has officially launched the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max 5G, and the biggest number is exactly what we expected. The phone packs a huge 10,000mAh silicon-carbon battery, making it the largest battery Xiaomi has ever put inside a smartphone. It also gets 100W charging, a 120Hz AMOLED screen and Snapdragon 6 Gen 5.

The interesting part is that Xiaomi managed to fit all of this into a phone that is only 8.65mm thick.

Xiaomi claims the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max can last up to three days with normal use. Of course, I would wait for real battery tests before taking that number too seriously, but 10,000mAh gives Xiaomi plenty to work with.

Charging is handled at 100W. Xiaomi says 20 minutes of charging can provide enough power for a full day, which makes more sense to me than chasing another 200W charging record.

The battery is built for long-term use too. Xiaomi claims it can keep more than 80% of its original capacity after 1,600 charge cycles, or around six years of use. There is also 27W reverse wired charging, so the phone can work as a power bank when needed.

The front has a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,500 nits of peak brightness. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the panel.

Inside is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 5. This isn't a flagship chip, and I don't think it needs to be. The Redmi Note series has always been about getting the balance right, and using a mid-range chip should also help Xiaomi keep power use under control.

The camera setup is quite simple. You get a 50MP main camera with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide and a 32MP selfie camera. HyperOS 3 comes installed, while Xiaomi promises four OS upgrades and six years of security updates.

Durability also gets some attention. The phone carries IP66 and IP68 ratings, while Xiaomi says it passed a 72-hour test under two meters of water. It is also certified to survive drops from up to three meters.

The Redmi Note 17 Pro Max launches first in Japan, where the 8GB/256GB model costs 79,980 yen (about $502). The 8GB/512GB version costs 99,980 yen, or around $628. Sales begin August 28, with an early discount of 10,000 yen available until October 14.

There are Black, Purple and Cloud Blush colors. The last one can even change from white to a pink-orange shade when exposed to sunlight.

I think Xiaomi made the right choice here. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 won't win benchmark battles, and the cameras aren't trying to replace an Ultra flagship. Instead, Xiaomi put its money into the battery, screen and durability.

A 10,000mAh battery inside a normal 8.65mm phone is the kind of mid-range upgrade I would take over another small performance boost any day.