If you’re torn between choosing the Xiaomi 17T and its older sibling, the Xiaomi 15T, you’re not alone. This isn’t just about picking the latest generation or saving money. What makes it a dilemma: the Xiaomi 17T brings a 5x periscope camera that’s usually only found in Pro series phones, a battery that’s 1,000 mAh larger, plus a more compact display. But yeah, the price goes up quite a bit too. So the big question is: is it worth spending extra for all these upgrades?

Why Are Xiaomi 17T and 15T Often Compared?

Both phones play in the same class — Xiaomi’s T series known for delivering high specs at reasonable prices. Xiaomi 15T launched in October 2025, followed by Xiaomi 17T in June 2026. Both feature Leica collaboration, use MediaTek Dimensity chipsets, and have IP68 certification.

What makes this comparison interesting is Xiaomi’s decision to “demote” the 5x periscope camera from the Pro series to the regular series for the first time in the Xiaomi 17T. But on the other hand, the price increased by about $130 from its predecessor. Well, this article will thoroughly examine whether that price increase is justified or not.

Full Specifications Comparison

Performance & Chipset: Gradual Increase, But Still Noticeable

In terms of chipset, the improvement is quite noticeable though not dramatic. Xiaomi 17T uses the Dimensity 8500 Ultra (4nm, 3.4GHz clock) while Xiaomi 15T still uses the Dimensity 8400 Ultra (4nm, 3.25GHz clock).

Benchmark scores:

This ~28% AnTuTu improvement is driven by the Mali-G720 MC8 (8 core) GPU vs MP7 (7 core) in the 15T. When playing games like Wuthering Waves, Xiaomi 17T runs smoothly without annoying frame drops.

But there’s a note about heat: Some reviewers say Xiaomi 17T heats up quickly when taking photos outdoors, causing throttling and screen dimming. But GSMArena actually says the thermal management is good. This difference might be because some units were still using pre-release software. Xiaomi 17T is equipped with the same 3D IceLoop cooling system as the 15T anyway.

Winner: Xiaomi 17T — consistently higher performance across all benchmarks.

Camera: This Is the Main Star

Now, this is the heart of the Xiaomi 17T vs 15T upgrade question. Xiaomi 15T only has a 50 MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom (equivalent to 46mm). Enough for portrait shots, but limited when you want to photograph distant objects.

Xiaomi 17T comes with a 50 MP periscope telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom (equivalent to 115mm) complete with OIS. The sensor used is the same Samsung S5KJN5 1/2.76", but the difference in focal length and lens mechanism makes the zoom results vastly different.

What does this mean in the real world?

• 2x vs 5x optical zoom: With Xiaomi 17T, you can capture details of buildings, animals, or stage performances from a distance without cropping that degrades quality.
• 10x lossless zoom: Xiaomi claims 10x zoom equivalent to optical thanks to in-sensor zoom — a feature not available on the 15T.
• 120x AI Ultra Zoom: It’s digital, but useful for emergency situations.
• 30cm Telemacro: The 17T’s periscope camera can focus as close as 30 cm, so you can take detailed macro shots that the 15T can’t do.

Main and ultrawide cameras are both identical: 50 MP Light Fusion 800 f/1.7 OIS and 12 MP 120° ultrawide. Leica Authentic and Vibrant modes are available on both devices.

Video quality: Xiaomi 17T supports 4K 60fps with smooth lens transitions. Xiaomi 15T also does 4K 60fps. Neither supports 8K.

Winner: Xiaomi 17T — the difference between 5x vs 2x zoom is a massive leap.

Battery: Jumbo vs Standard

In terms of capacity, Xiaomi 17T wins decisively with a 6500 mAh silicon-carbon battery, up 1,000 mAh from the 15T’s 5500 mAh.

Battery life test results (Nanoreview):

Unfortunately, charging speed is still the same at 67W. Because the capacity is larger, Xiaomi 17T’s charging time is slightly longer: about 60 minutes for full charge (55% in 30 minutes), compared to the 15T’s 51 minutes (69% in 30 minutes).

Additional feature: Xiaomi 17T supports 22.5W reverse charging (wired), while the 15T doesn’t have this feature.

Winner: Xiaomi 17T

Display & Design: Compact vs Wide

Xiaomi 17T takes a different path from its predecessor with a 6.59-inch display — more compact and comfortable to hold in one hand. Xiaomi 15T uses a wider 6.83-inch display.

Both displays support Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3840Hz PWM, and are protected by Gorilla Glass 7i.

In terms of design: Xiaomi 17T is thicker (8.17 mm vs 7.5 mm) and slightly heavier (200g vs 194g). Both have plastic frames. The back of Xiaomi 17T uses fiberglass reinforced plastic — not as premium as glass, but lighter.

Winner: Tie in this aspect — choice depends on preference: compact (17T) vs wide screen (15T). Technically, the 17T display is superior in brightness and adaptive refresh rate.

Price: The $130 Difference That Matters

This is the deciding factor in the Xiaomi 17T vs 15T comparison.

Xiaomi 15T is no longer in production, but can still be found in the used market for around $290–$355 depending on condition (estimated data — not verified from official sources).

The $130 price difference between the two devices must be weighed against the features you get: 5x periscope camera, 6500 mAh battery, and latest-generation display. If you take advantage of the $515 launch promo, the difference is only $65 from the 15T’s launch price.

Winner: Xiaomi 15T — more affordable price with still very competent specifications.

Software Features & Updates

Xiaomi 17T runs HyperOS 3 based on Android 16 straight out of the box. Xiaomi 15T launched with HyperOS 2 (Android 15) and has already received the HyperOS 3 update.

Update policy: Xiaomi promises 5 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches for the 17T, while the 15T gets 5 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches.

Winner: Xiaomi 17T — gets Android 16 immediately and one extra year of security support.

Who Should Buy Which?

Buy Xiaomi 17T if you:

• Often photograph distant objects — concerts, travel, wildlife, street photography.
• Want a battery that lasts all day without needing to charge.
• Prefer a compact phone that’s comfortable to hold in one hand.
• Need reverse charging to charge other devices.

Buy Xiaomi 15T if you:

• Have a limited budget and want maximum value for money.
• 2x zoom is enough for everyday portrait needs.
• A large 6.83-inch screen is more important for watching videos or gaming.
• Don’t mind charging slightly faster because of the smaller battery.

Conclusion

Winner Recap by Category

• Camera: Xiaomi 17T (5x periscope vs 2x)
• Performance: Xiaomi 17T (28% higher AnTuTu)
• Battery: Xiaomi 17T (6500 mAh vs 5500 mAh + reverse charging)
• Display: Tie (depends on compact vs wide preference)
• Price: Xiaomi 15T ($130 cheaper)

TL;DR

Xiaomi 17T wins in three main categories: camera, battery, and performance. Xiaomi 15T wins in price. If zoom camera is a priority, Xiaomi 17T is the answer. If not, Xiaomi 15T is still very worthy.

Verdict: Which One Is Worth Buying?

Xiaomi 17T is the overall winner for users who want Pro series-level zoom photography experience at a more affordable price than flagships. With the $515 launch promo, the price difference narrows and the upgrade makes more sense.

But if budget is the main consideration and 2x zoom is sufficient, Xiaomi 15T remains a smart choice. Its performance is still very capable for the next 2-3 years.

Alternatives if Neither Fits

If you’re looking for a phone with strong zoom camera but limited budget, Poco X8 Pro (similar Dimensity 8500 Ultra chipset) could be an alternative at a lower price. For flagship options with superior zoom, Samsung Galaxy S25 or Google Pixel 9 are worth considering, although they’re priced higher.

FAQ

1. Is Xiaomi 17T worth upgrading from 15T? Yes, especially if you need a 5x zoom camera, larger battery, and compact display. If you only need performance, the upgrade isn’t that urgent yet.

2. What is the Xiaomi 17T price in 2025? Xiaomi 17T is priced at $580 (12/256 GB) and $645 (12/512 GB). During the June 6-15, 2026 period on Tokopedia and TikTok Shop, the promo price is $515.

3. Is Xiaomi 17T water resistant? Yes, both have IP68 certification — water resistant up to 3 meters depth for 30 minutes.

4. How long is Xiaomi 17T software update support? Xiaomi 17T gets 5 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches. Xiaomi 15T gets 5 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches.

5. How is Xiaomi 17T camera performance in low light? Data is not yet available from independent testing for direct low light comparison. Both devices use identical main sensors (Light Fusion 800), so night performance is expected to be equivalent for the main camera. For zoom in low light, the f/3.0 aperture on the 17T’s periscope is darker than the f/1.9 on the 15T’s telephoto, so results need further testing.

Source: Bestindotech

Additional Sources

• Xiaomi 17T Official Specifications - Xiaomi Indonesia (via CNN Indonesia)
• Xiaomi 17T Price and Specifications - detikINET
• Xiaomi 17T Full Specs - GSMArena
• Xiaomi 17T Review - GSMArena
• Xiaomi 15T Official Specifications - Xiaomi Indonesia
• Xiaomi 15T Specifications - Carisinyal
• Xiaomi 17T vs 15T Comparison - IDN Times
• Xiaomi 17T vs 15T Specs - PhoneArena
• Xiaomi 17T vs 15T Benchmarks - Nanoreview
• Xiaomi 15T Official Indonesia Price - Mashable Indonesia