Updated
Updated · Expert Reviews · Jun 24
Xiaomi 17 Wins Best Prime Day Compact Phone Pick at £649 as Galaxy S26 Stays £118 Higher
Updated
Updated · Expert Reviews · Jun 24

Xiaomi 17 Wins Best Prime Day Compact Phone Pick at £649 as Galaxy S26 Stays £118 Higher

3 articles · Updated · Expert Reviews · Jun 24

Summary

  • £649 marks a record-low for the Xiaomi 17, prompting Expert Reviews to name it the best compact phone deal of Prime Day after the handset had averaged about £815 since launch.
  • That discount flips its value case against Samsung’s Galaxy S26, which costs £767 for the same 256GB storage and is now judged not sufficiently better to justify the extra £118.
  • Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance, more than 34 hours in a looping video battery test, and a 6.3-inch AMOLED screen topping 1,800 nits underpin the recommendation.
  • Four 50MP cameras, including ultrawide and 2.6x telephoto lenses, add to the appeal, though HyperOS remains a drawback and Xiaomi offers four years of OS updates versus seven years from Samsung and Google rivals.

Insights

Is saving £118 on the Xiaomi 17 worth sacrificing three years of crucial software updates compared to its main rival?
Does the Xiaomi 17's powerful hardware truly compensate for its cluttered software and shorter secure lifespan?