Xiaomi appears to be preparing another round of budget smartphones for India. A new BIS certification listing has now revealed model numbers linked to the alleged Redmi 17 5G and POCO M8 Plus, suggesting both devices could launch in the country in the coming months.
The BIS database includes the model numbers 26021RN18I and 26021PC18I. According to recent reports and references spotted in HyperOS code and IMEI databases, the Redmi-branded model is believed to be the Redmi 17 5G, while the POCO variant could launch as the POCO M8 Plus.
The Redmi 17 5G is expected to succeed the Redmi 15 5G, which launched in India in August 2025 starting at Rs 14,999, but is now available at a slightly higher price. The Redmi 15 5G focused on battery life and display size, offering a 7,000mAh silicon-carbon battery, 144Hz display, Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset, and IP64 rating in the budget segment.
Leaked specifications
According to the report (via), Xiaomi’s internal HyperOS codebase links the codename “mist” and internal model number “P19” to multiple upcoming Redmi and POCO devices. These reportedly include:
- Redmi Note 17R for China
- Redmi 17 5G for global markets including India
- POCO M8 Plus as a rebranded variant
The same report suggests the Redmi 17 5G could use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 processor. The 4 Gen 4 is a newer chipset compared to the 6s Ge 3 and offers better gaming (Adreno 710 vs 619), faster 4nm processing, support for 144Hz displays, and superior 200MP camera capabilities.
Separately, Xiaomi is also reportedly working on a 4G version of the Redmi 17 under the codename “zephyr”. That device was recently spotted on the FCC database with support for 4G connectivity, Bluetooth, dual-band Wi-Fi, and multiple memory variants going up to 8GB RAM and 512GB storage.
Xiaomi has followed a familiar strategy over the last few years of launching very similar hardware under Redmi and POCO branding with small changes in design, software tuning, or pricing. The alleged Redmi 17 5G and POCO M8 Plus appear to continue that approach. The Redmi 17 5G is expected to target the affordable 5G segment in India, where brands like Samsung, Realme, and Motorola are competing aggressively.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Xiaomi keeps the same big battery and big display focus from the Redmi 15 5G or shifts more attention toward 5G affordability. If the Redmi 17 5G stays around the same Rs 15,000 – Rs 18,000 range, it will have a lot of competition to look forward to and more tips on specifications will help us give more tailored guidance.
