Introduction: Xiaomi 17 Series – A Direct Competitor to Apple’s iPhone 17
Xiaomi is poised to release its flagship smartphone series for the current year, designated as the “17” series, skipping the numerical designation of 16. This strategic shift signals the company’s ambition to directly challenge Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 17 series. The Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max models, in particular, appear to incorporate design elements mirroring their iPhone 17 counterparts, but with notable differentiating features.
A prominent feature distinguishing the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max is the inclusion of a secondary OLED display positioned adjacent to the camera array. This design element, while not unprecedented for Xiaomi, represents a significant evolution. The previous Xiaomi 11 Ultra, released in earlier iterations, featured a rear-mounted secondary screen; the new iteration, however, is projected to be larger, brighter, and enhanced overall.
The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max showcases an updated primary display as well. The device incorporates a 6.9-inch LTPO OLED panel with minimized and symmetrical bezels. Preliminary specifications indicate increased brightness compared to preceding Xiaomi models, although definitive assessment will require comprehensive device testing.
The secondary display measures 2.9 inches and maintains a 120 Hz refresh rate, consistent with the primary screen. Xiaomi’s specifications indicate a peak brightness of 3,500 nits for both displays.
Performance is expected to be driven by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, promising advancements in both performance and power efficiency. The base configuration of the 17 Pro Max is specified to include 512GB of storage capacity.
The camera system has undergone minor refinements. The primary camera now features a slightly larger sensor and incorporates the new Light Fusion 950L, developed in collaboration with Leica. The 50MP 5x telephoto lens has been optimized with modifications to its prism layout, accommodating a larger 1/2″ sensor. Conversely, the 50MP ultrawide unit has been modified, resulting in the loss of autofocus functionality. However, macro photography remains accessible through the zoom camera, which maintains close-focusing capabilities.
The front-facing camera has been upgraded from 32MP to a 50MP sensor with autofocus, representing a significant improvement.
Battery capacity is substantially enhanced in the 17 Pro Max. The device incorporates a 7,500 mAh battery. Fast charging capabilities are maintained, with support for 100W wired and 50W wireless charging, representing a modest increase over the preceding Xiaomi 15 Pro model.
Further analysis of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max will follow.
