Xiaomi just fired a major shot across the bow of one of its biggest rivals, and it’s not holding back.
The company unveiled the Xiaomi 17 Series in Beijing, a trio of flagships that — from the names down to the marketing — is clearly designed to go head-to-head with the latest Apple iPhone lineup. But unlike a lot of the copycats that come out of China, these smartphones have some genuinely unique and impressive hardware to back up the bold claims.
The headliners are undoubtedly the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max and Xiaomi 17 Pro, which come with a killer feature you won’t find on any iPhone: a “Dynamic Back Display.” This secondary screen wraps around the massive camera module on the back, offering a range of intelligent and intuitive functions. Think of it like a souped-up version of the cover displays we’ve seen on flip phones, but on a more traditional slab. It can display everything from customizable watch faces and dynamic AI wallpapers to real-time notifications for flights, rideshares, and music. And, most usefully, it acts as a viewfinder for the main cameras, letting you take pro-grade selfies with the best lenses on the device. The Pro models are also thin and surprisingly light for their size, with the Pro Max clocking in at 231g despite its huge 7,500mAh battery.
Other Phone case: protects the phone.
— Rajesh Rajput (Technobuzz) (@iRaj_r) September 26, 2025
Xiaomi 17 Pro case: protects AND plays Snake, Angry Birds 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TiqK2hXNqH
How about this official phone case for the Pro? 😀
The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max and Xiaomi 17 Pro are also designed to push the boundaries of mobile photography. They feature a Leica Summilux imaging system with three 50-megapixel shooters, headlined by a main camera that uses a new Light Fusion 950L sensor with an incredible 16.5EV sensor dynamic range, thanks to next-gen LOFIC High Dynamic technology. While both the Pro and Pro Max have a 5x periscope telephoto lens, the larger variant gets an upgraded sensor and a faster f/2.6 aperture for even better low-light performance.
Under the hood, all three smartphones are powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, making them the first to market with the processor. They also boast some truly absurd battery capacities: the Xiaomi 17 Pro has a 6,300mAh battery, and the Pro Max tops out at a staggering 7,500mAh. Even the standard 6.3-inch Xiaomi 17 comes with a huge 7,000mAh battery, a feat that Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun made sure to highlight by directly comparing it to a competitor’s much smaller battery. The entire lineup supports 100-watt wired and 50-watt wireless fast charging.
For all their flash and new tricks, the smartphones also stick to what works. All three Xiaomi 17 Series models have a Leica-tuned triple camera setup, an innovative M10 Display Panel with a peak brightness of 3,500 nits, and the brand’s HyperOS 3 based on Android 16. The regular Xiaomi 17, while lacking the second screen, is a compact powerhouse with a surprisingly large battery for its size, making it a compelling option for those who want flagship specs without the extra bulk.
Xiaomi’s latest premium lineup is currently available for preorder in China, with prices starting at ¥4,499 (roughly P36,634 in Philippine pesos or $631 in U.S. dollars) for the base model, ¥4,999 (P40,703 or $701) for the Pro, and ¥5,999 (P48,846 or $841) for the Pro Max. Global availability has not yet been announced, but if past launches are any indication, we can expect them to make their way to other markets sometime early next year.
The best phone for vlogging, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max's secondary screen is so convenient! pic.twitter.com/hfBRjtDdso
— techway1 (@Techway0) September 26, 2025
The Pro model in action. We hope Xiaomi will release this in the Philippines
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max specs
- 6.9-inch LTPO OLED display, 1.5K resolution, 1-120Hz refresh rate, 3,500 nits brightness, Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass
- 2.9-inch LTPO OLED secondary display, 120Hz refresh rate
- 3nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 5G chipset
- Adreno 840 GPU
- 12GB/16GB LPDDR5X RAM
- 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.1 storage
- Triple 50-megapixel main, 50-megapixel ultrawide, 50-megapixel 5x periscope-telephoto rear cameras
- 50-megapixel front camera
- Under-display ultrasonic fingerprint reader
- 7,500mAh silicon-carbon battery with 100-watt fast charging, 50-watt wireless fast charging
- IP68 certification
- HyperOS 3 based on Android 16
- Colors: Black, Green, Purple, White
Xiaomi 17 Pro specs
- 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display, 1.5K resolution, 1-120Hz refresh rate, 3,500 nits brightness, Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass
- 2.7-inch LTPO OLED secondary display, 120Hz refresh rate
- 3nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 5G chipset
- Adreno 840 GPU
- 12GB/16GB LPDDR5X RAM
- 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.1 storage
- Triple 50-megapixel main, 50-megapixel ultrawide, 50-megapixel 5x periscope-telephoto rear cameras
- 50-megapixel front camera
- Under-display ultrasonic fingerprint reader
- 6,300mAh silicon-carbon battery with 100-watt fast charging, 50-watt wireless fast charging
- IP68 certification
- HyperOS 3 based on Android 16
- Colors: Black, Green, Purple, White
Xiaomi 17 specs
- 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display, 1.5K resolution, 1-120Hz refresh rate, 3,500 nits brightness, Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass
- 3nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 5G chipset
- Adreno 840 GPU
- 12GB/16GB LPDDR5X RAM
- 256GB/512GB UFS 4.1 storage
- Triple 50-megapixel main, 50-megapixel ultrawide, 50-megapixel 2.6x telephoto rear cameras
- 50-megapixel front camera
- Under-display ultrasonic fingerprint reader
- 7,000mAh silicon-carbon battery with 100-watt fast charging, 50-watt wireless fast charging
- IP68 certification
- HyperOS 3 based on Android 16
- Colors: Black, Blue, Pink, White
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