Xiaomi 17 Series Debuts With Secondary Screens & Massive Batteries
▼ Summary
– Xiaomi openly skipped number 16 for its new flagship phones, naming them the 17 series specifically to match Apple’s iPhone numbering.
– The company’s CEO repeatedly compared the new phones to Apple’s iPhones at the launch event, claiming superiority in areas like battery and performance.
– The Pro and Pro Max models feature a distinctive secondary display on the back, used for selfies, widgets, and controls, differentiating them from Apple’s design.
– All three models are powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and feature large batteries, with the regular 17 model having a larger battery than the Pro.
– The phones are available for preorder in China with a late September release, starting around $630, while global release plans are not yet confirmed.
The new Xiaomi 17 Series makes a bold entrance into the smartphone arena, featuring a lineup that directly challenges industry leaders. With the introduction of secondary screens on its Pro models and exceptionally large batteries across the board, Xiaomi is positioning its latest flagships as powerful alternatives for demanding users. The series, comprising the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max, showcases the company’s ambition to compete on a global stage.
Observers quickly noted the parallels between Xiaomi’s new naming convention and that of its chief rival. By skipping the number 16 and launching the 17 series, the company openly acknowledges its intention to align its flagship numbering with Apple’s iPhone releases. During the Beijing launch event, CEO Lei Jun frequently compared the new phones’ specifications to Apple’s latest models, emphasizing advantages in areas like battery life, performance, and camera capabilities.
Where the devices truly distinguish themselves is in their hardware. The Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are the stars of the show, each equipped with an additional display on the back. This secondary screen occupies the space typically reserved for the camera module. Its functionality appears inspired by the cover displays on modern flip phones, serving as a viewfinder for high-quality selfies using the main cameras, a control panel for media playback, and a surface for interactive widgets. While not a novel concept in the Android world, the execution seems refined, potentially offering more practical daily use than previous attempts. For gaming enthusiasts, an official accessory case with physical buttons can transform the back of the phone into a handheld console.
Beyond the unique second screen, the two Pro models share many high-end specifications. Both are powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. They differ primarily in size; the Pro features a 6.3-inch display and weighs 192 grams, while the Pro Max boasts a larger 6.9-inch screen and tips the scales at 231 grams. Xiaomi emphasized that the Pro Max is both thinner and lighter than Apple’s largest model. A promotional video even showcased the display’s durability with an unconventional test involving a figure skater gliding over it.
Battery capacity is a major selling point. The Pro model includes a substantial 6,300mAh battery, but the Pro Max goes even further with a massive 7,500mAh battery. Both support 100W wired charging using the universal PPS standard and 50W wireless charging. The camera systems, developed in partnership with Leica, are equally impressive. Each Pro phone sports a triple 50-megapixel rear array, sharing an f/1.67 main sensor and an f/2.4 ultrawide lens. Their telephoto cameras both offer 5x optical zoom, though the Pro Max uses a larger sensor with a faster f/2.6 aperture for superior low-light performance.
The standard Xiaomi 17 offers a more conventional design, forgoing the flashy rear display. This might actually appeal to users seeking a high-performance phone without extra gimmicks. It shares the 6.3-inch screen size and the powerful Snapdragon chipset with the Pro model. Surprisingly, it packs an even larger battery than the Pro, at 7,000mAh. To illustrate this advantage, Xiaomi staged a dramatic demonstration pitting the 17 against an iPhone in a video playback test, eventually adding a 5,000mAh battery pack to the iPhone to show the Xiaomi phone still leading.
Pre-orders for the Xiaomi 17 series are now open in China, with general availability starting September 27. The Xiaomi 17 begins at ¥4,499 (approximately $630), the Pro model at ¥4,999 (around $700), and the Pro Max at ¥5,999 (about $840). While international release details are pending, a European launch for select models is anticipated next spring, possibly coinciding with the MWC trade show. An even more advanced Xiaomi 17 Ultra variant could also be revealed at that time.
(Source: The Verge)
