Xiaomi has officially unveiled its new flagship lineup, and it’s a big step up. The company skipped the “16” and jumped straight to the Xiaomi 17 series, which includes the standard Xiaomi 17, a new Xiaomi 17 Pro, and a top-tier Xiaomi 17 Pro Max. This latest generation of devices introduces a suite of upgrades in performance, design, and display technology. There’s also a bold commitment to a secondary rear screen that makes them stand out in the high-end smartphone market.
Xiaomi 17 series: Performance and display
Under the hood, the entire Xiaomi 17 series runs on the freshly announced Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 mobile platform. This new chip from Qualcomm promises to deliver superior performance and energy efficiency. More specifically, Qualcomm promises 35% more energy efficiency and 20% more raw performance than the previous generation. To keep the powerful chip cool, Xiaomi included a new three-dimensional ring-shaped cooling system. This setup boasts up to three times the performance of traditional vapor chambers.
The displays are also a major highlight across the series. The Xiaomi 17 series features impressive 1.5K or 2K LTPO OLED displays with a variable refresh rate from 1 to 120Hz. All models use a domestically produced “SuperRED luminous material” that pushes peak brightness to a stunning 3500 nits. This makes the screen incredibly vibrant and easy to see, even in bright sunlight. The standard model also features a durable Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass, rated for 10 times more drop resistance, while the Pro Max has an even stronger Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0.
In terms of display size, the Xiaomi 17 and 17 Pro are compact 6.3-inch beasts. On the other hand, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max reaches 6.9 inches, challenging the line between phone and tablet more than ever.
Cameras and dynamic back display
The camera systems are also a better step forward. All phones in the series sport a versatile triple-camera setup with Leica Summilux lenses and Hyper OIS. The vanilla model features a 50MP main sensor with a Light Fusion 950 sensor (1/1.31″, f/1.67 aperture). You will also find a 50MP Leica ultra-wide lens (102° FOV) with f/2.4 aperture. Lastly, there’s a 50MP Leica telephoto camera (2.6x optical zoom, f/2.0 aperture, 8K video recording).
For the Pro models, there’s a slightly better 50MP main camera (1/1.31″ Light Fusion 950L sensor, f/1.67 aperture). The improvement goes further in the zoom cameras department. The Xiaomi 17 Pro boasts a 50MP Leica periscope (3x optical zoom) with f/3.0 aperture and 20cm telemacro. On the other hand, the Pro Max’s periscope sensor offers a brighter aperture (f/2.6 aperture) and 30cm telemacro. Both models also support standard macro mode from their 50MP ultra-wide lens (102° FOV, Leica lens, f/2.4 aperture).
All three phones also pack a 50MP front-facing camera (f/2.2 aperture, 4K 60 fps video recording).
The Dynamic Back Display is one of the most exciting new features on the Pro and Pro Max models. This isn’t just a simple notification screen. It’s a 120Hz OLED display that allows for a wide range of functions. You can even set customizable watch faces and live-action virtual pets and pin sticky notes or QR codes. The display can even be used as a live viewfinder for taking professional-quality selfies with the main cameras. You can also control the media playback from the rear screen.
Power, connectivity, and pricing
Powering these phones are ultra-high energy density batteries with a high silicon content. The standard model has a large 7,000mAh battery. Meanwhile, the Pro and Pro Max have 6,300mAh and a massive 7,500mAh battery, respectively. All models support lightning-fast 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. The phones also feature UWB (Ultra-Wideband) for features like smart car keys for keyless entry and more.
