Xiaomi's new 17 series phone aims to compete directly with the iPhone 17.

The auxiliary screen has a variety of uses. | Image credit – Xiaomi

The quality of the small display is surprisingly high, featuring a resolution of 904 x 572, a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, a brightness of 3,500 nits, and DC dimming. Regarding the main displays, the Pro model has a 6.3-inch screen and a light 192g build, while the Pro Max features a 6.9-inch screen and weighs 231g.

The standard Xiaomi 17 offers a simpler design with a 6.3-inch screen but lacks the secondary display. Instead, it has a square-shaped camera bump reminiscent of previous models.

The auxiliary screen has a variety of uses. | Image credit – Xiaomi

The standard Xiaomi 17. | Image credit – Xiaomi

Available colors:

Xiaomi 17: Black, White, Ice Melting Blue, Snow Mountain Powder

Xiaomi 17 Pro/Pro Max: Black, White, Merino Green, Cold Smoke Purple

The Pro and Pro Max come in the colors shown above. | Image credit – Xiaomi

As in previous years, the camera system is a key feature. Xiaomi is again collaborating with Leica to enhance camera capabilities across the entire series.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro models both include a triple 50 MP camera arrangement. While both share an f/1.67 main sensor and an f/2.4 ultrawide lens, the telephoto lens differs. While both offer 5x zoom, the Pro Max has a larger sensor and a faster f/2.6 aperture, whereas the Pro has an f/3.0 aperture. This difference should give the Pro Max better performance in low-light conditions. The standard Xiaomi 17 also features a triple 50 MP setup on the rear.

All three phones use Qualcomm’s recently unveiled Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. Xiaomi has also focused on battery size:

Xiaomi 17: 7,000mAh

Pro: 6,300mAh

Pro Max: 7,500mAh

Charging capabilities include 100W wired (PPS standard) and 50W wireless.

Generous storage options are available:

Xiaomi 17: 12 GB + 256 GB, 12 GB + 512 GB, 16 GB + 512 GB

Xiaomi 17 Pro: 12 GB + 256 GB, 12 GB + 512 GB, 16 GB + 512 GB, 16 GB + 1 TB

Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: 12 GB + 512 GB, 16 GB + 512 GB, 16 GB + 1 TB

The phones come with Xiaomi HyperOS 3, which is based on Android 16. As expected, they are equipped with flagship features such as Wi-Fi 7, cross-device connectivity (including compatibility with Macs and iPads), and a range of AI tools. Xiaomi’s Hyper XiaoAi assistant, for instance, can remember user information (with permission) and proactively recommend apps based on usage patterns.

Price and release

Currently, the Xiaomi 17 series is exclusive to China. Preorders are open, with the official launch scheduled for September 27. Although global availability is yet to be announced, some models will likely be available in Europe in early 2026, possibly around the time of MWC in Barcelona in March.

Prices start at:

¥4,499 (approximately $630 USD converted directly) for Xiaomi 17

¥4,999 (approximately $700 USD converted directly) for Xiaomi 17 Pro

¥5,999 (approximately $840 USD converted directly) for Xiaomi 17 Pro Max

Xiaomi's Aim at Apple

Xiaomi is clearly targeting Apple, stating its intention to compete directly with them, particularly in China. To emphasize this, Xiaomi conducted a side-by-side comparison, testing its new phone against the iPhone 17 in continuous video playback.

They even attached a 5,000mAh MagSafe battery pack to the iPhone to demonstrate that the Xiaomi phone still had a longer battery life. The message is clear: this phone aims to surpass Apple's latest in both longevity and performance.

The Promise and the Challenge

The Xiaomi 17 series appears impressive with larger batteries, high performance, and a practical secondary screen. It seems like Xiaomi is ready to compete with the iPhone 17.

However, worldwide availability is a problem. Apple's advantage lies in its ecosystem and broad availability.

In the US, iPhones are easily accessible in stores and through carriers. Xiaomi's availability is more limited, sometimes requiring imports, which may discourage potential customers. This difference in distribution remains a barrier for Xiaomi in directly challenging Apple.

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