Xiaomi 17 Pro Series: Going All-Out with the Pro Experience

^Xiaomi

It’s been a month since Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 17 Pro series. Unlike any of its previous product launches, Xiaomi decided to go Pro all the way this time, introducing two new devices. Most likely, you’ve already seen the news, but have you ever wondered why Xiaomi made such a bold move with the 17 series?

If you remember, Apple launched the 17th-generation iPhones last September, and expectations for that series have been high ever since. What Xiaomi did was to position its latest flagship lineup directly against Apple’s, even borrowing some design cues while adding its own flair. Interestingly, Xiaomi also adopted similar naming conventions, calling its flagships 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, just like Apple’s models.

Many users have expressed curiosity if not fascination over the apparent similarities between the two lineups. What especially caught attention with Xiaomi’s devices is the display window at the back.

While the iPhone’s rear camera island is a flat, straightforward slab, the Xiaomi 17 Pro features a small display built into its camera island. At first glance, it might seem like a gimmick, but it serves practical purposes as well. It can display animations, tools, and even notifications, offering both style and function.

The rear camera module houses two of the main lenses: a 23mm 50MP Light Fusion main sensor with OIS and a 115mm 50MP periscope camera with OIS and up to 5x optical zoom. Below the camera window sits another 50MP ultra-wide sensor. These cameras are co-engineered with Leica, delivering some of the best image quality you’ll find on a smartphone today.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro series supports 8K video recording at 30fps and 4K recording from 30fps up to 120fps. It also supports 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR and 10-bit LOG video recording. On the front, you’ll find a 21mm-equivalent 50MP selfie camera, also fine-tuned by Leica.

The main display is an LTPO AMOLED panel, measuring 6.9 inches on the Pro Max and 6.3 inches on the Pro, with a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,500 nits of peak brightness. The screen is protected by Xiaomi’s Dragon Crystal Glass 3, which offers improved durability against scratches and bumps.

Both the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. Storage options range from 256GB (Pro) and 512GB (Pro Max) up to 1TB. They run on HyperOS 3, based on Android 16.

In terms of battery, the difference is clear. The 17 Pro Max packs a massive 7,500mAh battery, while the 17 Pro comes with a 6,300mAh unit. Both feature Xiaomi’s Surge G2 battery management system, designed to maintain optimal health even after 2,000 charging cycles. They support 100W wired and 50W wireless charging, as well as 22.5W reverse charging, either wired or wirelessly.

Finally, both models are IP68-rated, providing resistance to dust and water of up to 4 meters underwater for the Pro and 6 meters for the Pro Max.

Since its launch in China last month, Xiaomi has priced the 17 Pro starting at CNY 5,000 for the 12GB/256GB model, going up to CNY 6,000 for the 16GB/1TB variant. The 17 Pro Max starts at CNY 6,000 for the 12GB/512GB model and goes up to CNY 7,000 for the top-tier 16GB/1TB configuration.