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Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max Debut as First Phones with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Xiaomi has officially released its new flagship smartphone series in China, unveiling the Xiaomi 17 series. Quite intriguingly, the brand skipped the "16" label entirely and moved directly to 17. The series includes three devices Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Pro, and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max. In a departure from its predecessors, Xiaomi has also abandoned the "Ultra" label, opting instead to bestow the high-end device with the "Pro Max" label. All three phones run on Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, making them the first smartphones to use the flagship chipset. Boasting daring design decisions, innovative features, and robust hardware, the Xiaomi 17 series obviously has its sights set on competing directly with Apple and Samsung in the top-end flagship space.

Xiaomi 17

Xiaomi 17

The standard Xiaomi 17 continues to embrace a compact design with a 6.3-inch flat AMOLED display. What makes this display stand out are the ultra-slim 1.18mm bezels and a peak brightness of 3,500 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even under bright sunlight. The device also comes with Xiaomi’s Dragon Crystal Glass for protection and is certified with IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings, making it highly resistant to dust and water.

Arguably the most shocking feature upgrade on the Xiaomi 17 is its enormous 7,000mAh battery an enormous jump for a small flagship. Xiaomi even boasts the phone lasts longer than the iPhone 17 when using a magnetic power bank. To maintain performance consistency when engaging in resource-intensive activities such as gaming or AI workloads, the phone comes equipped with a three-dimensional ring cold pump cooling system, reportedly three times the efficiency of conventional vapor chambers.


On the camera side, the Xiaomi 17 features a triple 50MP Leica-fueled configuration, which consists of a 50MP Light Fusion 950 primary sensor with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide, and a 50MP telephoto with Leica's 60mm floating lens design. A 50MP selfie camera guarantees sharp selfies. Xiaomi also brought in a new Master Portrait Mode, which aims to provide professional-level portrait photography with nuanced skin tones and hair details.

Xiaomi 17 Pro

The Xiaomi 17 Pro is another compact model in the series, with the same 6.3-inch AMOLED screen as the vanilla 17. It is different, though, in that it has a groundbreaking 2.7-inch AMOLED "Magic Back Screen" built into the rear camera module. This secondary screen is able to display notifications, act as an always-on clock, or even be used as a selfie viewfinder with the rear cameras. Xiaomi has tried secondary screens before (such as on the Mi 11 Ultra), but this iteration is bigger and more useful.


The Xiaomi 17 Pro is driven by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and comes with a 6,300mAh battery that has 100W wired charging – up from the 6,100mAh and 90W found in the Xiaomi 15 Pro.


When it comes to cameras, Xiaomi has further increased its Leica collaboration for the Pro variant. It boasts a 50MP Light Hunter 950L primary sensor, a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 50MP front camera. It is geared toward serious photography fans with such a configuration.


Xiaomi 17 Pro Max

Headlining the lineup is the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, the largest and highest-end model of the bunch. It packs a huge 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with 3,500 nits brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, and enhanced third-generation Dragon Crystal Glass for toughness. Similar to the Pro, the Pro Max also houses a second rear screen, although one that is a touch larger at 2.9 inches with an AMOLED panel.


Behind the scenes, the Pro Max is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, supported by up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The device is equipped with a humongous 7,500mAh battery, which uses high-silicon technology to optimize size and capacity. Charging is managed through 100W wired and 50W wireless fast charging, making it one of the most versatile batteries in the premium segment.


The camera system is also identical to that of the Pro model, with a 50MP Light Hunter 950L main sensor, 50MP ultra-wide, and 50MP 5x periscope telephoto, all driven by Leica's camera know-how.

Price and Availability

The new series has been priced in China as follows:

  • Xiaomi 17 – CNY 4,499 (around ₹55,993)

  • Xiaomi 17 Pro – CNY 4,999 (around ₹62,215)

  • Xiaomi 17 Pro Max – CNY 5,999 (around ₹74,661)

For context, the Xiaomi 15 launched in India starting at ₹64,999, while the Xiaomi 15 Ultra carried a price tag of ₹1,09,999. If Xiaomi brings the 17 series to India with aggressive pricing, it could prove to be a strong alternative to Samsung’s Galaxy S series and Vivo’s X series in the premium Android market.


Xiaomi’s Strategy

With the Xiaomi 17 series, the company is definitely borrowing pages out of Apple's book by presenting Standard, Pro, and Pro Max models. But Xiaomi is differentiating itself with larger batteries, test drive features such as secondary screens, and competitive benchmarking performance. This makes Xiaomi a real contender in the flagship game, while still holding onto its "value-for-specs" image.


Whether You Should Wait for Xiaomi 17 Series in India

For Indian consumers, the Xiaomi 17 series would be a game-changer if priced reasonably. The Xiaomi 17 would be perfect for someone looking for a small but long-lasting flagship, given its massive 7,000mAh battery. The Xiaomi 17 Pro would be ideal for those who value unique features such as the Magic Back Screen and Leica-supported cameras. At the same time, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is for those interested in a super-premium smartphone with an enormous screen and uncompromising performance.

Currently, it is advisable for Indian buyers to wait and observe how Xiaomi will price the 17 series with respect to its competitors. Provided that it will be priced competitively, the Xiaomi 17 series can easily turn out to be one of the most desirable flagship series in 2025.

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