The upcoming launch of Xiaomi’s 17 series flagship is generating significant interest. A video featuring Lu Weibang, Xiaomi’s president, comparing the new phone to the iPhone 17 Pro Max has been widely circulated, coinciding with the release of iPhone 17 sales.
The video aims to differentiate Xiaomi’s camera island design from Apple’s, although the overall designs share visual similarities. Xiaomi indicates that the Mi 11 Ultra from 2021 inspired the phone’s design. Xiaomi also clarified that skipping the 16 series was not done to align with Apple’s product timeline, despite the upcoming Pro Max version.
Lu Weibang stated that the 17 series will launch in China before October 1, making them the first devices to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, which will be unveiled on September 23. Xiaomi has obtained a longer-than-usual exclusivity period for this chip, which could delay competing device launches. The Xiaomi 17 Pro is expected to be priced between CNY 5,000 and CNY 6,000 ($700 to $850), with the Pro Max priced between CNY 6,000 and CNY 7,000 ($850 to $1,000) in China; these prices are expected to increase internationally.
A unique feature includes a smaller screen on the phone’s rear that can control music, display information, and act as a viewfinder, improving selfie quality using the rear cameras.