The Xiaomi 17 series is official, combining premium design, advanced camera technology and large-capacity batteries, all built around the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
With the announcement of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, several smartphone brands have unveiled their latest flagships, and Xiaomi is no exception. The company officially introduced the Xiaomi 17 series at its Sept. 25 launch event, revealing three models: the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. All three are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset.
While the full range looks promising, the show was stolen by the new Xiaomi 17 Pro, which features unique OLED displays integrated into the rear camera modules, giving users a new way to interact with their smartphones. The 17 Pro includes a 2.66-inch secondary screen, while the 17 Pro Max offers a larger 2.9-inch display.
These rear screens serve multiple functions, including personalized wallpapers, dynamic notifications, sticky notes and media controls, transforming the traditional camera bump into an interactive interface. According to Xiaomi’s presentation, this design element eliminates traditional bezels around the main display, achieving an ultra-narrow 1.18-millimetre bezel width across all three models.
If that were not enough, Xiaomi also unveiled a special case for the Xiaomi 17 Pro that allows the back of the phone to function like a handheld gaming system, complete with controls and the ability to play games on the secondary display. While the accessory resembles something that might be announced as an April Fools’ joke, Xiaomi confirmed it is a real product, showing it off during their press conference.
The Xiaomi 17 series also introduces the company’s new Jinshajiang battery technology, which utilizes L-shaped packaging and features a 16 percent high-silicon content. The standard Xiaomi 17 features a 7,000 mAh battery, which is larger than the Pro model’s 6,300 mAh capacity, while the Pro Max boasts an even more impressive 7,500 mAh capacity. During the launch demonstration, Xiaomi showcased the standard model’s endurance by directly comparing it with Apple’s iPhone 17 in a continuous video playback test, with the Xiaomi device outlasting the iPhone, even when the Apple device was equipped with a 5,000 mAh MagSafe battery pack.
All three models support 100-watt wired charging via both Xiaomi’s proprietary standard and the universal PPS protocol, in addition to 50-watt wireless charging. The Surge G2 battery management chip is designed to ensure long-term battery health, maintaining at least 80 percent capacity after 2,000 charge cycles.
As expected, Xiaomi placed significant emphasis on the camera system in the 17 series. Each model features a triple 50-megapixel rear camera array developed in partnership with Leica. The main sensor utilizes Light Fusion 950L technology, featuring 16.5 stops of dynamic range. Both Pro models include floating periscope telephoto lenses, offering 5x optical zoom. The Pro Max distinguishes itself with improved low-light performance, thanks to its f/2.6 aperture telephoto lens, compared to the Pro’s f/3.0 aperture.
On the display side, the Xiaomi 17 series features the brand’s M10 screen luminescence technology, which the company says delivers the industry’s highest luminous efficiency at 82.1 cd/A. The Pro Max introduces an independently arranged RGB pixel stack that eliminates pixel pooling while consuming 26 per cent less power than traditional 2K displays. All models include 6.3-inch LTPO OLED screens, except for the Pro Max, which expands to 6.9 inches.
Pricing in the Chinese market starts at 4,499 yuan (approximately $630 USD) for the base Xiaomi 17, with the 17 Pro beginning at 5,499 yuan (approximately $770 USD) and the 17 Pro Max at 5,999 yuan (approximately $840 USD). The devices will be available through Mi.com, Xiaomi Stores, and other official channels starting September 27, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
For readers outside China, global availability remains unconfirmed. Based on past releases, however, at least some models are expected to launch in Europe in spring 2026, potentially coinciding with the Mobile World Congress trade show in late February. The company may also unveil an even more powerful Xiaomi 17 Ultra variant at that time.
The Xiaomi 17 series presents a direct challenge to Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup and Samsung’s Galaxy S series. With features such as secondary displays, high-capacity batteries and advanced camera systems, the new flagship range underscores Xiaomi’s focus on innovation in a highly competitive smartphone market. Stay tuned to CGMagazine for more coverage, along with reviews as we get our hands on devices for testing.
