Xiaomi will launch its new flagship 17 series later this month, accompanied by a video released by Lu Weibang, the company’s president. The video compares the new phone with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, as iPhone 17 sales begin to generate significant attention.
The video’s objective was to show that Xiaomi’s camera island design is different from Apple’s. The designs of the two phones, however, display similarities. Xiaomi indicates that the Mi 11 Ultra from 2021 inspired the phone’s design. The decision not to release a 16 series was not to sync with Apple’s release schedule, despite plans for a Pro Max version.
Lu Weibang announced that the 17 series will be available in China before October 1, equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, which launches on September 23. Xiaomi has obtained an extended exclusivity period for the chip, indicating that competing devices may be delayed. The Xiaomi 17 Pro will be priced between CNY 5,000 and CNY 6,000 ($700 to $850), and the Pro Max will cost between CNY 6,000 and CNY 7,000 ($850 to $1,000) in China; international prices are expected to be higher.
A secondary screen on the phone’s rear allows for music control, information display, countdowns, and serves as a viewfinder for enhanced selfies using the rear cameras.
