Xiaomi just dropped its newest flagship line and it’s a real head‑turner. The Xiaomi 17 Pro arrives with a second screen slapped onto the back of the phone, a top‑tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and batteries so big they could power a small laptop. While Apple and Samsung are still pushing incremental upgrades, Xiaomi is betting on fresh design and raw power to win over fans who want more bang for their buck.
Dual‑Screen Innovation
Think of the rear display as a mini‑screen that lives inside the camera module. It’s not just a novelty; Xiaomi markets it as a selfie viewfinder, a gaming HUD, a widget hub and even a tiny media player. The idea mirrors the cover display on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip, but instead of a folding phone you get a solid slab with a pop‑up secondary panel.
To prove the point, Xiaomi unveiled a Gameboy‑style case that clips onto the back and lets you play retro titles on the 1.2‑inch screen while the main display stays free for notifications. Imagine scrolling through Instagram on the front, then flipping the phone over to snap a perfect selfie using the rear screen as a live preview.
Practical uses include:
- Quick selfie framing without turning the phone around.
- Checking calendar events or weather while your main screen shows a video.
- Accessing interactive widgets – music controls, fitness stats, or smart home toggles – at a glance.
- Gaming on a dedicated low‑latency area that doesn’t drain the larger display.
The dual‑screen concept also opens doors for developers to craft new app experiences, though it will take time for the ecosystem to catch up.
Power, Performance and Camera
Under the hood sits the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the first phone to launch with this chipset. It promises a bump in AI processing, better GPU performance for gaming and an efficiency edge that helps the huge batteries last longer. Xiaomi paired the chip with 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM depending on the variant, so multitasking feels smooth even when you’re juggling heavy apps.
The battery story is where Xiaomi really tries to outmuscle its rivals. The standard 17 Pro carries a 6,300 mAh cell, while the Pro Max ups the ante to a massive 7,500 mAh unit. Both support 100 W wired fast‑charge – you can go from 0 to 80 % in about 25 minutes – and 50 W wireless charging, which is rare at this capacity level.
For comparison, leaked specs suggest the iPhone 17 Pro will have a 4,252 mAh battery and the Pro Max around 5,088 mAh. That puts Xiaomi’s power density well ahead of the competition, especially for users who spend most of the day on video calls, streaming or gaming.
The displays keep the premium feel: a 6.3‑inch LTPO OLED on the base model and a 6.9‑inch version on the Pro Max, both with adaptive refresh rates up to 120 Hz. Despite the larger batteries, the 6.3‑inch phone weighs just 191 grams, making it feel lighter than the iPhone 17 Pro despite more juice inside.
Photography stays a strong suit thanks to Xiaomi’s ongoing partnership with Leica. Both phones sport a triple‑camera stack, each sensor clocking in at 50 MP, and a 5× optical zoom lens. Leica‑tuned color science and a suite of shooting modes – from classic monochrome to ultra‑wide night mode – give the device a versatile toolkit for serious shooters.
Key specifications at a glance:
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
- Battery: 6,300 mAh (17 Pro) / 7,500 mAh (Pro Max).
- Fast charging: 100 W wired, 50 W wireless.
- Rear secondary display: 1.2‑inch OLED in camera module.
- Camera: Triple 50 MP + 5× optical zoom, Leica partnership.
- RAM/Storage: 12 GB/256 GB or 16 GB/512 GB options.
Pre‑orders opened in China on September 26, 2025, with shipments slated to start the next day. International rollout is still vague – analysts whisper about a possible European debut at Mobile World Congress in February 2026, perhaps alongside a rumored 17 Ultra model.
In the United States, ongoing trade restrictions keep Xiaomi phones off the market for now, and the company’s U.S. website lists no smartphones at all. That means American fans will have to wait or turn to gray‑market imports if they want the dual‑screen experience.
From a market perspective, Xiaomi is aiming straight at Apple and Samsung’s premium segment. The pricing strategy, while not disclosed fully, is expected to undercut the iPhone 17 Pro and Galaxy S 35 series, offering similar or better hardware for less cash. If the dual‑screen gimmick catches on and the battery life lives up to the specs, the 17 Pro line could become a serious contender for anyone who wants flagship performance without the brand‑premium price tag.
