Xiaomi 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: Specs, Price & Honest Review

Maybe you missed it? The Xiaomi 17 lineup, launching this September, is designed to rival the iPhone 17.

The new Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is raising the bar to compete with the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Xiaomi officially unveiled its highly anticipated 17 series — including the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max — on September 25, 2025, during the Lei Jun Annual Speech held at the Beijing National Convention Center. The event, themed “Change,” showcased Xiaomi’s latest innovations in smartphone technology, with the 17 Pro Max stealing the spotlight thanks to its dual-display design, Leica-powered camera system, and cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset.

The series represents a significant step forward in Xiaomi’s flagship lineup, redefining standards for performance, design, and user experience. This new lineup is anticipated to deliver a cross-generation performance boost and feature the latest Xiaomi HyperOS 3.

Xiaomi’s top-tier 17 Pro Max is set to shake up the premium Android smartphone scene, directly challenging Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max. With state-of-the-art features, a striking design, and outstanding performance, this new flagship underscores Xiaomi’s determination to compete with and outshine its toughest rivals.

Xiaomi 17 Pro Max Flagship Level Series

The anticipated official specifications for the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max.

📱 Xiaomi 17 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro A comparison of rumored and official specifications.

Here’s a head-to-head comparison of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max (Rumored) and the iPhone 17 Pro Max, based on the latest available details from multiple media sources:

A Bold Move: Skipping “16” to Achieve Balance

Xiaomi’s decision to skip “16” and jump straight to the 17 series is a strategic move to align its flagship naming with Apple’s. By adopting similar numbering, Xiaomi avoids the perception of being a generation behind and highlights its position as a serious competitor in the premium market. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, now the top-tier model replacing the “Ultra” label, underscores this shift in branding and focus.

Launching: Timing and Placement

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max has already started selling in China, showcasing Xiaomi’s strong local presence and its global ambitions. The full lineup includes the standard 17, the 17 Pro, and the flagship 17 Pro Max, each tailored to appeal to different audiences.

A Bold New Design: Edge-to-Edge Cameras with an Extra Screen

A key highlight of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is its innovative rear camera module, stretching across the phone’s width and featuring the “Magic Back Screen”—a customizable secondary display. This screen allows users to:

• Control Widgets like a stopwatch and music playback.
• Take calls, check flight details, and track ride status effortlessly.
• Capture selfies with the main camera system for optimal quality, using the secondary display as a live viewfinder.

The “Smart Magic Back Screen” combines convenience and fun, making everyday tasks super accessible while offering a touch of personalization. It’s a step forward from similar features seen in earlier Xiaomi flagships like the Mi 11 Ultra.

Smart Magic Back Screen

Xiaomi has recently turned heads with its focus on the premium 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max models, which stand out thanks to their unique “rear magic screen,” a feature that could distinguish them from other flagship smartphones.

At first glance, the Xiaomi 17 Pro’s design closely resembles the iPhone 17 Pro, featuring a rectangular shadow camera that takes up nearly the entire back of the device. However, its standout feature is the secondary screen seamlessly integrated into the camera module.

The screen design offers a variety of watch styles, supports selfies using the main camera, and provides app notifications or dynamic graphic effects. This is a major upgrade compared to the Mi 11 Ultra from 2021, which had a small 1.1-inch AMOLED screen with limited features.

Multiple displays and durability.

Main Display

Featuring an impressive 6.9-inch 2K AMOLED display, this device main delivers vibrant colors, stunning resolution, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Its durability stands out with an expected IP68 rating, offering reliable protection against dust and water for extra peace of mind.

Rear display

Designed to be both functional and fun. The rear display features a 2.9″ LTPO AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR support, seamlessly integrated into the camera module. This new addition to the 17 flagship introduces innovative features like turning the phone into a mini game console with a special carrying case. It offers a variety of options. Here are most of them:

• 🧸 AI Pets & Widgets: Display animated virtual pets, weather, calendar, music controls, and other interactive widgets.
• 📸 Camera Preview: Acts as a selfie preview when using the rear cameras, enabling high-quality rear-camera selfies.
• 🎮 Gaming Companion: With the magnetic case, it can show game stats, health bars, or mini-maps while gaming.
• ⏰ Always-On Display: Shows time, notifications, battery status, and other ambient info even when the phone is idle.
• 🎵 Music Controls: Lets you control playback, volume, and track selection without turning on the main screen.
• 📞 Call & Message Alerts: Displays incoming calls, messages, and app alerts discreetly.

Powerful Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and HyperOS

Beneath its sleek design, the 17 Pro Max is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a state-of-the-art chip built to provide outstanding speed and efficiency for gaming and multitasking. With RAM options reaching up to 16GB and lightning-fast UFS storage configurations, this phone promises top-tier performance. It will launch with Android 16, enhanced by Xiaomi’s new “HyperOS,” offering a seamless, AI-driven, and customizable experience deeply connected to its advanced hardware.

Camera Technology: Leica Partnership and Pro-Grade Lenses

Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica continues to shine, and the 17 Pro Max features a rear camera array that includes:

• A 50MP main sensor with an f/1.67 aperture delivers outstanding clarity, even in low-light conditions.
• A 50MP ultra-wide lens with a 17mm focal length, perfect for capturing expansive scenes.
• A 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and a brighter f/2.6 aperture is a notable improvement over the Pro model’s f/3.0. It’s especially great for night and portrait photography, delivering better depth of field and capturing more detail in challenging lighting conditions.

The whole lineup takes advantage of Leica’s renowned color science and lens enhancements, delivering photos that look natural, vibrant, and polished.

Battery, Charging, and Connectivity

Battery life is a standout feature, with the Pro Max boasting a massive 7,500mAh battery—a significant upgrade over current flagships and its predecessor. It also supports super-fast 100W wired charging, along with expected wireless and reverse charging capabilities, cutting down on downtime. The hardware is packed with features like 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, an IR blaster, and even rumored satellite communication for emergencies.

Software: Deeper AI, Enhanced Personalization

The combination of HyperOS and Android 16 brings AI-powered camera features, improved energy efficiency, more customizable widgets, and enhanced security—all seamlessly integrated with hardware like the rear Magic Back Screen. Xiaomi has also extended its software update support, now providing up to four years of OS upgrades and six years of security updates.

Geekbench Benchmark scores have already been revealed

A Geekbench listing has revealed a Xiaomi device with the model number 25098PN5AC, believed to be the 17 Pro. It features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC and 16GB of RAM. The listing shows it running Android 16, which is likely the upcoming HyperOS 3 set to debut with the Xiaomi 17 series. (News Source).

Pricing, Availability, and Market Reception

The pricing is set to be premium yet competitive, likely undercutting Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max while holding its own in power and features. The initial launch is focused on China, with a global rollout anticipated, potentially hitting some markets early next year. As usual, buyers in regions without an official release should verify carrier compatibility before importing the device.

Xiaomi’s Challenge to Apple

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max marks a bold move in the premium smartphone game. By adopting the “Pro Max” branding, focusing on high-end features, and building a device that beats competitors in battery life, camera quality, customization options, and smart software, Xiaomi isn’t just closing the gap with Apple—it’s aiming to surpass it. This launch will be exciting to follow, especially as Xiaomi’s presence in China’s premium market keeps growing.

Featuring bold hardware, innovative software features, and a confident new design philosophy, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max emerges as one of the most anticipated and potentially game-changing Android flagships of 2025.

Release dates and pricing for the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max in China and globally, including all details.

Xiaomi’s flagship 17 series is now available in China, with the base Pro model starting at roughly CNY 4,499 (around $630).

Pre-orders for the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max kicked off earlier this month, offering a range of configurations to cater to different preferences.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is priced between $842 and $1,242, depending on the retailer and factors like region, availability, and import fees. Officially launched in September 2025, the phone is currently available in China, with a global release anticipated in 2026.