In Beijing, Xiaomi has introduced the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, phones that set themselves apart with a second screen set into the rear camera island. The move places a familiar question before the market: whether a novelty that invites a glance at the back of a device can become a habit in a pocket full of rivals. Xiaomi's leadership argues its new line surpasses the iPhone 17 Pro and Google's Pixel 10 Pro, though such claims are the company's own to make and the verdict belongs to the people who will carry these phones.
Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max Debut With a Secondary 'Magic Back Screen' and Leica Triple Cameras
Not just a camera island but a secondary screen on the back
Mark
So what actually sets these phones apart from the other flagships this year?
Mimi
The second screen on the back. It's built into the camera island, which stretches across the whole width of the phone, and the camera sensors sit within it.
Mark
What is it for?
Mimi
Xiaomi lists selfies using the rear cameras, a viewfinder, gaming, alarms, media playback and AI portraits. There's also a Post-it Notes feature that pins something to it with one tap.
Luke
Worth noting that's Xiaomi's list of uses. The reporting describes features, not how well they work day to day.
Mark
Lei Jun made a lot of comparisons with Apple, didn't he?
Mimi
He did. He said the 17 Pro series is better on battery, performance and photography. The design even looks a lot like the iPhone 17 Pro.
Luke
Those are claims from the CEO on stage. Nothing here shows independent testing, so I'd treat the superiority claims as unverified.
Mark
And the hardware?
Mimi
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, up to 16GB RAM, 1TB storage, and batteries of 7,500mAh on the Pro Max and 6,300mAh on the Pro.
Luke
Also missing is price. The headline promises it, but the text gives no figures, so we can't say how it compares with rivals on cost.
Der Puls
- A second screen now sits on the back of Xiaomi's new flagships, and it has to prove it is more than a curiosity.
- Lei Jun pressed the comparison with Apple's iPhone 17 series on stage, setting a direct challenge in the premium market.
- The Magic Back Screen promises selfies with main cameras, gaming, alarms, media playback and AI portraits, all from the rear.
- Battery and charging split the two models: a 7,500mAh cell in the Pro Max against 6,300mAh in the Pro, both with 100W wired charging.
- The launch is now in the hands of buyers, and whether the rear display becomes daily use or fades into novelty remains open.
In Beijing, Xiaomi has introduced the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, phones that set themselves apart with a second screen set into the rear camera island. The move places a familiar question before the market: whether a novelty that invites a glance at the back of a device can become a habit in a pocket full of rivals. Xiaomi's leadership argues its new line surpasses the iPhone 17 Pro and Google's Pixel 10 Pro, though such claims are the company's own to make and the verdict belongs to the people who will carry these phones.
At a launch event in Beijing, Xiaomi unveiled the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, and the feature everyone will talk about sits on the back. The rear camera island stretches across the full width of the phone, bearing a strong resemblance to the iPhone 17 Pro, but it also carries a second screen Xiaomi calls the "Magic Back Screen," with the camera sensors built into it.
On stage, CEO Lei Jun kept returning to Apple's iPhone 17 series, arguing that the new Xiaomi line outperforms it on battery life, performance and photography. The phones are positioned against the iPhone 17 Pro and Google's Pixel 10 Pro. The rear panel can act as a viewfinder for selfies taken with the main cameras, and it can run games, alarms, media playback and AI portraits. A "Post-it Notes" feature lets users pin something to it with one tap.
Underneath, both phones run Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, on HyperOS 3. The Pro Max offers a 6.9-inch 2K display and a 7,500mAh battery, while the Pro has a 6.3-inch screen and a 6,300mAh cell. Both support 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. The Leica-branded triple rear cameras pair 50MP sensors across the main, ultrawide and 5x periscope telephoto lenses.
The question that matters is whether the back screen becomes part of everyday life or stays a clever trick. Only buyers, using the phones alongside their Apple and Google rivals, will answer it.
At a launch event in Beijing, Xiaomi unveiled the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, two phones whose most striking feature sits on the back. The rear camera island, which runs across the full width of the device in a way that closely resembles the iPhone 17 Pro, is not just a housing for lenses. It also holds a second screen, which Xiaomi calls the "Magic Back Screen," with the camera sensors built into it.
Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun used the stage to draw repeated comparisons with Apple's iPhone 17 series. He argued that the Xiaomi 17 Pro line does better on battery life, performance, photography and other measures. The phones are being positioned against the iPhone 17 Pro and Google's Pixel 10 Pro, and NDTV Profit's coverage describes the launch as one of the most innovative of the year, though that is a characterization the company's own pitch invites rather than a settled verdict.
The rear display is an M10 panel, fitted to both models. Xiaomi says it can serve as a viewfinder, which lets users take selfies with the main rear cameras. It can also be used for gaming, setting alarms, playing back media and creating AI portraits. A feature called "Post-it Notes" lets a user pin something to the secondary screen with a single tap.
The main displays differ by model. The 17 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch front screen at 2K resolution, protected by what Xiaomi calls Dragon Crystal Glass. The 17 Pro has a 6.3-inch front display.
Inside both phones is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, built on a 3nm process. It is paired with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. The software is HyperOS 3, based on Android 16, and it includes a feature called HyperIsland, which takes its inspiration from the iPhone's Dynamic Island.
Battery capacity is where the two models separate most clearly. The Pro Max carries a 7,500mAh cell, while the Pro has a 6,300mAh one. Both support 100W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging.
The camera system is Leica-branded and uses three rear sensors. The main camera is a 50MP Light Hunter 950L, joined by a 50MP ultrawide and a 50MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom. The selfie camera on the front is also 50MP on both phones. Both devices are 8 mm thick and weigh 192 grams.
The open question is whether the back screen becomes something people use daily or remains a novelty. That will only become clear once the phones are in buyers' hands and compared directly against their Apple and Google rivals.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
Xiaomi's 17 Pro series excels in battery life, performance, photography and other aspects, drawing comparisons with the iPhone 17 series.— Lei Jun, Xiaomi CEO (paraphrased)
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