Xiaomi 17 Series Launches With Leica Cameras, Rear Display

Xiaomi has officially introduced its new flagship 17 series in Beijing, unveiling three models, Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, featuring Leica tuned cameras, secondary rear display, and premium specs to challenge Apple.

All three 17 models are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, marking Xiaomi’s adoption of its latest high-end processor. During the keynote, CEO Lei Jun emphasized the devices’ slim profiles and a sophisticated imaging engine co-developed with Leica to better handle challenging lighting scenarios.

Xiaomi skipped the number 16 for this new series, leaping directly from its 15 line to 17. The base model starts at 4,499 yuan (about US $630), while the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are priced at 4,999 yuan and 5,999 yuan respectively. Notably both Pro variants include a secondary rear display built around the camera island, designed to surface notifications, control music or even act as a live viewfinder for selfies.

On the imaging front, Xiaomi outfits these phones with triple camera systems tuned by Leica. The vanilla Xiaomi 17 model features three 50MP sensors including a main, ultra-wide, and telephoto shooter. The Pro and Pro Max versions enhance the zoom optics and improve light capture in low-light conditions.

Battery and charging specs also receive major upgrades. The Xiaomi 17 carries a 7,000mAh cell, while the 17 Pro is rated at 6,300mAh and the Pro Max at a massive 7,500mAh. All support 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. Software is based on HyperOS 3, built atop Android 16, bringing design flourishes like a HyperIsland feature.

Observers see Xiaomi’s strategy as a direct challenge to Apple’s dominance in the high end. By aligning its numbering and design aesthetics with the iPhone 17 family, Xiaomi appears to be courting comparisons. However, the company has denied that the skip of “16” was merely to mirror Apple’s series.