Xiaomi is getting ready to launch its next flagship smartphones, but there is a twist this time. The company has skipped the Xiaomi 16 Series altogether and jumped straight to the Xiaomi 17 Series. The reason? To better align with Apple, which will soon release the iPhone 17.
This move is not surprising. Chinese smartphone brands have always looked closely at Apple’s strategy, and Xiaomi seems to be following the same playbook. Even the naming has been adjusted. The “Ultra” model is now called “Pro Max,” which is exactly how Apple labels its high-end iPhones.
But Xiaomi says this is more than just a name change. On Weibo, the company called the Xiaomi 17 lineup its “most significant leap forward.” The phones will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest and most powerful chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, promising a major performance upgrade. Despite the improvements, the starting price is expected to remain the same as the Xiaomi 15: around 4,499 CNY ($630).
Leaks also suggest that Xiaomi is experimenting with bold new features. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is rumored to include a rear display built into the camera module. This small screen could be used to check notifications or control music without flipping the phone. The renders also show a triple-camera setup, including what looks like an ultra-wide lens below the main sensor.
