There is not any escaping that the brand new Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max have quite a bit in widespread with Apple’s newest iPhones. The naming conventions, for one factor, Xiaomi conveniently skipped a sixteenth model of its telephones and went straight to calling its new one No. 17. To maintain tempo with Apple? I could not presumably say.
Then there’s the design, with a rear bar that stretches throughout the highest of the cellphone’s again, very similar to the digicam plateau on Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro. Besides that Xiaomi’s bar is one thing radically totally different.
It is a second show tucked into every cellphone designed to behave as a clock, a notifications panel or a photograph preview for taking selfies with the rear digicam. It echoes again to the 1.1-inch display on the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. I am undecided precisely what one of the best use is for it, and I do not even know if it is a function I notably need, however it’s there, and possibly it’s going to be the following large factor.
The Xiaomi 17 Professional and 17 Professional Max run on Android 16 with the corporate’s HyperOS software program operating on prime.
The telephones even have a brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, which would be the default chip on most flagship Android phones going into 2026.
Xiaomi took the wraps off its 17 Professional and 17 Professional Max at an occasion in Beijing, and whereas I have been in a position to get telephones in my hand for early testing, they’re operating China-specific software program proper now, which means my expertise with the telephones is restricted. The telephones will get a world launch, doubtless towards the tip of the yr or early 2026 — maybe throughout CES 2026. Definitely, we count on the corporate to unveil the Xiaomi 17 Extremely (the replace to the photography-focused Xiaomi 15 Ultra) at Cell World Congress in late February.
This is what struck me in regards to the cellphone to date.
The Xiaomi 17 Professional has 2 shows
The rear show could possibly be used with a case for a gaming mode of types.
The second 2.66-inch display on the again of the cellphone is definitely the standout addition right here. Twin-screen telephones aren’t distinctive (particularly if you happen to think about the outer shows on foldables just like the Galaxy Z Flip vary), however they’re definitely uncommon to see on a candybar cellphone like this. Xiaomi says it serves a number of potential functions: It may be a clock, present incoming notifications and even run video video games.
In truth, Xiaomi made a case with recreation controller buttons embedded into the again. Connect it to the cellphone, and you need to use the again display to play some fundamental video games. I have not executed this as a result of I am unable to entry the video games, however it sounds good in concept. Nevertheless it additionally seems like a gimmick. The cellphone’s primary display may also present me notifications, a clock and let me play precise cellular video games on it.
Is Xiaomi’s second show an innovation or simply for the birds?
This second show would not actually enchantment to me, at the least proper now, although I am eager to see the way it actually fares once I finally spend time with a European mannequin of the cellphone. It could nicely show to be a revolution that I merely cannot reside with out. Or it can proceed to really feel like contrived and added merely to distinguish the cellphone from its rivals.
Xiaomi 14 Professional has strong cameras
I’ve briefly examined the cameras on a brief stroll on an arguably fairly grey day in Glasgow, Scotland. The cellphone seems prefer it has two primary cameras, however actually, it is simply two that matter. There is a primary digicam with a big sensor, a Leica lens and an f/1.6 aperture, and a telephoto digicam that may obtain 5x optical zoom. On the 17 Professional Max, the telephoto homes a bigger picture sensor and a wider aperture — if you’d like higher high quality zoom pictures, that is the one to go for.
It is a very grey scene, however the cellphone’s primary digicam has captured it nicely.
At 5x optical zoom, pictures look crisp and clear.
Inside Glasgow’s Kelvingrove museum the cellphone did a great job of capturing a pointy picture within the lower-light of the inside.
This 5x zoom shot is completely razor sharp, regardless of the low gentle circumstances. Beautiful stuff.
There’s additionally an ultrawide digicam, however it’s weirdly housed in a small slit beneath the principle digicam unit, like a forgotten sibling being pushed out of the household portrait. Nonetheless, it took an honest check shot in my arms on time, and I am positive it’s going to be advantageous for snaps.
I will have to take many extra pictures to come back to a verdict about these cameras, however I count on them to be typically strong, as Xiaomi’s camera phones are usually. The {hardware} packed into these telephones is greater than able to taking great-looking pictures, although if pictures is a prime precedence for you, I might advise ready to see what the corporate’s 17 Extremely has in retailer. The Extremely mannequin is the place Xiaomi packs its finest pictures tech, and I’ve excessive hopes for the following addition to the road.
The Xiaomi 17 Professional has the most recent Qualcomm chip
Qualcomm has simply revealed its newest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, which is already stuffed inside Xiaomi’s newest telephones. The chip is predicted to be a powerhouse for CPU-related duties and gaming whereas additionally being extra power-efficient. In truth, Qualcomm reckons the chip has 35% higher energy effectivity than its predecessor.
Inside this cellphone is likely one of the world’s quickest and most effective processors.
Nevertheless it’s additionally designed with AI duties in thoughts, so count on the worldwide variations to be filled with numerous AI instruments, together with the same old Gemini Superior and Circle to Search from Google. My Chinese language mannequin did not have any instruments I used to be in a position to totally reap the benefits of, nor was I in a position to set up our normal benchmarks to see how this chip performs in opposition to rivals. I will sit up for this at a later date.
Look out: large battery inside
The 17 Professional Max mannequin packs a whopping 7,500-mAh battery, one of many largest cells I’ve seen stuffed inside a cellphone. Even with the addition of the second display, I might nonetheless count on the cellphone to simply final a full day and possibly a way into the second. The smaller 17 Professional has a 6,300-mAh battery, which is able to nonetheless doubtless put up fairly the battle.
Each telephones help 100-watt wired charging, which is able to recharge the battery in a really quick period of time, so long as you’ve a appropriate charger.
