Xiaomi 17 Pro Max Hands-On: The iPhone 17 Rival With a Hidden Screen on the Back!

Introduction

Xiaomi has officially jumped from 15 straight to 17, skipping 16 entirely — and it’s clear why. The Xiaomi 17 series is designed to go head-to-head with Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 lineup.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max takes things up a notch with one standout feature — a secondary OLED display right next to its camera setup.

If that sounds familiar, Xiaomi tried it before with the Mi 11 Ultra. But this time, it’s bigger, brighter, and far more useful.

Both the main and rear screens feature 120Hz refresh rates and a peak brightness of 3,500 nits. According to Xiaomi, it’s one of the brightest displays on any smartphone right now.

This hands-on is based on a Chinese retail unit. The global version may see small changes when it launches later.

Key Specifications

• Display: 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3500 nits
• Rear Display: 2.9-inch OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm)
• RAM & Storage: Up to 16GB RAM / 1TB storage (UFS 4.1)
• Rear Cameras: 50MP (main) + 50MP (5x zoom) + 50MP (ultrawide, AF)
• Front Camera: 50MP with autofocus
• Battery: 7,500mAh, 100W wired, 50W wireless
• OS: Android 16 with HyperOS 3
• Water Resistance: IP68 (up to 6m for 30 min)
• Estimated Price: ~€720

Design

At first glance, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max looks almost identical to the iPhone 17 Pro Max — and that’s not a coincidence.

The phone has a flat aluminum frame, premium glass design, and an ultraclean aesthetic. But what Apple doesn’t have is Xiaomi’s secondary OLED screen on the back — a stylish and functional upgrade.

Build quality is excellent with Dragon Crystal Glass 3 protection on the front. It’s also IP68-certified, capable of surviving up to 6 meters underwater for 30 minutes — slightly better than the non-Max variant.

Display

That rear display isn’t just for show. It’s a fully functional touchscreen with widgets and limited app support.

You can check notifications, control music (Spotify works!), see taxi details, set timers, or read notes — all without touching the main screen.

Currently, third-party support is limited to Chinese apps, but Xiaomi is expected to expand compatibility if it launches globally. Even so, system widgets already make the rear screen genuinely useful.

Battery Life

Powering the device is a massive 7,500mAh battery, the biggest ever on a Xiaomi flagship.

That’s almost tablet-level capacity — expect multi-day battery life with moderate use.

Charging Speed

Charging is insanely fast. The 100W wired and 50W wireless charging combo means you can go from 0 to 100% in under 30 minutes.

It even supports 22.5W reverse wireless charging, so you can power up accessories or another phone on the go.

Camera

The camera system has been fine-tuned this year. The main 50MP Light Fusion 950L sensor is larger for improved low-light performance.

The 5x telephoto lens now features a 1/2-inch sensor, while the 50MP ultrawide camera supports autofocus for macro-style close-ups.

You can even use the zoom lens for detailed short-distance shots — though it’s not true telemacro level.

Up front, Xiaomi finally replaces its old 32MP selfie camera with a new 50MP sensor with autofocus — a big and much-needed improvement.

Verdict

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max proves that Xiaomi isn’t afraid to experiment. The rear OLED display may seem like a gimmick, but this time, it feels genuinely useful.

Combined with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, huge 7,500mAh battery, fast charging, and Leica-tuned triple cameras, this device is a true powerhouse.

The only question is when Xiaomi will launch it globally — and how well that rear screen will integrate with international apps.

For now, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is a China-exclusive, but it’s easily one of 2025’s most exciting Android flagships.

Stay tuned for our full review, where we’ll test its real-world performance and camera results.