Xiaomi 17 Pro Max hands-on review
Is the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max the ultimate flagship of 2025? Our hands-on review explores its groundbreaking dual-screen design, massive 7500mAh battery, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 power, and all-new 50MP camera system. Get our first impressions now.
Xiaomi is making a bold statement with its latest flagship lineup, skipping the number 16 entirely and jumping straight to the Xiaomi 17 series. This move signals a direct challenge to its main competitors, and the design of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max certainly echoes this ambition. However, Xiaomi has added a game-changing twist that sets its device apart: a stunning secondary OLED screen on the back. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen such an innovation—the Xiaomi 11 Ultra from 2021 featured a similar concept. But the implementation on the 17 Pro Max is on another level. This new secondary display is larger at 2.9 inches, significantly brighter with a peak of 3,500 nits, and shares the same fluid 120Hz refresh rate as the main screen, making it far more functional and impressive.
Beyond its dual-screen design, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is packed with cutting-edge technology. It is one of the first phones to launch with the brand-new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, features a massive 7,500mAh battery, and boasts significant upgrades across its camera system, including a new 50MP selfie camera with autofocus.
It is important to note that our review unit was sourced from China, as Xiaomi has not yet announced its global release plans. Specifications and features may differ in international models, and we will conduct a separate review if and when a global version becomes available.
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max specs at a glance:
- Body: $162.9 \times 77.6 \times 8.0$ mm, 219g; Glass front (Dragon Crystal Glass 3), aluminum frame; IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 6m for 30 min).
- Display: Main: $6.90″$ LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 2160Hz PWM, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, HDR10+, 3500 nits (peak), $1200 \times 2608$px resolution, 19.56:9 aspect ratio, 416ppi; Secondary: $2.9″$ LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, HDR10+, 3500 nits (peak), $596 \times 976$ pixels.
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm): Octa-core (2×4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6×3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M); Adreno 840.
- Memory: 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM; UFS 4.1.
- OS/Software: Android 16, HyperOS 3.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm, 1/1.28″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS; Telephoto: 50 MP, f/2.6, 115mm, 1/2.0″, PDAF (30cm – ∞), OIS, 5x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle: 50 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 102˚, 1/2.76″, 0.64µm, PDAF.
- Front camera: 50 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (wide), PDAF.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 8K@30fps (HDR), 4K@30/60/120fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS.
- Battery: 7500mAh; 100W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 100W PPS, 50W wireless, 22.5W reverse wireless.
- Connectivity: 5G; Wi-Fi 7; BT 5.4, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC 5; NFC; Infrared port.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, ultrasonic); stereo speakers (with Dolby Atmos); Ultra Wideband (UWB) support.
Design and build
The design of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max bears a striking resemblance to its Apple counterpart, and the two devices feel remarkably similar in the hand. This is due not only to their nearly identical dimensions but also to the premium materials and construction Xiaomi has employed. The device features a modern flat-sided aluminum frame, but with subtle curves where the glass meets the metal, ensuring a comfortable and seamless grip.
The front is protected by Xiaomi’s durable Dragon Crystal Glass 3, while the back is also made of glass. A key advantage for Xiaomi is its superior water and dust resistance, with an IP68 rating certified for submersion in up to 6 meters of water for 30 minutes—a notable improvement over many competitors.
Aside from the prominent secondary display, the overall design language is arguably cleaner and more symmetrical than its rivals. The camera module is large but well-proportioned and less obtrusive, contributing to a sleek and sophisticated aesthetic that feels both premium and thoughtfully engineered.
Secondary screen
The standout feature of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is undoubtedly its secondary rear display. This isn’t just a gimmick; it’s a fully functional 2.9-inch touchscreen that supports a growing ecosystem of widgets and third-party app integrations. For example, you can glance at your ride-sharing information, control your Spotify playlist, or view contextual information like timers, notifications, and fitness stats without ever turning the phone over.
Currently, as the phone is only available in China, third-party support is largely limited to Chinese applications, with Spotify being a notable exception for western users. However, the native functionality is already robust and useful.
Arguably its most compelling use case is as a high-quality viewfinder for the rear cameras. Xiaomi has implemented a fully-featured camera interface on the secondary screen, complete with zoom controls and settings. This allows you to take selfies using the far superior main and telephoto lenses, resulting in unparalleled image quality, especially in challenging low-light conditions. It also allows your subjects to see themselves while you take their picture, making for a more engaging portrait experience.
Camera hardware and photo samples
The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max features a powerful and versatile triple 50MP camera system, with several key upgrades over the previous generation.
- Wide (main): 50MP Light Fusion 950L, f/1.7, 1/1.28″, OIS
- Telephoto 5x: 50MP Samsung ISOCELL (S5K)GN8, f/2.6, 1/1.95″, OIS
- Ultra wide angle: 50MP OmniVision OV50M40, f/2.4, PDAF
- Front camera: 50MP OmniVision OV50M40, f/2.2, PDAF
The main camera utilizes a new, slightly larger 1/1.28″ custom sensor called the Light Fusion 950L, paired with a premium Leica Summilux lens. The 5x telephoto camera has been redesigned to accommodate a larger 1/2.0″ sensor, though its minimum focusing distance has increased to 30cm. The 50MP ultrawide camera now features a narrower 104-degree field of view but critically includes autofocus, enabling sharp close-up shots.
The most significant upgrade, however, is the new 50MP front-facing camera with autofocus, a long-overdue replacement for the old 32MP sensor. Of course, with the secondary screen, you can use the even more powerful rear cameras for selfies.
Early verdict
Xiaomi is showcasing immense confidence with the 17 Pro Max, launching a device that isn’t afraid to experiment and innovate. The reintroduction of a secondary display is a bold move, and this time, it feels incredibly well-executed and genuinely useful. It’s a feature that Xiaomi has reportedly committed to for future generations, signaling its potential.
But the rear screen is just one part of an incredibly compelling package. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is filled to the brim with top-tier hardware, including a massive and brilliant main display, the formidable Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, a colossal 7,500 mAh battery with ultra-fast charging, and a highly capable and versatile camera system.
The biggest questions that remain are its final price and the extent of third-party app support if and when the phone launches globally. For now, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max stands as a tantalizing glimpse into the future of flagship smartphones, and we are eager to put it through its paces in our full, comprehensive review. Stay tuned.
