There’s no escaping that the brand new Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max have rather a lot in frequent with Apple’s newest iPhones. The naming conventions, for one factor, Xiaomi conveniently skipped a 16th model of its telephones and went straight to calling its new one No. 17. To maintain tempo with Apple? I could not probably say.Then there’s the design, with a rear bar that stretches throughout the highest of the telephone’s again, very similar to the digital camera plateau on Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro. Except that Xiaomi’s bar is one thing radically totally different.It’s a second show tucked into every telephone designed to behave as a clock, a notifications panel or a photograph preview for taking selfies with the rear digital camera. It echoes again to the 1.1-inch display screen on the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. I’m undecided precisely what the most effective use is for it, and I do not even know if it is a function I notably need, nevertheless it’s there, and possibly it will be the following huge factor. The Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max run on Android 16 with the corporate’s HyperOS software program working on high. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThe telephones even have a brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, which would be the default chip on most flagship Android telephones going into 2026.Xiaomi took the wraps off its 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max at an occasion in Beijing, and whereas I’ve been capable of get telephones in my hand for early testing, they’re working China-specific software program proper now, that means my expertise with the telephones is restricted. The telephones will get a world launch, seemingly towards the top of the 12 months or early 2026 — maybe throughout CES 2026. Certainly, we anticipate the corporate to unveil the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (the replace to the photography-focused Xiaomi 15 Ultra) at Mobile World Congress in late February.Here’s what struck me concerning the telephone to date.The Xiaomi 17 Pro has 2 shows The rear show may very well be used with a case for a gaming mode of types. XiaomiThe second 2.66-inch display screen on the again of the telephone is definitely the standout addition right here. Dual-screen telephones aren’t distinctive (particularly for those who take into account the outer shows on foldables just like the Galaxy Z Flip vary), however they’re definitely uncommon to see on a candybar telephone like this. Xiaomi says it serves a number of potential functions: It is usually a clock, present incoming notifications and even run video video games. In reality, Xiaomi made a case with recreation controller buttons embedded into the again. Attach it to the telephone, and you need to use the again display screen to play some primary video games. I have never finished this as a result of I can not entry the video games, nevertheless it sounds good in idea. But it additionally appears like a gimmick. The telephone’s foremost display screen will even 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? Andrew Lanxon/CNETThis second show would not actually attraction to me, not less than proper now, although I’m eager to see the way it actually fares once I ultimately spend time with a European mannequin of the telephone. It might nicely show to be a revolution that I merely cannot dwell with out. Or it can proceed to really feel like contrived and added merely to distinguish the telephone from its rivals. Xiaomi 14 Pro has strong camerasI’ve briefly examined the cameras on a brief stroll on an arguably fairly grey day in Glasgow, Scotland. The telephone appears to be like prefer it has two foremost cameras, however actually, it is simply two that matter. There’s a foremost digital camera with a big sensor, a Leica lens and an f/1.6 aperture, and a telephoto digital camera that may obtain 5x optical zoom. On the 17 Pro Max, the telephoto homes a bigger picture sensor and a wider aperture — in order for you higher high quality zoom pictures, that is the one to go for.
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It’s a really grey scene, however the telephone’s foremost digital camera has captured it nicely. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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At 5x optical zoom, pictures look crisp and clear. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Inside Glasgow’s Kelvingrove museum the telephone did an excellent job of capturing a pointy picture within the lower-light of the inside. Andrew Lanxon/CNET This 5x zoom shot is totally razor sharp, regardless of the low gentle situations. Lovely stuff. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThere’s additionally an ultrawide digital camera, nevertheless it’s weirdly housed in a small slit beneath the principle digital camera unit, like a forgotten sibling being pushed out of the household portrait. Still, it took an honest take a look at shot in my fingers on time, and I’m positive it will be positive for snaps.I’ll must take many extra pictures to come back to a verdict about these cameras, however I anticipate them to be usually strong, as Xiaomi’s digital camera telephones are typically. The {hardware} packed into these telephones is greater than able to taking great-looking pictures, although if images is a high precedence for you, I’d advise ready to see what the corporate’s 17 Ultra has in retailer. The Ultra mannequin is the place Xiaomi packs its greatest images tech, and I’ve excessive hopes for the following addition to the road. The Xiaomi 17 Pro has the newest Qualcomm chipQualcomm 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 reality, Qualcomm reckons the chip has 35% higher energy effectivity than its predecessor. Inside this telephone is among the world’s quickest and most effective processors. Andrew Lanxon/CNETBut it is also designed with AI duties in thoughts, so anticipate the worldwide variations to be filled with varied AI instruments, together with the same old Gemini Advanced and Circle to Search from Google. My Chinese mannequin did not have any instruments I used to be capable of totally benefit from, nor was I capable of set up our traditional benchmarks to see how this chip performs towards rivals. I’ll stay up for this at a later date.Look out: large battery insideThe 17 Pro Max mannequin packs a whopping 7,500-mAh battery, one of many greatest cells I’ve seen stuffed inside a telephone. Even with the addition of the second display screen, I’d nonetheless anticipate the telephone to simply final a full day and doubtless a way into the second. The smaller 17 Pro has a 6,300-mAh battery, which can nonetheless seemingly put up fairly the combat. Both telephones help 100-watt wired charging, which can recharge the battery in a really quick period of time, so long as you will have a suitable charger.
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