Xiaomi 17 vs iPhone 17: Price, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Dual Displays, Cameras & Battery Compared

Xiaomi has thrown down the gauntlet in the premium smartphone arena. With the launch of the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max on September 25 in China, the company has made its intentions crystal clear: it’s coming straight for Apple’s iPhone 17 series.

And Xiaomi isn’t holding back—these new flagships bring dual displays, Leica-backed cameras, mammoth batteries, and Qualcomm’s brand-new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, all while undercutting Apple’s pricing by a wide margin.

Price War: Xiaomi Undercuts iPhone 17

The Xiaomi 17 series starts at 4,499 yuan (around $631)—that’s more than $100 cheaper than the iPhone 17 base model. This aggressive pricing is Xiaomi’s biggest weapon in luring premium buyers who want flagship performance without the Apple tax.

Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, during the launch event, openly compared the 17 series to Apple’s latest lineup, emphasizing not just cost savings but innovation, performance, and design flair as areas where Xiaomi is ready to compete head-on.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: Next-Level Performance

Both the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. From high-octane gaming and AI-driven features to multitasking and pro-grade photography, this silicon ensures the 17 series plays in the big leagues.

Xiaomi 17 Pro: 6.3-inch LTPO display, 1–120Hz refresh rate, 12-bit color, 3,500 nits peak brightness.

Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch immersive display with the same tech for users who crave a massive screen.

Both models: Secondary rear display for main-camera selfies, quick notifications, music control, countdowns, and even retro gaming.

Leica Cameras: Photography Gets Serious

Photography lovers will appreciate Xiaomi’s tie-up with Leica.

50MP main camera with Summilux lenses + optical image stabilization.

Periscope telephoto with up to 5x optical zoom.

Ultra-wide and 50MP selfie shooters upgraded for crystal clarity.

Pro Max advantage: Bigger telephoto sensor for stronger low-light shots (but slightly weaker macro range than the Pro).

Both models are IP68 water & dust resistant—with the Pro surviving up to 4 meters and the Pro Max up to 6 meters underwater.

Battery & Charging: Built for Power Users

Xiaomi is flexing battery dominance:

Xiaomi 17 Pro → 6,300mAh

Xiaomi 17 Pro Max → 7,500mAh

Both support: 100W wired, 50W wireless, 22.5W reverse charging

Surge G2 battery chip ensures long-term performance even after thousands of cycles.

This combo makes the 17 series ideal for gamers, content creators, and power users who hate carrying chargers everywhere.

Why This Matters

By launching right after Apple’s iPhone 17 reveal, Xiaomi is sending a loud message: it’s no longer just a challenger—it’s a serious contender in the global premium market.

With:

✅ Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 power

✅ Dual-display design

✅ Leica cameras

✅ Huge batteries

✅ Aggressive pricing

…the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max are not just cheaper alternatives to the iPhone 17—they’re bold statements of innovation aimed at winning over China’s premium smartphone buyers, and possibly, the world.