The Xiaomi 15 series received high praise this year, but anticipation now turns towards the upcoming Xiaomi 17 series. Expected to debut in late September in China, followed by a global launch in early 2026, the Xiaomi 17 lineup is set to bring a host of upgrades across various aspects such as screen, cameras, battery, charging, and even the introduction of a rear display on select models.
The Xiaomi 15 series arrived this year to rave reviews, but, as usual in the world of phones, thoughts and eyes turn to what the next models will bring. That will be the Xiaomi 17 series, of course, and there possibly isn’t too long to wait until we see them officially, though this will just be their initial launch in China. At least, this is what we initially expected.
If you’re a bit confused about the sudden name change, let us explain. In a twist that none of us saw coming, Xiaomi has decided to skip the Xiaomi 16 range entirely, instead bestowing its newly announced set of smartphones with a higher Xiaomi 17 moniker.
Given that Apple just unveiled the iPhone 17 range, it does feel like a bit of a shameless attempt to keep up with the same naming conventions of the tech giant, even though the numbers have been going up normally for a few years now.
Xiaomi has also confirmed the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max as the high-end model (normally called Ultra) which is exactly what Apple’s top iPhone is named. There will also be a regular Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Pro so all the company needs is a Xiaomi 17 Air to round out the quadruple.
Naming conventions aside, these are among Tech Advisor’s favourite phones outside of Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy and there are big shoes to fill. However, the Xiaomi 17 series is shaping up nicely, with various upgrades being rumoured from cameras to big batteries.
Here’s everything we know so far about the Xiaomi 17 phones from rumours, leaks, with our expert analysis and predictions.
Latest Xiaomi 17 rumours
The latest rumours suggest Xiaomi could launch a new 16 Pro Max model and introduce an innovation camera technology for continuous optical zoom.
When will the Xiaomi 17 series be released?
Unlike the last two sets of Xiaomi phones, which saw last year’s crop unveiled in October 2024 and the previous range unveiled in November 2023, Xiaomi is bringing the debut of its latest flagship handsets forward even further, with the latest rumours now pointing towards an official September announcement.
This has been confirmed on Weibo by Lu Weibing, President of Xiaomi who said “The all-new Xiaomi 17 series will be released this month. This will mark the most significant leap forward in Xiaomi’s digital phone lineup, launching a month earlier than the previous generation.”
Adding that “The Xiaomi 17 series includes three devices: the Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Pro, and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max.”
He even gave a summary of each and confirmed that they will be the world’s first phones with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.
Xiaomi 17 – “the most powerful standard flagship ever, featuring a comprehensive upgrade without increasing price.”
Xiaomi 17 Pro – “Xiaomi’s most sophisticated compact imaging flagship”
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max – “Xiaomi’s most powerful flagship in the industry.”
Even though the reveal is happening sooner than before, there’s no word yet on Xiaomi bucking its typical release schedule of having its phones debut in China shortly after being announced, with a global release pencilled in for the first few months of the following year. With that in mind, Xiaomi fans in the UK could still be waiting until February/March 2026 before getting their hands on one of the new Xiaomi 17 devices.
Tech Advisor attended both launch events for the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 15 series at MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona, typically held at the end of February/early March.
It would seem reasonable, then, that this is when we can expect the global launch of the Xiaomi 17, too.
In 2026, MWC is due to take place from 2-5 March, so that would place Xiaomi’s launch event on 1 March, the day before the show starts, which is the typical strategy.
Source: Weibo
How much will the Xiaomi 17 series cost?
We’ll have to wait for the Xiaomi 17 launch for full pricing, and even then, the global pricing will likely differ from the Chinese figures converted.
What we do know, as mentioned above, is that the regular Xiaomi 17 won’t get a price increase via Lu Weibing’s comments. So in the UK, the series will start at £899.
However, we can estimate the cost based on previous models and the competition.
Here’s a look at the expected price range for the Chinese market with conversions:
Xiaomi 17: Starting from around CNY 4,500 (£515/$630).
Xiaomi 17 Pro: Around CNY 5,300 (£600/$740).
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: Likely starting at CNY 6,500 (£730/$910).
For global pricing, we expect similar pricing. Here are approximate global prices based on previous launches:
Xiaomi 17: £899/€999
Xiaomi 17 Pro: £1,099/€1,299 (if it launches)
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: £1,299/€1,499
Will we get the Xiaomi 17 Pro?
One of the questions, as ever, is whether we will get the Xiaomi 17 Pro model in the UK and Europe. Going by previous years, the answer is no, but we’re still hoping that Xiaomi changes its mind on this and provides more choice. This might be wishful thinking, however.
Here are the global launch prices of previous generations:
What specs and features will the Xiaomi 17 series have?
Most rumours about the Xiaomi 17 series so far relate to the regular model, including upgrades to the screen, battery and charging. There’s also a leaked render showing a possible two-tone design.
Some of these upgrades, including a new Snapdragon processor, will apply to the Ultra model as well. Details on this model are thin on the ground, but we’ll keep an eye out going forward.
Another interesting element is the notion of a new ‘Pro Max’ model, which would mimic the typical iPhone naming pattern. This comes via Digital Chat Station who mentioned it in the comments of a post talking about the design and sizes of the phones. However, it’s possible Xiaomi is simply replacing the Ultra with the Pro Max.
Forget the Galaxy S25 Edge – Xiaomi knows what I want from a small phone
Design
The Xiaomi 17 series could maintain the sleek and premium design of its predecessors, featuring ultra-thin bezels and quad-curved edges.
The introduction of a periscope telephoto camera on the standard Xiaomi 17 is a notable rumour, potentially elevating its design to compete with flagship rivals like the Vivo X200 and Oppo Find X8.
The render below shows a possible two-tone design for the Xiaomi 17, but it’s early days for such a render, so we’ll take this with a pinch of salt. It could also be just one of many finishes that Xiaomi offers, as it’s not like many rivals, where it’s simply colours that change.
The design looks like it could be a metal uni-body similar to the OnePlus Nord 4, but this would mean wireless charging isn’t possible so that feels an unlikely move.
Materials such as Dragon Crystal Glass are expected to be durable, along with IP68 water and dust resistance. The Pro and Ultra models may offer unique finishes, including leather textures or metal frames for a premium look.
Whether we get all the colourways in the UK and Europe is another question. The options are typically more limited compared to China.
The Ultra (now Pro Max) and Pro are likely to come with an updated design, featuring a more iPhone 17-style camera module. The big news here is that both phones are tipped to get a display on the back, similar to the small cover screens on flip phones. More on this in the next section.
We also hope Xiaomi keeps the optional Photography Kit to stand out from other photography-focused phones once again.
However, the source mentioned above suggesting there might be a Pro Max model includes a selection of camera module designs which look very different to previous Xiaomi flagships.
They look far more like iPhone camera modules and are tipped for the Pro series, which doesn’t normally launch in the UK.
Sources: Weibo | Maijinbu Official
Display
While the jury is still out on the other two phones, a recent Xiaomi 17 leak seems to all but confirm that a 6.3-inch LPTO OLED display is on the horizon, but what’s more impressive is that it’s reported to pack a 1.5K resolution.
This could be a huge win for anyone who likes to watch a bit of Netflix or Disney+ on their phone, as it’ll allow the handset to depict greater detail than before, allowing for a more eye-catching experience.
Another key upgrade is rumoured, as it might have the best PWM dimming (or related eye-preserving technology) in its size class. It could go above the 1920Hz PWM Dimming at low brightness feature of the Xiaomi 15, with the potential for 3200 nits of peak brightness as well.
The Pro and Ultra variants may step up to a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display with a 1440p resolution and adaptive refresh rates for smoother performance.
One of the biggest rumours – the inclusion of a secondary display on the back of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max – has now been confirmed. While it’s easy to imagine the usefulness of a secondary display when it comes to taking pictures, it’s clear that Xiaomi has a few plans for the concept beyond smartphone photography.
From the glimpse that we’ve seen of this secondary display in action, it appears as if you can also use it to house a digital clock, which makes us think that it could also be used to display incoming notifications when you have the phone placed on a table with its main screen faced down.
In this way, the secondary display could function in a similar fashion to external displays on recent flip phones – giving users the chance to see important information at a glance but without becoming completely distracted and indulging in a session of mindless doomscrolling.
Bear in mind that at the time of writing, the secondary display has only been confirmed for both the 17 Pro and the 17 Pro Max, so one has to imagine that the feature will not be making its way to the more entry-level Xiaomi 17.
Sources: Smart Pikachu | Smart Pikachu (2) | GSMArena | GizmoChina | Ice Universe
Performance
The Xiaomi 17 series is expected to debut the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset (not named the Elite 2 or Gen 2 as expected), which Qualcomm is set to unveil in September.
It has essentially been confirmed by way of comments from the Qualcomm CEO, stating that Xiaomi will be “the first OEM to launch with our next Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.” And then more recently by Xiaomi’s President on Weibo.
This powerful processor should deliver significant performance improvements, coupled with 12- or 16GB of RAM and UFS 4.0 storage options ranging from 256GB to 1TB.
Cameras
A standout rumour is the inclusion of periscope telephoto cameras across the entire Xiaomi 17 lineup. This would help it compete with the regular Pixel 10, which is set to get a telephoto for the first time.
The Xiaomi 17 is expected to feature a 50Mp triple-camera setup, including a main sensor, an ultrawide camera, and the newly added periscope telephoto lens. This represents a significant upgrade over its predecessor.
The Pro version is said to benefit from Leica’s camera tuning expertise, with a 5x optical zoom capability and enhanced computational photography features. The Pro Max/Ultra model is expected to push the boundaries further with a 1-inch main sensor and a 200Mp periscope telephoto camera offering 4.3x magnification.
While it would seem a reasonable bet to predict the 16 Pro Max/Ultra will stick to four rear cameras, a leak now suggests the phone will drop one camera in order to focus on quality and not quantity.
Instead of two cameras for ultrawide and mid-range optical zoom, the company will reportedly opt for an “extremely capable third camera”, though the specs are currently unknown. An interesting leak suggests the Pro Max will come with a significant photography innovation – continuous optical zoom. It’s also thought that the telephoto camera will share the same CMOS sensor, which would result in smoother transitions between focal lengths.
The most recent camera leaks have all but confirmed the upcoming specs for the XiaomI 17 Pro. The mid-way handset is expected to have a 50Mp f/1.67 main camera alongside a f/3.0, 115mm telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. The ultra-wide on the other hand will have a 17mm focal length, but there’s no word yet on the megapixel count.
One big surprise that we weren’t expecting was the return of Xiaomi’s secondary display, last seen on the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. Unlike how the concept was implemented several years back on the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, the display is now woven seamlessly into the camera bump, with the sensor being the only part that cuts into what we see on the screen. It’s not too similar to the external display of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7.
Having a secondary display that covers the width of the phone could end up being a game changer, and it’s hard to imagine wanting to use the selfie camera ever again when you could simply turn the phone around and enjoy much higher quality shots from these rear-facing sensors.
Based on initial rumours, it seemed as though the previous 32Mp selfie camera would be receiving a key update across all three phones, but that’s no longer the case. While the jury is still out on the 16 Pro and the 16 Pro Max, the latest information suggests that the Xiaomi 17 will stick with having a 32Mp front-facing camera, so if you do want a better selfie experience that can better match all of the upgrades Apple recently brought to the iPhone 17 range, you may want to opt for one of the pricier options in this range.
Xiaomi’s collaboration with Leica on imaging will continue, as confirmed by CEO Lei Jun, who said, “Xiaomi and Leica have been and will continue to be close partners. I am very confident that Xiaomi 16 Ultra will be a new height of mobile imaging, so stay tuned.”
Sources: Weibo (since deleted) | Weibo (2) | Smartprix | Digital Chat Station via Weibo | GSMArena
Battery & Charging
This is an area where the Xiaomi 17 could get a huge upgrade, compared to both its predecessor and rivals.
It seems the battery size will increase, though rumours suggest both 6800- and 7000mAh capacities. Just note that Chinese models often get a downsized battery for the global version.
The Xiaomi 15, for example, was 5400mAh in China but 5240mAh elsewhere.
This could still be in a “light and thin body”, suggesting Xiaomi will utilise silicon-carbon technology here. This would make it 75% larger than the Galaxy S25, which is a little mindblowing.
Charging is also set to improve with possible 100W wired charging, up from an already impressive 90W.
Various battery sizes are flying around, with one reliable leaker saying the 16 Ultra will be limited to 7000mAh, but there’s also talk of a 7500mAh cell, which then could be found inside the possible 16 Pro Max model.
Sources: Smart Pikachu | Digital Chat Station (2) | Wiebo
Software
The Xiaomi 17 series will likely run on HyperOS 3, based on Android 16. This software promises enhanced performance, seamless device integration, and AI-driven features.
What exactly it will feature remains to be seen, but Tech Advisor hopes it continues to get cleaned up, less cluttered and more intuitive.
That’s all we know about the Xiaomi 17 series of phones so far, but we’ll update this article when more news drops, leaks or official, in the weeks and months leading up to the launch.
In the meantime, see our guides to the best phones and the best Xiaomi phones to see what the Xiaomi 17 series will be up against.
