Xiaomi isn’t content to stay in second place in the smartphone industry. By jumping straight from the 15 series to the 17 series, the company is telegraphing its ambitions to go head-to-head with Apple’s flagship lineup. The result? Notably, pre-order numbers have reportedly doubled over the previous model. Interest in the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max has been intense – initial feedback marks it as the company’s most technologically advanced release yet. Both consumers and industry observers are intrigued, and the conversation is now centered around how the 17 Pro Max compares not only to its predecessor, but also to Apple’s new offerings.
Innovation-Driven Design: Magic Back Screen Answers in a New Era
During a recent Weibo livestream, Xiaomi CEO Lu Weibing made one thing clear: Xiaomi doesn’t just want to follow, but to set itself apart. He directly compared the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max to Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max, highlighting the strategic design choices. The new Magic Back Screen—a secondary display near the camera array—is a significant step up from the rear display first seen on the Mi 11 Ultra. The additional functionality extends beyond aesthetics, giving users the ability to use the main camera to take high-quality selfies, scan notifications at a glance, and use widgets—without activating the main screen.
Pushing this innovation into production wasn’t easy; more than a billion yuan (about $130 million) was spent on research and development for this feature alone. Internal engineering advances, such as an L-shaped battery to optimize space, have enabled Xiaomi to deliver a truly unique device. The result: a flagship phone with an attractive combination of design and functionality that further underscores the company’s commitment to market leadership.
