Xiaomi’s Newest Phone Sports a Rear Display and Skips a Number to Take Aim at iPhone 17

Following the recent announcement of the iPhone 17, Xiaomi has opted to skip the number 16 altogether in an effort to keep generational parity with its Xiaomi 17 lineup. But the Chinese smartphone manufacturer’s new devices are doing more than simply bucking naming conventions.

The Xiaomi 17 family consists of three powerhouse flagships that feature the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, beefy battery capacity (more on that below), and exceedingly narrow bezels. But it’s the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max that really stand out in a sea of smartphones that often blur together, largely thanks to a smaller screen on the back of the device that the company calls the Dynamic Back Display.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max aren’t the first smartphones to adopt a rear display, but they seem to truly dial in the unique advantages this feature can offer. The company promises the Dynamic Back Display can be used for “customizable watch faces, AI wallpapers, virtual pets, dynamic information notifications, sticky notes, and so much more.” It can even be used to preview selfies or be turned into a retro gaming handheld using the Retro Handheld Console Case (sold separately).

The Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max series also introduce the industry’s first L-shaped battery, which maximizes the use of internal space to provide some impressive capacity. The base model comes packing a 7,000mAh battery, while the Pro and Pro Max versions pack 6,300mAh and 7,500mAh batteries, respectively. Sweetening the deal further, the Pro models even allow for up to 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.

While it’s yet to be seen if Xiaomi 17 series’ creative design and naming switcheroo will help it make further gains on Apple’s iPhone family of smartphones, it’s looking to offer quite a treat for smartphone enthusiasts with an eye for quirky and interesting new tech.

Unfortunately, the Xiaomi 17 lineup is only available in Chinese markets for now, though a global version of the phone is likely to land sometime early next year.