Xiaomi's Bold Move: Big Batteries and Dual Screens

Xiaomi has launched its new 17 series phones, and they're making waves. The company seems to be taking a page out of Apple's book, but with some unique twists. The standout feature? A second screen on the back of the Pro models. This isn't just a gimmick; it's designed to be useful, offering things like a viewfinder for selfies and music controls. The phones come in three sizes: the standard 17, the 17 Pro, and the 17 Pro Max. The Pro models have a 6. 3-inch and 6. 9-inch display, respectively. Both are powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and have massive batteries—6, 300mAh for the Pro and a whopping 7, 500mAh for the Pro Max. They also support fast charging, both wired and wireless. The cameras are impressive too, with three 50-megapixel shooters on the back. The Pro Max has a larger sensor and a faster aperture for better low-light performance. The standard 17 might not have the second screen, but it's got a bigger battery than the Pro, at 7, 000mAh. Xiaomi is clearly aiming to outdo Apple, even going so far as to compare battery life in a video. They showed the Xiaomi 17 outperforming an iPhone 17 in a video playback test, even with a MagSafe battery attached to the iPhone. It's a bold move, and it'll be interesting to see how it plays out in the real world. The phones are already available for preorder in China, with a full release on September 27th. Prices start at around $630 for the standard 17, going up to $840 for the Pro Max. Xiaomi hasn't announced global release plans yet, but a European launch is likely in the spring.