Xiaomi has confirmed that its next flagship smartphones will be branded as the Xiaomi 17 series, skipping the “16” lineup entirely.
The move is designed to position Xiaomi directly against Apple’s iPhone 17 series, indicating a head-to-head battle in the premium smartphone market.
In a post on Weibo, Xiaomi president Lu Weibing announced that the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max will launch in China later this month, with a global rollout expected afterward. This appears to be one of Xiaomi’s most aggressive flagship strategies to date.
First Phones With Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
The Xiaomi 17 series will be the first smartphones powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the company’s most advanced chipset yet.
Qualcomm says the “Elite” branding is reserved for products that push the limits of performance, capability, and innovation. Future mobile platforms will also adopt the Gen 5 architecture.
Weibing confirmed that the base Xiaomi 17 will deliver “several improvements” while keeping the same entry price as the Xiaomi 15, which launched at CNY 4,499 (~KES 81,700) in China.
Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max Flagships
Xiaomi 17 Pro is being marketed as Xiaomi’s most powerful compact imaging flagship, with improvements in camera hardware and AI-driven photography features.
Meanhwile, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max has been touted as the brand’s most powerful flagship ever, with expectations to rival Apple’s top-end iPhone 17 Pro Max.
As expected, the announcement has drawn divided reactions online. Some users on Reddit and Weibo called the naming decision “confusing” or “embarrassing,” while others defended Xiaomi’s strategy, remarking its strong sales in China.
A recurring debate also surfaced around copying Apple with Xiaomi adopting the “Pro Max” naming convention. On the other hand, some argue that Apple has borrowed from Xiaomi’s design language.
Despite the concerns raised online, excitement remains high for the Xiaomi 17 series launch, especially since it will be the first real-world showcase of Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance.
