Xiaomi 16 will never exist. Instead, 17 will come, and the improvements will be truly massive.

Xiaomi has prepared quite a surprise. Instead of the expected 16 series, they will jump straight to the seventeen, so they can directly compete with iPhone 17. Company president Lu Weibing confirmed this on the Weibo social network, stating that the premiere will take place later this month.

Skipped Number and Marketing Ploy

The decision to skip the sixteen is not just any decision. Xiaomi wants to be in the same numerical series as Apple, which makes sense especially in the domestic Chinese market, where customers often decide based on which number sounds “newer”.

The trio of new models – Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max – have clearly defined roles. The basic seventeen targets those who want flagship performance without compromise at a reasonable price. The Pro model is intended to be the most powerful compact photo flagship, and the Pro Max simply the most powerful phone of the brand, excluding the Ultra model, which will be revealed later.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 as the World’s First

All three models will be the very first phones on the market to receive the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. The base model is expected to feature a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display with 1.5K resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate.

However, the biggest wow factor will be the battery. Xiaomi 17 will get a full 7,000 mAh. This is a jump of over 30 percent, which should ensure comfortable two-day endurance even with demanding use. Charging will remain fast – 100W wired and 50W wireless.

Return of the Secondary Display After Four Years

According to leaked photos, the top-tier Pro Max model is expected to bring something we last saw on the Xiaomi 11 Ultra from 2021 – a second display on the back next to the cameras. Back then, it was a 1.1-inch AMOLED panel that served for camera preview, time display, or music control.

Leaked images show a prominent horizontal module with two lenses on the left and that mysterious display on the right. The third camera is placed separately below the main module.

Premiere Already in Late September

Xiaomi traditionally introduces new flagship models first in China and then with a several-month delay in Europe. The Chinese premiere should take place in September, and the global launch can be expected early next year, likely at the MWC trade show in Barcelona.

What do you think about skipping the number for new Xiaomi phones?

Source: GSMArena