Xiaomi hit the nail on the head with rear displays. It intends to use them in future smartphones as well

Chinese giant Xiaomi has definitively refuted recent speculation about the possible end of rear displays in its flagship phones. Company President Lu Weibing officially confirmed during yesterday’s livestream that the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max models will continue the trend set by this year’s 17 series, MyDrivers reported. The company also plans to increase investment in the development of this technology and add new software features.

Record Sales Confirmed the Strategy’s Correctness

The rear display, dubbed Magic Back Screen, has become the main driver of sales for the new flagships. Xiaomi invested over one billion yuan (about 2.9 billion Czech crowns) into the development of the 2.1-inch LTPO AMOLED display, and the results are clear: over a million Xiaomi 17 models were sold within just one week of their introduction (it should be noted, however, that this number also includes units of the base model without a rear display).

Overall sales of the Xiaomi 17 series increased by 20 percent year-on-year, with Pro models even experiencing a threefold increase compared to the previous 15 Pro generation. The Pro Max model set a record for single-day sales among Chinese phones this year, both in terms of units sold and total revenue.

New Features Every Month

Xiaomi is not content with the current state. Lu Weibing announced that an update will arrive by the end of October, adding a real-time translation feature directly on the rear display. The company’s goal is to add new features every month and gradually expand the possibilities of using this technology.

The current implementation already offers quick notification display, call reception, widget display, dynamic wallpapers, or taking selfies with the main cameras. The display also supports practical functions such as displaying codes for order pickup, tickets, or travel reminders.

What the Current Xiaomi 17 Series Offers

This year’s portfolio includes three models – the base Xiaomi 17 with a compact 6.3″ display and a massive 7000mAh battery, the Xiaomi 17 Pro with a rear display and a thickness of just 8 mm, and the top-tier Xiaomi 17 Pro Max with a 6.9″ screen and a 7500mAh battery.

All three models are powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and run on HyperOS 3. The rear display of the Pro and Pro Max models occupies approximately one-third of the back and surrounds the camera module with Leica optics. Compared to the legendary Mi 11 Ultra, this is a significantly larger area with broader usage possibilities.

Likely Only the Base Model for the Czech Republic

For Czech customers, we have mixed news. While the base Xiaomi 17 is expected to reach global markets, including the Czech Republic, early next year (likely in February or March 2026), the Pro and Pro Max models will remain exclusive to the Chinese market. The same fate likely awaits their successors in the Xiaomi 18 series.

Would you like a phone with a rear display, or do you find this feature unnecessary?

Sources: MyDrivers, GSMArena, 9to5Google