Xiaomi 17 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: Copycat Design or Game-Changing Innovation?

Xiaomi recently announced the 17 series in China, the first smartphones to use the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip. However, the Xiaomi 17 series succeeded last year's Xiaomi 15 line-up. The change in naming was aimed at competing with the latest iPhone 17 Pro models, and this reflects in the design of the Xiaomi 17 Pro line-up and the introduction of a new 'Pro Max' model.

But despite the similar branding and back panel design, the Xiaomi 17 Pro is no cheap imitation of the iPhone 17 Pro. So let's find out how the latest Xiaomi 17 Pro compares against the iPhone 17 Pro.

Xiaomi 17 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: Full Specs Comparison

Design & Build

Barring the camera layout, both phones have a pretty identical design, although the Xiaomi 17 Pro has a secondary display on the back, which is also perhaps its most noticeable difference. It is worth noting that the iPhone 17 Pro boasts a more durable build, with the use of Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and Ceramic Shield on the back.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro settles for Xiaomi Shield 3.0 (Dragon Crystal Glass) Glass protection on the front and a matte glass back panel. Both models feature an aluminium frame and an IP68 rating for resistance to dust and water. Finally, despite the additional display, the Xiaomi 17 Pro is slimmer and lighter than the iPhone 17 Pro.

Display

On paper, both the Xiaomi 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro feature similar displays, although Xiaomi uses the latest display tech. Since we haven't tested the two phones yet, we'll have to call this one straight down the middle. However, the big difference on the Xiaomi 17 Pro is the secondary display, which features the same specs as the main screen.

The dual-screen design with a Dynamic Back Display for AI wallpapers, virtual pets, real-time notifications, pinned items, and selfie previews using the main camera. Users can customize content, interact with "Pangda" the panda, and switch to Handheld-Console Mode with a Bluetooth case for retro gaming.

Cameras

For optics, the Xiaomi 17 Pro is equipped with a triple-camera setup that includes a 50MP Light Fusion 950 sensor with an f/1.67 aperture and OIS, a 50MP periscope-telephoto sensor with an f/3.0 aperture, OIS, and 5x optical zoom, and finally, a 50MP ultrawide lens with an f/2.4 aperture. Up front, the Xiaomi 17 Pro features a 50MP selfie camera with an f/2.2 aperture and PDAF. Additionally, Xiaomi's cameras here have been co-developed with Leica.

On the flip side, the iPhone 17 Pro also boasts a triple-camera setup that includes a 48MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and sensor shift OIS, a 48MP periscope-telephoto lens with an f/2.8 aperture, 3D sensor-shift OIS, and 4x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide lens with an f/2.2 aperture. It also has a TOF 3D LiDAR sensor for depth scanning on the back. Up front, the iPhone 17 Pro features an 18MP multi-aspect selfie camera with an f/1.9 aperture and PDAF.

When comparing camera hardware, the Xiaomi 17 Pro features a larger periscope lens, which may offer stronger zoom capabilities, while the iPhone 17 Pro is equipped with a larger ultrawide sensor that can enhance wide-angle shots.

The iPhone 17 Pro stands out with one of the most advanced selfie cameras currently available on a smartphone, but Xiaomi takes a unique approach: its secondary display allows users to leverage the powerful rear camera array for selfies, effectively raising the bar for self-portrait quality. Both devices are also capable of recording 8K video with their rear cameras and support crisp 4K video at 60fps using their front-facing cameras.

Despite the many upgrades on the Xiaomi 17 Pro, the overall camera setup is pretty similar to that of the iPhone 17 Pro, at least on paper. However, Apple's software prowess gives it the upper hand, delivering more consistent imaging and video performance, while Xiaomi focuses on versatility and innovative features like its dual-display selfie option.

Performance

The Xiaomi 17 Pro uses the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, which is touted to be the most powerful chipset used on a smartphone to date. Thus, making it the most powerful Android flagship yet. However, the iPhone 17 Pro is no slouch either with its power A19 Pro chip, which is an absolute beast.

In terms of raw performance, we'd have to give the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip a slight advantage, although both phones are pretty capable and won't disappoint, regardless of the task at hand. It is worth noting though that the iPhone 17 Pro can run console-quality games natively, a feature that would require an emulator with the Snapdragon chip.

Battery

Leaks suggest the iPhone 17 Pro houses a battery of around 4,000 mAh, or 4,252 mAh on the e-SIM-only variant. In contrast, the Xiaomi 17 Pro packs a massive 6,300 mAh silicon-carbon cell - even larger than the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Combined with faster wired, wireless, and reverse charging, Xiaomi holds a clear edge in battery performance.

Xiaomi 17 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: Conclusion

The Xiaomi 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro both push flagship innovation but cater to different strengths. Apple leans on its refined software, durable Ceramic Shield build, and powerful A19 Pro chip with native console-level gaming. Xiaomi, on the other hand, emphasizes hardware versatility with its dual-display design, larger 6,300 mAh battery, faster charging, and Leica-tuned cameras.

While the iPhone 17 Pro delivers consistent performance and imaging excellence, the Xiaomi 17 Pro stands out for creativity, customisation, and value. Ultimately, choosing between the two depends on whether you prioritize Apple's polished ecosystem or Xiaomi's hardware-first innovation. It is worth noting that the Xiaomi 17 Pro hasn't been unveiled globally yet, but when it does, we expect it to be significantly cheaper than the iPhone 17 Pro.