Xiaomi 17 Pro Max
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is the kind of phone that, honestly, I wish I hadn’t picked up just before bedtime because I probably spent more time poking its “Magic Back Screen” than actually sleeping. Yes, this thing has a rear display. No, it’s not a gimmick. Well, maybe it is a little, but in a loveably oddball way. You get a big, vibrant AMOLED front, but the real party piece is around back, the rear display almost feels like a dare, the sort of idea that started as a joke in Xiaomi HQ, and someone in power just nodded and said, “Let’s do it.” Notifications, clock faces, even a camera viewfinder for the highest quality selfies, suddenly, it’s 2021 again, and we’re all pretending to pull off “candid” shots with the back cameras.
Performance? This thing is fast. The new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (the name alone feels like Xiaomi wants to fight for nerd glory in a parking lot) means it’s absurdly quick, even with a million apps open. And the battery? Big. 6000mAh big. I charged it once, then accidentally left Spotify streaming for hours. Still had juice to snap a few sunset photos, Leica-branded cameras, I should mention, that make even my dog’s most chaotic playtime look artful and cinematic. Kind of makes me wish dogs cared about HDR.
But, and I say this with respect, it’s not cheap, especially if you chase the higher storage versions. Though side-by-side with the iPhone 17 Pro Max? Okay, it’s almost a bargain. For what you get, you save a lot over Apple, and Xiaomi’s 17 Pro Max doesn’t look cheap at all. It’s all sleek edges and minimal bezels, flashy enough for cafe one-upmanship, subtle enough for office calls where everyone still mistakes it for “that other phone with a fruit on the back.” Xiaomi’s not even trying to hide the challenge there. They literally skipped the “16” so their numbers would match the iPhone’s bold move, respect.
If you want a quick vibe-check, here are some feelings:
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The camera is fun, versatile. Portraits pop. Low-light isn’t night-vision, but you’ll survive.
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The rear display is genuinely handy (saves battery, feels almost secret-agent-y when you show friends).
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It’s big, possibly too big for skinny jeans, but great for binge-watching on the go.
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Price: not “budget,” but far from silly, and much less than some flagships doing less.
All in all, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max feels like that one friend who’s a little extra, tries new things, sometimes fumbles, but is never boring. It’s packed with current-gen features real-world fast charging, gorgeous high-res displays on both sides, and cameras that make everyone in group photos look slightly cooler than they actually are. If you’re bored by the usual slab of glass, this is your reminder that someone out there is still having fun with phones.
