Why am I doing a first look review of the Xiaomi 17 Pro? The standard Xiaomi 17 already looked like a powerful phone, but when I saw the first marketing images for the Xiaomi 17 Pro, I knew I had to take a deeper dive.
The moment I noticed the secondary display on the back and the explicit focus on professional Leica imaging capabilities, I realized this wasn’t just a minor upgrade; it was Xiaomi’s full-scale assault on the ‘Pro’ segment. My goal for this initial review was clear: to see if the Pro model offers a genuinely new experience beyond the usual flagship checklist.
I focused on all its features, from the dual display and pro-level camera to the massive battery and powerful processor, to determine if it truly earns the Pro badge.
Design and Dual-Screen Innovation
My first impression of the Xiaomi 17 Pro is one of sleek sophistication, backed by serious engineering. It maintains a refined form factor, weighing just 192g and measuring a comfortable 151.1mm×71.8mm. The phone is built with a high-strength aluminum frame and is protected by Xiaomi Longjing Glass, all sealed with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. It is offered in distinctive colors like Green, Purple, White, and Black.
The Secondary Display: A Game Changer
The most striking feature, at a first look, is the secondary rear display. This is what truly earns the ‘Pro’ moniker. It’s far more than a gimmick. My first thought is its utility as a Rear Mirror for taking ultra-sensitive selfies with the main camera. Honestly, if this works flawlessly, it immediately removes one of the last true compromises of mobile photography. Beyond that, its integration with Xiaomi HyperOS allows it to dynamically display everything from music controls, flight information, car controls, and even personalized ‘Mengchong’ smart pet wallpapers that react to charging and gestures. This is not just a clock; it’s a genuinely useful second interaction point, and I believe it will be copied by competitors very soon.
Durability and Aesthetics
The main front screen is protected by the Xiaomi Longjing Glass. Xiaomi also showcased a retro-style handheld console case, suggesting a playful ecosystem around the Pro model.
Display: Brightness and Eye Health Mastered
The main display is a technological marvel designed for both extreme brightness and user comfort. The 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR screen features incredibly narrow 1.18mm bezels, pushing the viewing experience right to the edge of the device.
Visuals and Fluidity
The panel uses M10 luminescent material to achieve a stunning peak brightness of 3500nits, ensuring clarity even under direct sunlight. It boasts a 1.5K resolution and uses LTPO technology to provide an adaptive 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate, guaranteeing power efficiency alongside buttery-smooth scrolling.
Protection and Comfort
Xiaomi has prioritized durability with the use of Xiaomi Longjing Glass for protection. For health-conscious users, the screen features Professional Eye Protection, including 2160Hz dimming and support for low brightness down to 1nit, complete with a TÜV Rheinland certification.
Performance: The Elite Core and Superior Cooling
The Xiaomi 17 Pro is driven by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. While the Xiaomi 17 is powerful, the Pro needs to ensure sustained performance for intense workloads.
Sustained Power
The performance gains are significant, with a claimed 20% increase in CPU performance and a 23% boost to the GPU. This level of power is required to drive the high-resolution screen, the dual displays, and the advanced camera computations.
Cooling and Endurance
To maintain peak performance, the Pro model incorporates a sophisticated Stereoscopic Ring Cold Cooling System with a massive 4497mm2 area. This 31.9% larger cooling area is the kind of detail that suggests serious engineering effort went into preventing thermal throttling during long gaming or video editing sessions.
The Leica Camera System: A Complete Imaging Suite
The camera setup is arguably the most powerful aspect of the Xiaomi 17 Pro, built around the Leica collaboration and a trio of 50MP sensors.
The Triple-50MP Pro Array
- Main Camera: A 50MP Leica High Dynamic Camera featuring the 1/1.31-inch Xiaomi Hunter 950 sensor. It has a large f/1.67 aperture and delivers an outstanding 13.5EV dynamic range, making it exceptional for challenging backlight shots.
- Floating Telephoto: A 50MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture that supports 5x Lossless Optical Zoom. This floating lens technology is the highlight for me; combining true 5x optical zoom with a 10cm super macro capability means unparalleled flexibility that few rivals can match.
- Ultra-Wide: A 50MP sensor providing a 102∘ field of view.
Video and Audio Excellence
The Xiaomi 17 Pro is an ambitious video tool, supporting 4K video at 60fps across all focal lengths, along with Dolby Vision HDR recording. Audio quality is covered by a 4-MIC array that enables audio zoom and advanced noise cancellation, essential for professional video recording. Furthermore, the device features powerful Dolby Atmos stereo speakers and supports Hi-Res Audio and Snapdragon Sound.
Battery and Charging: Speed Meets Stamina
The Xiaomi 17 Pro packs a substantial 6300mAh battery. While slightly smaller than the base model, it’s still huge for a phone of this size and is balanced by ultra-fast charging. Frankly, a 6300mAh battery in a phone this sleek is a win. If Xiaomi can optimize HyperOS to leverage this capacity, we might finally see a flagship that truly lasts two days.
Wired and Wireless Speed
The charging speed complements this large capacity perfectly. It supports blazing-fast 100W wired charging and convenient 50W wireless charging. This balance of endurance and rapid recharge capability is exactly what professional users demand.
HyperOS 3: Seamless Power Integration
The Xiaomi HyperOS 3 software is designed to leverage the Pro hardware efficiently. The operating system enables smooth, rapid switching between open apps and even allows the execution of iPad applications on the phone.
Connectivity and Data
The device utilizes the Xiaomi Xingchen (Star-sky) Communication System with dedicated T1/T1 chips, claiming a 45% improvement in Wi-Fi performance and 19% in low-frequency network performance. It also features fast USB 3.2 Gen 1 for high-speed file transfer.
My First Look Conclusion
The Xiaomi 17 Pro makes an incredibly strong case for being one of the most comprehensive flagships of the year. At first glance, it looks like a phone that not only matches the competition but also tries to surpass it with an abundance of features. The phone is built on four core strengths:
- Innovation: The truly useful Rear Secondary Display.
- Performance: The raw power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 combined with professional-grade cooling.
- Photography: The versatile and optically superior Leica triple-50MP camera system.
- Endurance: A large 6300mAh battery with 100W charging.
This smartphone is positioned to appeal to tech enthusiasts and demanding users who want the very best performance, camera quality, and unique features in one high-end device.
