Xiaomi has unveiled a sneak peek at its upcoming Xiaomi 17 series, set to debut in China soon, with a focus on the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max models. These devices are introducing a unique secondary display on the back, referred to as the “Magic Back Screen.”
Xiaomi recently announced its decision to skip the 16 series altogether and jump straight to the 17, a move aimed at competing directly with Apple’s new iPhone 17 series.
The teaser video showcases the capabilities of the new secondary screen. It can display various clock styles, act as a selfie viewfinder using the main cameras, show app information, and exhibit colorful graphics. While these features look promising, Xiaomi likely has more surprises in store for the official launch.
Actually, this is not Xiaomi's first foray into rear screens. In 2021, the Mi 11 Ultra included a small 1.1-inch AMOLED panel on the back, but the functionality was limited. The new “Magic Back Screen” on the Xiaomi 17 Pro lineup appears to be a more ambitious upgrade, promising enhanced usability.
The Xiaomi 17 series is also expected to be the first to utilize Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, slated for an official unveiling next week. Additionally, reports suggest that Xiaomi is equipping these models with massive batteries: the standard variant could feature a 7,000mAh battery, while the Pro Max may offer a 7,500mAh capacity.
The presence of the rear display and other advanced features hint at Xiaomi's promising new direction in smartphone design and innovation, following the success of the Xiaomi 15 lineup.
