Xiaomi 17 Pro Max Leaks: Rear Screen Returns!
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max Leaked Image Hints at a Rear Screen, Echoing the Mi 11 Ultra Ahead of September Launch
In the wild, fast-paced world of smartphones, where every leak builds anticipation and every new design aims to stand out, Xiaomi is at it again, and this time, it’s a real head-turner. A leaked image of the upcoming Xiaomi 17 Pro Max has just surfaced, and guess what? It’s rocking a secondary display on the back, a feature that instantly brings to mind the legendary Mi 11 Ultra from way back in 2021. This little nod to nostalgia is perfectly timed to ramp up the excitement for the official debut of the Xiaomi 17 series, which is slated for later this month in China.
The Xiaomi 17 series, which includes the Xiaomi 17, the Xiaomi 17 Pro, and the seriously ambitious Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, is set to be the very first lineup to pack Qualcomm’s brand-new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip. We got the official heads-up on this at the Snapdragon Summit that just wrapped up from September 23rd to 25th. This confirmation came straight from Lu Weibing, Xiaomi’s President and Partner, who pretty much shut down any chatter about a “series 16” and pointed us straight to this generational leap, positioning Xiaomi to go toe-to-toe with rivals like Apple and their freshly announced iPhone 17 lineup.
The Return of the Secondary Screen: Innovation or Just Nostalgia?
What’s really grabbing everyone’s attention in this leak is the rear camera module on the Pro Max. The image, shared by reliable leakers like Ishan Agarwal on X, shows a horizontal, rectangular design that’s got more than a passing resemblance to the iPhone 17 Pro. We’re talking three lenses stacked in a row with an LED flash underneath. But the real star of the show here is that little auxiliary screen baked right into the module – an OLED secondary panel that’s rumored to be around 1.1 inches, pretty much identical to the one on the Mi 11 Ultra.
This detail isn’t just random. Back in the day, the Mi 11 Ultra’s rear screen was a game-changer. It let you frame up selfies using the awesome 50MP main camera, catch notifications without flipping your phone over, or even get a bit creative with media playback. After years of it being absent from Xiaomi’s flagship phones – replaced by sleeker, more minimalist designs – its comeback on the 17 Pro Max hints at a big push for versatility. Will it be used for advanced camera controls, like real-time zoom or quick edits? Or perhaps for AI-powered features that leverage that new powerhouse processor? The speculation is running wild, but Xiaomi’s keeping us all in suspense for now.
The overall design of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max also looks pretty slick. We’re seeing pronounced curved edges, what appear to be ultra-slim bezels – possibly the most symmetrical we’ve ever seen on a Xiaomi phone – and a metallic chassis that promises that sweet IP68 water and dust resistance. And talk about ironic! The leak seemed to happen accidentally from Xiaomi’s official Weibo account, which temporarily changed its profile picture to this very image. Talk about building the hype!

The Full Series: What Else Can We Expect from the Launch?
The Xiaomi 17 family isn’t just about the Pro Max, though. The base model, the Xiaomi 17, is rumored to boast a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display with a 1.5K resolution and a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Powering it will be a triple camera setup, with each lens packing 50MP – that includes a main OmniVision sensor, an ultra-wide, and a telephoto with Samsung’s ISOCELL JN5. We’re also hearing whispers of a battery that could tip the scales at over 5,000 mAh, paired with blistering 120W fast charging, keeping up Xiaomi’s tradition of insane battery life in their high-end devices.
Over on the Xiaomi 17 Pro, it seems like it’ll stick to a balanced approach, featuring a vertical camera module and likely some serious upgrades in optical stabilization. The Pro Max, as we’ve seen, is really pushing the envelope. We’re talking about a main sensor that could go up to a massive 200MP – a nod to those ongoing collaborations with Sony and Leica – and a periscope zoom lens offering 5x or even more. All of this will be running on HyperOS 2.0, Xiaomi’s custom skin built on Android 16, which is packed with generative AI tools for photo editing and performance optimization.
The launch is currently pegged for September 24th or 26th in China, with a global rollout potentially following in October. Initial pricing is expected to start around €800 for the base model, climbing up to about €1,200 for the Pro Max, though Xiaomi is always good at adjusting prices for different regions.
A Step Forward, or an Echo of the Past?
This return to a rear screen isn’t just a visual trick; it really speaks to Xiaomi’s philosophy of blending cutting-edge innovation with features that have already proven their worth. In a year where Apple has leaned into minimalist designs and Samsung has gone all-in on foldable screens, the 17 Pro Max could really capture the attention of amateur photographers and power users who value practicality. On the flip side, some critics might just see it as an unnecessary gimmick in an era of 32MP front-facing cameras.
Whatever your take, this leak has definitely lit a fuse. With the Snapdragon Summit just around the corner, we’ll soon find out if this secondary screen is Xiaomi’s secret weapon or just a fleeting tribute to the Mi 11 Ultra. Are you ready for a flagship that seems to be looking back to move forward? The countdown is officially on.

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