Clash of Titans: Xiaomi 17 Takes on iPhone 17 – A Comprehensive Spec Battle

Xiaomi recently unleashed its highly anticipated Xiaomi 17 series in China on September 25, featuring the standard Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Pro, and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max. This new lineup boasts the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC. During its grand launch, Xiaomi didn’t shy away from directly pitting its latest flagship against Apple’s iPhone 17, which made its global debut on September 9. Curious to see how these two smartphone giants stack up? We’re diving deep into their specifications and pricing to help you decide.

Price and Color Options: Xiaomi 17 vs. iPhone 17

Xiaomi 17: In China, the standard Xiaomi 17 kicks off at CNY 4,499 (approximately Rs. 56,000) for its 12GB RAM + 256GB storage configuration. Stepping up, the 12GB RAM + 512GB variant is priced at CNY 4,799 (around Rs. 60,000), while the premium 16GB RAM + 512GB model goes for CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs. 62,000). You can grab this stunning device in blue, black, white, or pink directly from Xiaomi’s online store in China.

iPhone 17: For those in India, the iPhone 17 starts at Rs. 82,900 for the 256GB storage model. If you need more space, the 512GB option will set you back Rs. 1,02,900. Apple offers the iPhone 17 in a chic palette of Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage, White, and Black, available through their official website, retail stores, and authorized partners.

Design and Display: Head-to-Head

Xiaomi 17: The Xiaomi 17 features a sleek design with a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera and a distinctive square camera module on the rear. Its durable metal frame houses the volume and power buttons on the right, while a USB Type-C port at the bottom handles charging and data. This device measures 151.1×71.8×8.06mm and weighs approximately 191g, boasting an IP68 rating for impressive dust and water resistance.

The phone’s visual experience is powered by a vibrant 6.3-inch OLED screen. This display delivers a sharp 1.5K (2,656×1,220 pixels) resolution, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and an ultra-responsive 300Hz touch sampling rate. With a dazzling 3,500 nits of peak brightness, a 19.6:9 aspect ratio, and DCI-P3 color gamut, it truly stands out. It also supports HDR 10+, HDR Vivid, and Dolby Vision, all framed by incredibly slim 1.18mm bezels.

The Xiaomi 17 showcases a sophisticated triple-rear camera system.
Photo Credit: Xiaomi

iPhone 17: Crafted with a premium aluminum frame, the standard iPhone 17 positions its power and Camera Control buttons on the right, while the volume controls and the new Action Button reside on the left. Its elegant glass rear panel proudly presents a pill-shaped camera module in the top-left corner. With dimensions of 149.6×71.5×7.95mm and a weight of just 177g, it’s both compact and lightweight. Like its competitor, it also carries an IP68 rating for robust dust and water resistance.

The iPhone 17 boasts a brilliant 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, featuring an adaptive 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate – a first for a non-Pro iPhone model. This significant upgrade also brings always-on display functionality to the standard iPhone 17. For ultimate durability, the screen is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, which promises three times the scratch resistance compared to previous models.

Performance and Power: Chipset & Battery Comparison

Xiaomi 17: At the heart of the new Xiaomi 17 lies the cutting-edge 3nm octa-core Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, paired with an Adreno GPU (specific model not detailed). This powerhouse features a staggering peak clock speed of 4.6GHz. Users will benefit from up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.1 internal storage. Enhanced by a Qualcomm AI Engine for HyperAI tools, the device operates on Android 16, topped with Xiaomi’s HyperOS 3, which debuted on September 24.

Keeping the Xiaomi 17 running is a massive 7,000mAh battery, supporting ultra-fast 100W wired charging and convenient 50W wireless fast charging.

iPhone 17: Apple’s latest A19 chipset drives the iPhone 17, boasting a powerful 16-core Neural Engine. This advanced chip integrates a six-core CPU, a five-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Offering up to 512GB of storage, Apple asserts that the A19 delivers remarkable power-efficient AI inference, significantly increased memory bandwidth, and an overall boost in performance. It operates on the brand-new iOS 26, complete with integrated Apple Intelligence (AI) tools.

Apple highlights a 40 percent faster CPU performance compared to its predecessor, the A18 chip. Furthermore, the iPhone 17 promises up to eight hours more battery life than the iPhone 16, complemented by lightning-fast charging. The company states that users can reach 50 percent charge in mere minutes, and a quick 10-minute charge provides up to eight hours of usage.

The iPhone 17 is driven by Apple’s powerful A19 chip.
Photo Credit: Apple

Camera Capabilities: Xiaomi 17 vs. iPhone 17

Xiaomi 17: Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the Xiaomi 17’s Leica-tuned triple rear camera system. It comprises a 50-megapixel (f/1.67) primary sensor with a 23mm focal length, a 50-megapixel (f/2.0) telephoto lens, and a 50-megapixel (f/2.4) ultrawide-angle sensor offering a 102-degree field of view.

For stunning selfies, the front hosts a 50-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 90-degree field of view. The rear cameras are capable of recording impressive 8K videos at 30fps and 4K videos at up to 60fps.

iPhone 17: The standard iPhone 17 from Apple is equipped with a versatile dual-rear camera setup. Leading the charge is a 48-megapixel (f/1.6) “Fusion” primary camera, complete with sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS), 2X in-sensor zoom, and a 52mm focal length. Complementing this is another 48-megapixel “Fusion” ultrawide-angle camera, featuring an f/2.2 aperture and impressive macro photography capabilities. For video calls and self-portraits, an 18-megapixel selfie camera with Centre Stage technology is positioned on the front.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Q. How much does the Xiaomi 17 cost in India?

As of now, the Xiaomi 17 has not been launched in India. In China, its pricing starts at CNY 4,499 (approximately Rs. 56,000) for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage model. The 12GB RAM + 512GB variant is about CNY 4,799 (roughly Rs. 60,000), and the 16GB RAM + 512GB option is priced at CNY 4,999 (around Rs. 62,000).

Q. What is the release date of the Xiaomi 17?

The Xiaomi 17 was officially launched in China on September 25, alongside its Pro and Pro Max counterparts.

Q. What colors does the Xiaomi 17 come in?

You can purchase the Xiaomi 17 in four distinct colors: blue, black, white, and pink.

Q. Where can I buy the Xiaomi 17?

Currently, the Xiaomi 17 is exclusively available in China through Xiaomi’s official website. It has not yet been released in India.

Q. What is the battery size of the Xiaomi 17?

The Xiaomi 17 features a large 7,000mAh battery that supports both 100W wired fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging.

Q. Is the Xiaomi 17 waterproof?

Yes, the Xiaomi 17 holds an IP68 rating, meaning it’s highly resistant to both dust and water.