There’s always a lot of conjecture when it comes to the future of technology. Phones get the prediction treatment a lot, mainly because there’s so much interest in whatever Apple and Samsung are doing at any given moment. It’s easy to overlook Xiaomi here in Australia, considering the lack of a local footprint. But that would be a mistake, with the new Xiaomi 17 Pro phones doing something a bit different.
Announced last week, the Xiaomi 17 Pro is notable for its prominent rear display. Located on an elevated camera bump that looks a lot like the iPhone 17 Pro Max design, the screen functions similarly to the secondary displays seen on flip phones, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or Motorola Razr.
A place for custom wallpapers, notifications, digital sticky notes, and a camera viewfinder, Xiaomi’s dual display approach is an interesting one. Like flip phones, the rear display almost makes a front-facing camera redundant. Why take selfies with the front camera when you can use the much better rear cameras with the aid of a preview screen?
As noted by The Verge, the Chinese company is far from the first to attempt two screens on a conventional slab phone. Regardless, it’s one of the most high-profile attempts, and one that could inspire competitors if the form factor catches on.
The Xiaomi 17 phones are also among the first to use Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, which would make it one of the world’s most powerful Android phones. They also house batteries ranging from 6300mAh to 7500mAh, all of which are massive by current-day standards.
Don’t expect the Xiaomi 17 to launch in Australia anytime soon, though. Only select handsets, like the Poco F6, have launched here lately. Regardless, its influence might still reach our shores.
