Xiaomi 17 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing all-day battery life and uncompromising performance, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and 20:50h active use score significantly outperform the Pixel 8 Pro. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s brighter display and superior camera software make it a compelling choice for content creators and photography enthusiasts.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi 17 Pro Max | Google Pixel 8 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - G1MNW |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 89 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G1MNW |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, September 25 | 2023, October 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, September 25 | Available. Released 2023, October 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Dragon Crystal Glass 3), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 77.6 x 8 mm (6.41 x 3.06 x 0.31 in) | 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 219 g (7.72 oz) | 213 g (7.51 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1200 x 2608 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~416 ppi density) | 1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.9 inches, 116.6 cm2 (~92.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 2160Hz PWM, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, HDR10+, 3500 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) | Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 | Immortalis-G715s MC10 |
| OS | Android 16, HyperOS 3 | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Multi-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.6, 115mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF (30cm - ∞), OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 102˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, PDAF | 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 8K@30fps (HDR), 4K@30/60/120fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (wide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, PDAF | 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (with Dolby Atmos) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC 5 | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, Display Port, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 100W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 100W PPS 50W wireless 22.5W reverse wireless | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 7500 mAh | Li-Ion 5050 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Purple, Green | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint |
| Models | 2509FPN0BC | GC3VE, G1MNW |
| Price | About 720 EUR | € 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999 |
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max
- Exceptional battery life (20:50h active use)
- Blazing-fast Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance
- Ultra-fast 100W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Potential for high-resolution camera system
- Display brightness lower than Pixel 8 Pro
- Camera software may not match Pixel’s computational photography
Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Incredibly bright 1600 nits display
- Superior camera software and computational photography
- Tight hardware-software integration with Google’s AI features
- Bypass charging for improved battery health
- Significantly shorter battery life (11:14h active use)
- Slower charging speeds (30W wired)
- Tensor G3 performance lags behind Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Display Comparison
The Pixel 8 Pro immediately stands out with its measured peak brightness of 1600 nits, significantly exceeding the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s 1026 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely employ LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates (though not explicitly stated for the Xiaomi), the Pixel’s brightness advantage is undeniable. The Xiaomi’s display, while still excellent, will be less impactful outdoors. Color accuracy is likely comparable, given both brands’ focus on premium displays, but the Pixel’s higher brightness provides a more dynamic visual experience.
Camera Comparison
The context data for the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max lacks specific camera details, but given Xiaomi’s recent flagship trends, it likely features a high-resolution main sensor. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s strength lies in its computational photography, powered by the Tensor G3’s dedicated image processing unit. Google’s software algorithms excel in dynamic range, noise reduction, and portrait mode effects. While the Xiaomi may offer more flexibility with manual controls, the Pixel 8 Pro consistently delivers exceptional image quality with minimal effort. The Pixel’s video capabilities are also likely superior, benefiting from advanced stabilization and HDR processing.
Performance
The Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 powering the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is a clear step up in raw processing power compared to the Google Tensor G3. The Snapdragon’s octa-core configuration (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) promises significantly faster CPU performance than the Pixel’s nona-core setup (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510). The 3nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon further enhances efficiency and reduces thermal throttling. While the Tensor G3 excels in AI tasks, the Snapdragon dominates in sustained CPU and GPU workloads, making the Xiaomi the better choice for demanding games and applications. The Xiaomi also benefits from likely faster LPDDR5x RAM.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s active use score of 20:50h is a massive advantage over the Pixel 8 Pro’s 11:14h. This difference is substantial and will be noticeable in everyday use. The Xiaomi also boasts significantly faster charging with 100W wired, 50W wireless, and 22.5W reverse wireless, compared to the Pixel’s 30W wired and 23W wireless. The Pixel’s ‘bypass charging’ feature, which minimizes battery degradation during charging, is a welcome addition, but it doesn’t offset the Xiaomi’s superior capacity and charging speed. The Pixel 8 Pro’s older endurance rating of 90h is less relevant than the Xiaomi’s measured active use score.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max if you need exceptional battery life for power users, demand the fastest possible Android performance for gaming and demanding tasks, and value rapid charging capabilities. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prioritize a vibrant, exceptionally bright display, a streamlined software experience with exclusive AI features, and a camera system renowned for its computational photography prowess.