Xiaomi 17 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

The Xiaomi 17 Pro arrives with a new generation of Qualcomm silicon, aiming to challenge Apple’s dominance in smartphone performance. This comparison pits the Xiaomi 17 Pro, powered by the 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, against the established iPhone 14 Pro Max and its A16 Bionic chip. We’ll dissect their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device reigns supreme for power users and everyday consumers alike.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw processing power and charging speed, the Xiaomi 17 Pro emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, coupled with 100W charging, offers a compelling advantage. However, the iPhone 14 Pro Max maintains a strong position with its refined ecosystem, excellent camera software, and proven endurance.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 17 Pro Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2894, A2896
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 89 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2894, A2896
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2895
Launch
Announced2025, September 252022, September 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, September 25Available. Released 2022, September 16
Body
BuildGlass front (Dragon Crystal Glass), aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions151.1 x 71.8 x 8 mm (5.95 x 2.83 x 0.31 in)160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight192 g (6.77 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionXiaomi Dragon Crystal GlassCeramic Shield glass
Resolution1220 x 2656 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~464 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.3 inches, 97.1 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 2160Hz PWM, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, HDR10+, 3500 nits (peak)LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
 -Always-On display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M)Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 840Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 16, HyperOS 3iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 -NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single-12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/3.0, 115mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF (20cm - ∞), OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 102˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video8K@30fps (HDR), 4K@30/60/120fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single50 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (wide), PDAF12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (with Dolby Atmos)Yes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC 55.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, Display Port, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometerFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging100W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 100W PPS 50W wireless 22.5W reverse wirelessWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 6300 mAhLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Purple, GreenSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
Models25098PN5ACA2894, A2651, A2893, A2895, A2896, iphone15,3
PriceAbout 600 EUR€ 530.79 / $ 489.81 / £ 446.75
SAR-1.15 W/kg (head)     1.07 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 121h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 955884 (v9) GeekBench: 5423 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 17 Pro

  • Significantly faster charging (100W wired)
  • Potentially superior CPU performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
  • Android ecosystem flexibility

  • Camera details currently unknown
  • Long-term software support may be shorter than iPhone

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

  • Mature and refined iOS ecosystem
  • Excellent camera software and image quality
  • Long-term software support and updates

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Less customizable operating system
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a peak brightness of 1760 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Xiaomi 17 Pro’s peak brightness isn’t specified, it’s likely to be competitive. Both devices likely employ LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, conserving battery life. The iPhone’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, provides deep blacks. The Xiaomi 17 Pro’s display quality will be crucial, as it needs to match the iPhone’s color accuracy and viewing angles to be considered equal.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are equipped with advanced camera systems, but details beyond 'Photo / Video' are limited for the Xiaomi 17 Pro. The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s camera prowess is well-documented, with excellent image processing and video stabilization. The Xiaomi 17 Pro will need to deliver exceptional image quality to compete, potentially leveraging a larger main sensor or advanced computational photography techniques. The absence of specific sensor details for the Xiaomi 17 Pro makes a direct comparison difficult, but a focus on low-light performance and dynamic range will be critical.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 17 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, built on a 3nm process, features an octa-core CPU with Oryon V3 Phoenix cores – a custom design promising significant performance gains. This contrasts with the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s hexa-core A16 Bionic, fabricated on a 4nm node. The Snapdragon’s Oryon cores (2x4.6 GHz + 6x3.62 GHz) suggest a focus on both peak and sustained performance. While the A16 Bionic is incredibly efficient, the 3nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 should offer improved thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Xiaomi 17 Pro will likely utilize LPDDR5x RAM, further enhancing memory bandwidth.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 121 hours, indicating similar overall battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the Xiaomi 17 Pro). However, the charging capabilities are vastly different. The Xiaomi 17 Pro’s 100W wired charging, alongside 50W wireless and 22.5W reverse wireless, significantly outperforms the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s wired PD2.0 and 15W MagSafe/Qi2 wireless charging. The Xiaomi 17 Pro can likely achieve a full charge in under 30 minutes, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max takes closer to 30 minutes for a 50% charge.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi 17 Pro if you need bleeding-edge performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and value incredibly fast charging. You’ll also appreciate the flexibility of the Android ecosystem. Buy the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max if you prioritize a seamless user experience, a mature camera system with consistently excellent results, and long-term software support within the Apple ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the Xiaomi 17 Pro overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The 3nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is designed to improve thermal efficiency compared to previous generations. While sustained performance will always generate heat, the improved efficiency should minimize throttling and maintain higher frame rates for longer periods. However, real-world testing will be crucial to confirm these benefits.
❓ Does the Xiaomi 17 Pro support the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard for faster wireless connectivity?
Given the flagship status of the Xiaomi 17 Pro and the inclusion of the latest Snapdragon chipset, it is highly probable that it supports Wi-Fi 7. This would provide significantly faster wireless speeds and lower latency compared to Wi-Fi 6E, assuming a compatible router is available.
❓ How does the 50W wireless charging on the Xiaomi 17 Pro compare to the iPhone 14 Pro Max's MagSafe charging in terms of real-world speed?
The Xiaomi 17 Pro’s 50W wireless charging is more than three times faster than the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s 15W MagSafe charging. This translates to a significantly quicker wireless top-up, making the Xiaomi 17 Pro a more convenient option for users who frequently rely on wireless charging.
❓ What kind of reverse wireless charging capabilities does the Xiaomi 17 Pro offer, and is it useful for charging accessories like earbuds?
The Xiaomi 17 Pro offers 22.5W reverse wireless charging, allowing it to wirelessly charge other devices like earbuds, smartwatches, or even another smartphone. This is a useful feature for topping up accessories on the go, although charging speeds will be slower than with a dedicated wired charger.