Xiaomi Skips A Number: Is It Copying Apple’s Strategy?

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Xiaomi has recently skipped a number in its smartphone naming convention, aligning itself with Apple’s iPhone 17 model. This strategy is not uncommon for Chinese smartphone manufacturers to mimic Apple’s designs and practices.

As a case in point, Xiaomi was set to release the 16-series smartphones in the coming weeks. However, they have now skipped the 16th-gen label and moved directly to the 17-series for their upcoming lineup. Additionally, Xiaomi has changed its high-end ‘Ultra’ variant to a ‘Pro Max,’ mirroring Apple’s naming convention.

Xiaomi claims that the upcoming 17-series is its “most significant leap forward.” According to a Weibo post, the base model will not experience price hikes despite substantial performance upgrades due to Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC. The Xiaomi 15 launched at approximately $630 (4,499 CNY), so the upcoming base variant of the Xiaomi 17 is expected to be similarly priced.

In a unique start to his ruling against President Donald Trump’s administration on September 30, U.S. District Court Judge William Young included a scanned handwritten note sent to his office. The note read: “Trump has pardons and tanks – what do you have?” At the top of Young’s opinion in AAUP v. Rubio, which ruled that Trump’s effort to deport foreign-born student protesters was unconstitutional.

October 8, 2025

Leaked information suggests that the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max may feature a rear display integrated into the back-camera module. This design aligns with rumors about the now-skipped 16th-gen Xiaomi smartphones, which suggested a similar integration for receiving notifications without needing to pick up the phone.

The render in the Weibo post also includes an additional camera module below the primary one, likely an ultra-wide angle lens.