As the smartphone world holds its breath for the next big leap, two tech giants—Apple and Xiaomi—are set to make waves with their latest flagship devices. With Apple’s iPhone 17 series officially landing in Tier 1 markets on September 19, 2025, and Xiaomi’s 17 Pro Max poised for a late-September debut, the stage is set for a fierce battle of innovation, design, and camera prowess. Early leaks, hands-on reviews, and expert opinions are already painting a vivid picture of what users can expect from these highly anticipated releases.
Let’s start with Xiaomi. According to GSMArena, details about the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s camera system emerged on September 18, 2025, revealing a significant upgrade over its Pro sibling. The Pro Max model boasts a telephoto camera with a larger f/2.6 aperture, compared to the Pro’s f/3.0, while maintaining a 5x optical zoom and a 115mm focal length. The larger aperture promises improved light capture, potentially translating to brighter, clearer telephoto shots, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Interestingly, the rest of the camera setup remains consistent between the two models: a 50MP main sensor with an f/1.67 aperture and an ultra-wide 17mm lens, all developed in partnership with Leica. Under the hood, both the 17 Pro and Pro Max are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, with their official launch expected by the end of September 2025.
Meanwhile, Apple’s iPhone 17 series is already causing a stir thanks to early access provided to prominent tech reviewers like Marques Brownlee, SuperSaf, and Mediastorm. Their initial impressions, as reported by various outlets, dive deep into the design, performance, and camera capabilities of the new Pro models—offering a nuanced look at Apple’s latest innovations and the inevitable trade-offs that come with them.
Marques Brownlee, one of the world’s leading tech reviewers, shared candid thoughts after several days with the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. He highlighted the new Cosmic Orange color as bold but perhaps too flashy for everyday use, expressing a preference for the Deep Blue variant, which he found more practical for professional video work due to reduced reflections. The Silver option, he noted, was a bit too bright and reflective for his taste. More importantly, Brownlee observed that this year’s Pro models are noticeably thicker and heavier, thanks to a switch from titanium to an aluminum frame. This change, while bucking the trend toward ever-slimmer devices, results in a sturdier, more substantial feel in the hand—a factor that could divide opinion among users.
Under the surface, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are powered by the new A19 Pro chip, with RAM upgraded to 12GB from last year’s 8GB. Battery life sees a marked improvement, especially in the Pro Max, which for the first time in iPhone history surpasses the 5,000 mAh threshold. Even the smaller Pro model enjoys a nearly 20% bump in battery capacity compared to its predecessor. Brownlee summed up his review by suggesting that, while the iPhone Air’s ultra-thin design is the most “interesting” innovation this year, the standard iPhone 17 offers the best value for most users. This, he argued, positions the Pro line as a niche choice for those willing to pay more for power and endurance.
The Verge echoed many of these sentiments, focusing on the iPhone 17 Pro’s bold design overhaul. The rear camera module now forms a horizontal bar across the back—a striking departure from previous generations. The uni-body aluminum frame replaces last year’s titanium, and the front is protected by a new Ceramic Shield 2 glass, which promises improved durability and reduced risk of cracking. The magazine noted that, while the gently curved edges provide a softer grip, they lack the reassuring solidity of the flat-edged iPhone 16 Pro. The 6.3-inch display remains, but with enhanced brightness and a new anti-glare coating, outdoor visibility is better than ever.
Performance-wise, the A19 Pro chip is a star. Apple’s introduction of a vapor chamber cooling system, combined with the aluminum frame’s superior heat dissipation, means the iPhone 17 Pro Max can sustain higher frame rates during intensive gaming sessions. In tests with Resident Evil Village, The Verge found the new Pro Max maintained smoother and more stable performance than its predecessor. However, despite the bigger battery, the publication noted that heavy users may still need to top up their charge by evening—suggesting that raw capacity isn’t always the whole story.
Mediastorm, a respected Chinese tech review channel, provided a characteristically thorough examination of the iPhone 17 Pro. The channel confirmed that wired charging has jumped from 27W to 40W, but cautioned that users will need Apple’s special PD 3.2 SPR AVS charger to reach these speeds. In their tests, the iPhone 17 Pro Max charged from 20% to 67% in just 20 minutes, outpacing the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Wireless MagSafe charging now goes up to 28W in the Hong Kong version—a welcome boost for users on the go.
Mediastorm also highlighted the trade-offs of the new aluminum frame: while it dissipates heat 20 times better than titanium, the finish feels grainier, and some units exhibited uneven gaps between the glass and frame. The A19 Pro chip, however, drew high praise for its performance gains—15% faster CPU and nearly 40% faster GPU compared to the A18 Pro, even outpacing the M2 chip in the MacBook Air. The new vapor chamber cooling system was singled out as a major advance, keeping the phone cool even during extended 4K 60fps video recording.
On the camera front, Mediastorm dissected Apple’s claims with a critical eye. All three rear lenses are 48MP, but only the telephoto is truly new, offering 4x optical zoom and a sensor 56% larger than before for better close-ups. At 5x zoom, image quality is noticeably better than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. However, Mediastorm criticized Apple’s advertising of “8x optical-quality zoom” as misleading, since it’s essentially a crop from the 4x telephoto sensor. The channel also pointed out issues with the new Camera Control button and autofocus on the 4x lens. On the plus side, the new 18MP Center Stage front camera was lauded as a standout upgrade, delivering wide, high-quality selfies and vlogging capabilities with 4K@60fps and Apple Log support.
SuperSaf, another popular reviewer, echoed many of these findings. He described the iPhone 17 Pro’s design as one of the most dramatic in years, admitting he grew to appreciate its aesthetics and the comfort of the softly curved edges. The slight increases in weight and thickness—4 grams and 0.5mm respectively—were deemed negligible in daily use. SuperSaf praised the display’s 3,000-nit brightness and anti-reflective coating, though he noted that the standard iPhone 17 now also features ProMotion 120Hz, lessening the Pro’s exclusivity. Like other reviewers, he singled out the new front camera as his favorite upgrade, citing its flexibility and impressive stabilization. He also revealed that iPhones with a physical SIM slot (sold in the UK) have slightly smaller batteries and about two hours less video playback time than eSIM-only models sold in the US—a subtle nudge from Apple toward wider eSIM adoption.
SuperSaf’s advice to consumers was clear: users with an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max need not rush to upgrade, but those with older devices or a desire for the new design and camera improvements will find the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max compelling choices.
As both Apple and Xiaomi prepare to unleash their latest flagships, one thing is certain: the competition is fiercer than ever, with each brand pushing the boundaries of design, performance, and camera innovation. For consumers, the choice has never been more exciting—or more complicated.
