Written by Wang Miaomei, Art edited by Gu Qingqing, Produced by Wangjie

On September 15th, Xiaomi made waves by announcing that its new flagship smartphones, the Xiaomi 17 series, will officially debut this month, skipping the Xiaomi 16 entirely.

The news instantly ignited Weibo's trending topics, with hashtags like '#XiaomiRenames16To17' and '#LeiJunFullyBenchmarksAgainstiPhone' skyrocketing into the top 10 searches. Netizens were quick to speculate, joking that Xiaomi's move was a direct nod to Apple: "Just look, the iPhone 17 launched a few days ago, and Xiaomi immediately follows suit, even aligning the naming."

Xiaomi President Lu Weibing didn't shy away from the comparison, stating boldly that the Xiaomi 17 series—comprising the Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Pro, and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max—will be the first globally to feature Qualcomm's fifth-generation Snapdragon 8 Supreme Edition chip. He emphasized that the series is set to "compete head-on with the iPhone 17 series in the same generation and tier."

Lei Jun, Xiaomi's founder, echoed this sentiment by reposting the announcement on Weibo, declaring, "The Xiaomi 17 series marks a generational leap in product strength, fully benchmarked against the iPhone, ready to face the challenge head-on!"

01 Skipping 16 for 17: Xiaomi's Intentions Are Clear

The most surprising move from Xiaomi this time is its decision to skip the number '16'. Previously, rumors suggested that the Xiaomi 16 might be an advanced model, and Lu Weibing's vague response of "Yeah, soon" fueled speculation. However, no one anticipated a complete name change.

According to official information, the Xiaomi 17 series includes three models: Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Pro, and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max. The naming strategy is a clear nod to Apple's iPhone 17 series.

Historically, Xiaomi's high-end models have only featured the 'Pro' suffix, never venturing into 'Pro Max' territory. This time, the direct alignment with iPhone's naming convention is hard to ignore.

Lu Weibing explained that the Xiaomi 17 series represents a "transformation after five years of high-end development," with product strength achieving a "generational leap," hence the decision to skip a generation.

Netizens, however, had their own take. Some joked, "Why not just call it Xiaomi 18 and be one generation ahead of Apple?" Others saw it as a strategic move to ride on the hype of Apple's iPhone 17 launch.

In fact, Xiaomi's intentions to benchmark against Apple have been evident for some time. Five years ago, Xiaomi announced its high-end strategy, explicitly stating it would learn from the iPhone. Now, with the iPhone 17 series generating significant buzz, Xiaomi's timely launch of a similarly numbered series with similar naming makes the association undeniable.

Even Xiaomi Store sales staff privately admitted that the Xiaomi 15 Pro in their hands suddenly felt "second-rate," highlighting the psychological impact of this renaming on users.

02 Packed with Specifications: Can Xiaomi Outdo Apple with Substance?

Since Xiaomi dares to benchmark against the iPhone, the Xiaomi 17 series' specifications must deliver. Following the Android manufacturers' convention, whenever "benchmarking" is mentioned, real substance in terms of specifications is expected.

The most anticipated aspect is performance. The Xiaomi 17 series will be the first to launch with Qualcomm's fifth-generation Snapdragon 8 Supreme Edition mobile platform.

Leaked benchmark scores suggest impressive performance, with GeekBench 6 single-core scores exceeding 4,000 points, multi-core scores surpassing 11,000 points, and Antutu scores exceeding 4 million points. These figures significantly outperform current flagship chips on the market, indicating substantial improvements in phone speed and gaming performance.

Battery life and imaging are also Xiaomi's strong suits. Reports suggest the Xiaomi 17 standard model may feature a 7,000mAh battery, with fast charging upgraded to 100W.

Considering the iPhone 17's consistently weak battery capacity and low fast-charging power, Xiaomi aims to address users' biggest concern: "battery anxiety."

In terms of imaging, Xiaomi states that the Pro and Pro Max models will be "peak tech imaging flagships." While specific parameters haven't been detailed, the promise of "more features without increasing the price" suggests the use of new sensors and algorithms.

Pricing is also a crucial factor. Lu Weibing emphasized "more features without increasing the price," leading to speculation that the Xiaomi 17 standard model may start at 4,499 yuan. In comparison, the iPhone 17 starts at 5,999 yuan (256GB version), highlighting Xiaomi's price advantage.

Some netizens joked that henceforth, when two people meet and discuss their phones, both will say they use the "17"—one Apple, one Xiaomi.

03 Benchmarking Isn't Just Following Trends: Can Xiaomi Succeed?

Xiaomi's move has generated significant buzz, with topics like '#XiaomiRenames16To17' and '#LeiJunFullyBenchmarksAgainstiPhone' dominating hot search lists. Even automotive influencer Chen Zhen weighed in, saying, "No problem, mainly for easy memorization. Seeing iPhone 17 reminds people of Xiaomi."

However, controversy abounds. Some view Xiaomi's move as "copycat" behavior, criticizing the name mimicry as unseemly. Others worry whether renaming and packing specifications alone can truly compete with the iPhone, considering Apple's advantages extend beyond hardware to iOS, ecosystem synergy, and other soft strengths.

Nevertheless, Xiaomi isn't unprepared. Lu Weibing stated that Xiaomi's R&D investment over the past five years has exceeded 100 billion yuan, with plans to increase it to 200 billion yuan in the next five years. The Xiaomi 17 series will feature "new innovations."

Leaks suggest the addition of a secondary screen within the camera module, a design change from the rectangular camera layout used for three generations to a horizontal mega-matrix, resembling rumors about the iPhone 17 Pro's design. Whether these changes will resonate with users remains to be seen after the actual launch experience.

It's worth noting that this year's smartphone market is particularly lively. In early September, Huawei launched its triple-folding phone, which, while priced too high to compete directly with Xiaomi and Apple, showcased new possibilities in phone form factors.

Apple's iPhone 17 series just went on sale, with factories scrambling to recruit workers and offering bonuses up to 8,000 yuan, indicating strong market enthusiasm. Now, with Xiaomi joining the fray, this September truly resembles a "smartphone gala."

Summary: Controversy and Anticipation Coexist; Can Xiaomi Break Through with the '17'?

The Xiaomi 17 series' decision to skip the 16th generation and directly benchmark against the iPhone is undoubtedly the boldest move in this year's smartphone market.

From naming to specifications and pricing strategy, Xiaomi has thoroughly embraced the concept of "benchmarking." Behind this lies five years of high-end development accumulation and an ambition to capitalize on Apple's recent product launch for attention.

However, the iPhone's status wasn't built overnight. For Xiaomi to truly surpass its rival, mere numerical games and packed specifications won't suffice. Ultimately, users care about the experience—system smoothness, ecosystem usability, and more.

Regardless, competition benefits consumers, offering more choices and driving innovation. After the official launch of the Xiaomi 17 series this month, whether it can truly compete with the iPhone 17 remains to be seen. Let's wait and watch.