Xiaomi first introduced a rear display with the Mi 11 Ultra way back in 2021. However, the company didn’t continue this. Cut to 2025, it brought back the secondary display again with the latest Xiaomi 17 Pro series , with multiple use cases. This time around, the company doesn’t seem to be planning to ditch the tech like before. Xiaomi will reportedly continue the idea of a rear display for its next-gen flagships.
Xiaomi’s next-gen flagships will continue to feature a rear display
Xiaomi president, Lu Weibing, in a recent livestream (via MyDrivers ), confirmed that the brand’s next-generation smartphones will continue to feature a rear display. This could be because the initial reactions to the rear display on the latest Xiaomi 17 Pro flagship must have been on a positive note for the company.
It’s also reported that Xiaomi is planning to increase its R&D investment in the coming years. As per Lu Weibing, Xiaomi spent over 1 billion yuan (~ $140 million) developing the technology. The result of this is a 2.1-inch AMOLED LTPO panel with Dragon Crystal Glass and a high refresh rate.
Xiaomi 17 series is off to a great start in China
Well, the investment seems to be yielding positively for the company. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max has reportedly set a new “benchmark” for single-day sales among domestic smartphones. The overall sales grew 20% compared to the previous generation, and the Pro lineup tripled its sales figures. However, in contrast, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that iPhone 17 is outselling the Xiaomi 17 in China.
The secondary display on the Xiaomi 17 Pro series doesn’t just add to aesthetics. It’s functional as well. The rear screen can surface notifications, real-time photo previews, and let you answer calls. It can be handy in your daily chores by displaying tickets, meal pickup codes, and reminders. The company is also promising real-time translation on the rear screen by the end of October.
