Xiaomi has confirmed that its next flagship smartphones will be the Xiaomi 17 series, even though the launch is still months away. The company revealed details through official posts and a video message by senior executive William Lu, signalling a bold start to 2026 with its new line-up.
Xiaomi outlines its new flagship models
The announcement was first shared on the Weibo account of William Lu, Partner and President of the Xiaomi Group. Lu also leads the company’s smartphone division and serves as General Manager of Xiaomi.
In a video update, Lu confirmed that the upcoming series will include three models: Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Pro, and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max. The company appears to have moved away from the “Ultra” label, which it previously used for its top-end devices.
During the same video, after the 0:57 mark, Lu also made a notable reference to Apple’s forthcoming handsets, calling the iPhone 17 series launch “outstanding”. He explained that Xiaomi had chosen to align its naming strategy with Apple’s, meaning it will skip the Xiaomi 16 generation entirely. The brand’s line-up will therefore jump directly from the Xiaomi 15 series, released in 2025, to the Xiaomi 17 series in 2026.
Lu later reshared the Xiaomi 17 teaser video from the brand’s official Weibo page, doing so from a device labelled as the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, further underlining the announcement.
Confusion over launch dates
Xiaomi’s teasers have generated some uncertainty around launch timings. Promotional material on Weibo included the phrase “launching this month” in Mandarin, suggesting an imminent reveal. Meanwhile, Lu’s official X account reshared another teaser that pointed towards 24 September 2025 as the launch date for the Xiaomi 15T series, a separate flagship-lite line-up.
This overlap may appear confusing, but it fits with Xiaomi’s pattern in recent years. The company has repeatedly tied its flagship launches to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit, using the event as a platform for major announcements. Both the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 15 series were unveiled at Qualcomm’s keynotes.
Likely Snapdragon Summit reveal
The Snapdragon Summit is scheduled for 23 to 25 September 2025 in Hawaii, which corresponds to 24 to 26 September in Singapore. Industry watchers expect Xiaomi to use the stage once again to reveal its latest flagship range. If so, the Xiaomi 17 series could be officially announced alongside Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon processors.
At the same time, the Xiaomi 15T series is also due for a refresh. The previous 14T models were launched during the same timeframe, further strengthening expectations for a September reveal.
With teasers already circulating and executives openly referencing Apple, Xiaomi appears set on ensuring its next flagship launch makes headlines. More information is likely to follow as the Snapdragon Summit approaches.
