Xiaomi has launched its latest flagship lineup with the Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Pro, and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, and it is immediately clear that the company has leaned heavily on Apple’s blueprint for how a modern premium smartphone should look, feel, and be marketed. The way these devices are branded, the design decisions that shape their physical identity, and the feature highlights promoted in their launch materials all reflect Apple’s established approach with the iPhone 17 series and the refinements introduced through iOS 26.
Apple has long been the trendsetter in smartphones, and the impact of its design and software decisions can be seen across the entire industry. With iOS 26, Apple extended the Liquid Glass aesthetic across the system, giving the interface a layered and translucent quality that has become instantly recognizable, while continuing to build on the Apple Intelligence initiative that was first introduced in iOS 18 and has since expanded to new apps and use cases. Xiaomi’s new models arrive at a moment when Apple’s design language and AI narrative are firmly entrenched, and the similarities between the two companies’ approaches are striking enough that the comparisons almost draw themselves.
One of the clearest examples of this influence is Xiaomi’s adoption of a three-tier product lineup that directly mirrors Apple’s. By releasing a base Xiaomi 17, a Pro model, and a Pro Max at the top end, the company has structured its portfolio in exactly the same way Apple organizes the iPhone family. This approach ensures that buyers familiar with Apple’s segmentation can instantly place Xiaomi’s offerings in the same mental framework, which makes the positioning easier to understand but also highlights how closely Xiaomi is tracking Apple’s naming strategy rather than carving out an identity of its own.
The design of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max makes this imitation even more apparent. Its flat-sided frame, large square camera island, and frosted matte glass finish are all characteristics that Apple has used to signal premium build quality on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Even the carefully balanced edges and proportions of the device reflect the same philosophy Apple has been refining for several generations. When Xiaomi’s promotional images are compared with Apple’s, the shared emphasis on symmetry, geometry, and materials is hard to overlook, suggesting that the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max has been deliberately shaped to project the same visual authority that Apple’s flagship already commands. The recent iPhone 17 Pro teardown shows how consistent Apple’s internal and external design philosophies have become, making Xiaomi’s similarities stand out even more.
Software continues this pattern of parallel design choices. With iOS 26, Apple’s Liquid Glass look introduced a deeper sense of depth and translucency to panels, notifications, and app interfaces, creating an aesthetic that feels immersive and modern. Xiaomi’s interface on the 17 series similarly leans on glossy transparency and blurred layers to elevate the experience, presenting controls and quick settings in a way that is clearly modeled on Apple’s direction. While Xiaomi’s implementation has its own touches, the overall effect is a user interface that is recognizably influenced by iOS, once again reinforcing the impression that Apple’s decisions are setting the benchmark.
Artificial intelligence is another area where Xiaomi has borrowed Apple’s language almost word for word. Apple Intelligence, introduced with iOS 18 and now an integral part of the iOS experience, emphasizes on-device processing, privacy, and contextual assistance across apps. Xiaomi’s new “AI Intelligence” features promise similar capabilities, from real-time translations to contextual summaries, but the branding itself is so closely aligned with Apple’s terminology that it creates a deliberate association in the minds of consumers. This suggests Xiaomi is not only copying features but also replicating the way Apple frames its AI strategy to make it seem equally essential.
The individual features further confirm this trend. Support for Qi2 magnetic charging is promoted as a step forward for convenience, but it is also Xiaomi’s way of aligning with Apple’s MagSafe approach. Camera improvements are described in terms of natural color rendering and consistent skin tones, echoing the same qualities Apple has emphasized in its iPhone camera marketing. Even details such as haptic refinement, gesture smoothness, and lock screen clarity suggest that Xiaomi is taking cues directly from the usability improvements Apple has been championing in recent years.
Of course, Xiaomi retains some unique differentiators, such as its Leica camera partnership and its emphasis on ultra-fast wired charging that Apple does not offer. However, these distinctions are presented alongside a broader package that is unmistakably shaped to match Apple’s own devices. The result is a lineup that feels less like an original statement of intent and more like an attempt to translate Apple’s premium narrative into Xiaomi’s ecosystem.
For consumers deciding between these ecosystems, the choice comes down to more than hardware similarities. Apple continues to deliver extended iOS support, unmatched ecosystem consistency, and high resale value, all of which remain key parts of its long-term advantage. Xiaomi has made progress in polishing its software and expanding its services, but the decision to align so closely with Apple’s branding and features only reinforces the perception that Apple remains the company setting the rules for what defines a flagship smartphone today. That is why discussions like iPhone 17 Pro scratchgate matter — they show how Apple devices are scrutinized at a level that rivals continue to chase.
