Xiaomi 17 Pro & 17 Pro Max: Not Just Phones, Almost Pocket Consoles

Sunday, 28 September 2025 at 08:50

When Xiaomi shows off new phones, you usually expect faster chips, brighter screens, and maybe a new camera trick. This year, though, the company slipped something a little unexpected into the spotlight. Together with the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max, it launched an accessory that feels like a love letter to anyone who grew up in the 90s: the Retro Handheld Console Case.

Key points

Unexpected twist – Alongside the Xiaomi 17 series, Xiaomi revealed the Retro Handheld Console Case, an accessory that transforms the Pro models into nostalgic gaming devices.
Secondary screen repurposed – The Pro and Pro Max already feature small secondary displays around the camera, but the case leverages them for retro-style gameplay instead of just notifications or selfies.
Buttons & battery built-in – The case adds physical ABXY controls, a D-pad, and even a 200 mAh battery that Xiaomi claims lasts up to 40 days.
Not just a gimmick – While it looks playful, the case taps into the growing mobile gaming market and brings back the feeling of classic handheld consoles.
Xiaomi’s bold move – In a market where most flagships feel alike, Xiaomi is betting on fun and nostalgia to stand out—something few rivals attempt.

From notifications to nostalgia

The regular Xiaomi 17 keeps things straightforward. But the Pro models? They come with a secondary screen wrapped around the camera island. At first glance, that sounds like a nice-to-have feature for notifications or selfies. Xiaomi, however, clearly decided that wasn’t enough. Add the retro case, and suddenly that extra screen doesn’t just sit there—it becomes part of a handheld gaming setup. Think of it as slipping your flagship phone into a Game Boy costume, buttons included.

I have to admit, it’s not the kind of thing most companies would even bother making. But that’s also why it works. The second you see it, you don’t think “spec sheet.” You think: “Oh wow, I remember playing Pokémon Yellow for hours on a tiny screen.”

Why this might actually matter

Some will dismiss this as a gimmick, and sure, it partly is. But there’s more to it. Mobile gaming isn’t niche anymore; it’s a billion-dollar industry. Most brands just brag about refresh rates and cooling systems. Xiaomi, instead, is giving users a physical way to feel like they’re gaming on a dedicated device again. It’s silly, but in a way, also clever.

And if you look at today’s market, where every flagship phone starts to look like the next one, being “fun” might be the smartest strategy. Remember when Nokia had quirky designs that people still talk about decades later? Xiaomi seems to be tapping into that same energy.

The verdict

So, are the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max groundbreaking because of this? No. They’re already solid flagships on their own, with fast processors and polished design. But with the Retro Handheld Console Case, they become conversation starters. And sometimes, that’s worth more than yet another benchmark record.

At the very least, it shows Xiaomi still knows how to surprise people—and honestly, in 2025, that’s rare.