Recently, the iPhone 17 series officially launched on sale, instantly becoming the focus of the technology circle, and the discussion it has sparked is the most popular in recent generations.
Previously, the number of reservations for the iPhone 17 series on e-commerce platforms has been increasing rapidly, and the reservation results on platforms such as JD.com and Tmall have far exceeded those of the previous generation. Apple's official website also upgraded eSIM support for iPhone Air, covering three major operators, which shows the popularity of this generation of iPhone.
Among them, the standard version of the iPhone 17 is particularly impressive. The starting price of 256GB, high 120Hz screen, and the affordable starting price of 5,999 yuan (not included in the national subsidy), has made up for many shortcomings in the past and is very attractive to old phone users.
However, it is recommended that you not rush to buy, because a new wave of flagship phones represented by Xiaomi 16 is about to hit. According to convention, Xiaomi is closely linked to Qualcomm's new generation Snapdragon platform. The Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit will be advanced to September 23-25, and the Xiaomi 16 series will likely be launched at the end of September. At present, Xiaomi has started blind appointments offline, and Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing also hinted that it is "soon".
The highlights of Xiaomi 16 are more worthy of attention. According to the leak, the standard version continues with a 6.3-inch straight screen, but has a built-in 7000mAh super large battery and is equipped with the new Pengpai OS 3 system, which has a completely different appeal from the iPhone 17.
Looking back on the past, Xiaomi and Qualcomm have a tacit understanding of cooperation. In 2022 - 2024, Xiaomi launched new Snapdragon flagship platform phones many times, maintaining competitiveness with its "time advantage". Now that Qualcomm summit is ahead of schedule, Xiaomi 16's debut is almost locked.
Product strength is the key. In the past, small screen machines often had small battery capacity, but silicon-carbon negative electrode battery technology changed this situation. Xiaomi 16 standard version of 6.3-inch small screen is paired with a 7000mAh battery, and the fast charging power has been increased from 90W to 100W, and the wide-angle main camera has also been upgraded. In addition, the Xiaomi 16 series will also be completely renewed in ID design and The Paper OS, and is expected to stand out among many small-screen flagships.
This year's iPhone 17 can be called a "makeup work", with stable ecology and sufficient system update guarantees, and the standard version is praised as "the most worth buying in recent years". But it also has many shortcomings, including small battery, conservative charging, high load heating, and telephoto lenses. Although the iPhone 17 Pro series is strong, the price starts at 8,999 yuan. In contrast, the iPhone 17 is more like a "safe insurance" and there are not enough surprises.
And the rumored standard version of Xiaomi 16 series accurately hits the pain points of the battery life of small-screen flagships. If the news is true, it will meet higher daily battery life while maintaining a compact size and feel, which is difficult for the iPhone 17 series to achieve.
Of course, paper parameters do not represent actual experience. In terms of system ecology, iPhone still has advantages. Although the Android camp strives to be compatible with the Apple ecology, there is still a gap in breadth and depth. iOS is also ahead of Android in Lingdong Island interaction design and third-party application adaptability.
The September flagship market is compact, the iPhone 17 brings a safe choice, and Xiaomi 16 is full of suspense and challenges. The two are not either this or that, and this head-on confrontation ultimately benefits the market and users. For consumers, this September, you might as well be more patient and wait for Xiaomi 16 to be released before making a decision. Maybe there will be unexpected surprises.
