Redmi K90 Pro Max vs Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: What Sets the Budget Flagship Apart?
In the world of smartphones, the line between “affordable flagship” and “true flagship” continues to blur. With the arrival of the Redmi K90 Pro Max and the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, buyers now have two powerhouse options from the Xiaomi ecosystem. While both offer cutting edge hardware, the K90 Pro Max delivers near flagship hardware at a more accessible price point. Considering some of their specs are also identical, what’s the difference between the budget flagship and the brand’s true flagship?
Design & Display
The Chinese tech giant’s two new Pro Max models feature a very similar design language, with flat rear and front, a metallic frame on the side, and rounded corners. However, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s unique secondary cover display on the back is a key highlight. This tiny 2.9-inch panel can not only display crucial information like date, time, and notifications, but it also doubles as a camera viewfinder, showcases live statuses (active tasks like cabs, music playback, others), features virtual pets, and much more.

On the front, Xiaomi equips both the Redmi K90 Pro Max and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max with the same 6.9-inch 2K OLED flat M10 LTPO panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 3500 nits of peak brightness, DC dimming, and Xiaomi’s Dragon Crystal Glass for protection. So, apart from the cover screen, the visual experience is basically the same.
Hardware
Another major aspect that remains unchanged between the two devices is the Qualcomm chip under the hood. The brand offers the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, built on a 3nm process and designed for high performance. This flagship chip is paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage.

A massive 7,500mAh battery pack powers the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, while the Redmi K90 Pro Max barely edges ahead with a 7,560mAh cell. The duo supports 100W wired fast charging, 50W wireless fast charging, and 22.5W reverse wired charging (22.5W reverse wireless charging support on the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max).
While Xiaomi’s top of the line smartphone gets a dual display setup, Redmi’s premium smartphone also gets a unique feature on the rear. Alongside its camera lenses, there is a dedicated woofer with ‘Sound by Bose’, which is a part of the 2.1 stereo sound field that includes the dual speakers.
Photography
Just like how the Redmi K90 Pro Max borrows the display from the 17 Pro Max, the K90 Pro Max borrows its main camera from another Xiaomi 17 series model. It arrives with a 50MP 1/1.31″ Light Fusion 950 sensor with OIS that is also found on the standard Xiaomi 17. This is paired with a 50MP ultra wide angle lens and a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto shooter (a first for the brand). For selfies and video calls, the front houses a 20MP camera.

On the other hand, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max packs a larger 50MP Light Hunter 950L main sensor (1/1.28″), 50MP ultra wide angle lens, and 50MP periscope telephoto shooter with 5x zoom. There is also a 50MP shooter for selfies and video calls. Apart from better hardware, this model also brings Xiaomi’s collaboration with Leica.
Pricing & Final Thoughts
Lastly, let’s talk about the pricing. Xiaomi sells the 17 Pro Max with a starting price tag of 5,999 Yuan (roughly 841 US Dollars) for the 12GB + 512GB starting option. Meanwhile, the 12GB + 256GB base variant of the Redmi K90 Pro Max costs 3,999 Yuan (roughly 561 US Dollars). The higher 12GB + 512GB option costs 4,499 Yuan. So choosing between the Redmi K90 Pro Max and the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max comes down to what you prioritize most.

If you’re looking for high-end performance, a large battery, and a strong all-around phone at a better value, the K90 Pro Max stands out as a very compelling option. But if you want every premium feature, a richer camera system, a secondary display and the absolute top tier of flagship finishing, the 17 Pro Max delivers that.
For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.
Tech enthusiast? Get the latest news first! Follow our Telegram channel and subscribe to our free newsletter for your daily tech fix! 
The post Redmi K90 Pro Max vs Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: What Sets the Budget Flagship Apart? appeared first on Gizmochina.






