Xiaomi 17 Pro Max vs Redmi K90 Pro Max: HP Pro duel, who will win in 2025?
Design and Material Quality: Both Premium, But Different Aura
In terms of appearance, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max and Redmi K90 Pro Max have quite different characters. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max has an elegant design with premium glass material and a secondary screen on the back — features that the K90 Pro Max doesn’t have. This small screen can display notifications, control music, and even become a viewfinder for selfies using the main camera.
Meanwhile, the Redmi K90 Pro Max appears with a bolder and futuristic style. There is a Denim Blue variant with a jeans-like texture that is UV resistant and easy to clean. Both have IP68 certification, so they are safe from dust and water splashes. However, in terms of feel and finish, the 17 Pro Max feels more exclusive and heavier in the hand (219 grams) than the slightly lighter K90 Pro Max.
Screen: Subtle but Significant Difference
On the screen, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max uses a 6.9 inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and Dragon Crystal Glass 3 protection. The advantage is that there is a 2.9 inch secondary screen at the back which also has 120Hz LTPO AMOLED technology – a unique feature that is rarely found even in flagships like the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Meanwhile, the Redmi K90 Pro Max uses a 6.9 inch 2K flat AMOLED, also with a refresh rate of 120Hz and peak brightness reaching 3500 nits. According to the Research Team, in terms of color display and outdoor visibility, the K90 Pro Max screen is slightly superior thanks to support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, but the secondary screen of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max clearly adds practical and futuristic value.
Performance and Cooling System: Both Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Both devices are powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) chipset with Adreno 840 GPU, making their performance at the highest level for Android currently. Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is combined with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.1 storage.
On the other hand, the Redmi K90 Pro Max is more flexible with configurations of up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. In fact, this cellphone is equipped with a 3D Ice-Sealed cooling system covering an area of 6700 mm², keeping the temperature stable when playing heavy games or recording long videos. So, while the raw performance is similar, the K90 Pro Max is superior in heat management and extreme multitasking.
Camera: Leica vs Light Fusion 950, Battle of Two Premium Sensors
The camera is the sector with the most striking difference. Xiaomi 17 Pro Max carries a 50MP triple camera configuration with the Leica Summilux label. The main sensor has an f/1.7 aperture, accompanied by a 5x zoom periscope and an ultrawide lens. The result? High detail, natural colors and excellent dynamic range, suitable for users who are serious about photography.
Meanwhile, the Redmi K90 Pro Max is also no less with a triple 50MP setup — using a large Light Fusion 950 sensor (1/1.31 inch) which is known to have a wide dynamic range of up to 13.5 EV thanks to the Xiaomi AISP 2.0 algorithm. Night performance can even match the Leica camera on the 17 Pro Max, but the color tones are more “pop” and brighter, typical of Redmi.
According to the Research Team, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max wins in Leica tone and 8K HDR video stability, while the Redmi K90 Pro Max wins in detail, noise control and large sensor flexibility. So it depends on user preference: natural Leica style or Redmi style contrast.
Battery, Audio, and Price: Value is the Main Determinant
Both have large batteries above the average for other flagships. Xiaomi 17 Pro Max packs 7500 mAh with 100W fast charging and 50W wireless. Meanwhile, the Redmi K90 Pro Max is slightly larger at 7560 mAh, also with 100W charging, plus a 22.5W reverse charging feature — useful for charging other gadgets.
In terms of audio, the K90 Pro Max is clearly superior with 2.1 stereo speakers that have been tuned by Bose, providing a deeper bass effect and clearer sound separation. The 17 Pro Max does have stereo speakers, but they haven’t been optimized by a big audio brand.
And here’s the most interesting part: the price.
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max (12/512GB): around IDR 14.1 million
Redmi K90 Pro Max (12/512GB): around IDR 10.4 million
With a difference of around IDR 3.7 million, the K90 Pro Max clearly offers a much more attractive value, especially for users who focus on performance, battery and large screen without being too concerned about the “prestige” side.
If you are looking for a cellphone that is luxurious, has a cool rear screen, and Leica-style photos, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is the ideal choice. But if you want the flagship performance of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with a great cooling system, long-lasting battery and Bose sound, the Redmi K90 Pro Max is definitely more worth it for the price.
According to the Research Team, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is superior in features and luxury, while the Redmi K90 Pro Max is superior in value and efficiency. So, who is more “Pro”? The answer depends on whether you prefer prestige or function.
