Xiaomi 17 Max vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer

The Xiaomi 17 Max (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (2019) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. By overall MobileRank rating, the Xiaomi 17 Max leads — 88/100 vs 54/100 (a 34-point difference). Key differences: the Xiaomi 17 Max has the bigger battery (8000 mAh vs 3300); the Xiaomi 17 Max is faster in AnTuTu (3,654,776 vs 824,513); the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer is noticeably lighter (173g vs 219g).

The Xiaomi 17 Max significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer by 34 points (88/100 vs 54/100).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Xiaomi 17 Max
Performance 97
Display 81
Camera 90
Battery 90
Portability 40
Value for money 88
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
Performance 54
Display 83
Camera
Battery 22
Portability 79
Value for money
What makes Xiaomi 17 Max better?
  • Higher AnTuTu: 3654776 vs 824513
  • Better Geekbench Single: 3640 vs 968
  • Better Geekbench Multi: 11033 vs 2731
  • Bigger battery: 8000 vs 3300 mAh
  • Faster charging: 100W vs 27W
  • Faster wireless charging: 50W vs 20W

  • Higher performance (97/100 vs 54/100)
  • Longer battery life (90/100 vs 22/100)
What makes Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer better?
  • Lighter: 173g vs 219g

  • Better display (83/100 vs 81/100)
  • Better portability (79/100 vs 40/100)
Comparison verdict

Comparing the Xiaomi 17 Max vs the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer, the Xiaomi 17 Max scores 34 points higher (88/100 vs 54/100). In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 17 Max leads (97/100 vs 54/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 Max leads (90/100 vs 22/100). In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 17 Max significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (97/100 vs 54/100). In the "display" category, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer and the Xiaomi 17 Max are nearly equal (83/100 vs 81/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 Max significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (90/100 vs 22/100). In the "portability" category, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 17 Max (79/100 vs 40/100).

Xiaomi 17 Max: The Xiaomi 17 Max is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer: The Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer is a better fit for everyday use.
Specs comparison
Specification Xiaomi 17 Max Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
AnTuTu 3654776 824513
Geekbench Single 3640 968
Geekbench Multi 11033 2731
Display 6.9" LTPO AMOLED 6.4" Super AMOLED
Resolution 2608x1200 1080x2340
Refresh rate 120 Hz
Battery 8000 mAh 3300 mAh
Charging 100W 27W
Wireless charging 50W 20W
Main camera 200 MP
Ultrawide 50 MP 48 MP
Telephoto 50 MP 0 MP
Front camera 32 MP 20 MP
RAM 12GB / 16GB 12GB
Storage 256GB / 512GB 256GB
OS Android 16 Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI 10
Brightness (peak) 3500 nits
NFC yes yes
Protection IP68
Dimensions 157.5×74.7×7.6 mm
Weight 219 g 173 g
Launch price $799
Camera comparison
Xiaomi 17 Max
  • Main: 200MP f/f/1.7
  • Ultrawide: 50MP
  • Telephoto: 50MP
  • Front: 32MP
90
camera
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
  • Main: —
  • Ultrawide: 48MP
  • Front: 20MP
camera
Display comparison
Xiaomi 17 Max
  • 6.9" LTPO AMOLED
  • Resolution: 2608x1200
  • Refresh rate: 120 Hz
81
display
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
  • 6.4" Super AMOLED
  • Resolution: 1080x2340
  • Refresh rate: —
83
display
Battery and charging
Xiaomi 17 Max
  • 8000 mAh
  • Wired: 100W
  • Wireless: 50W
90
battery
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
  • 3300 mAh
  • Wired: 27W
  • Wireless: 20W
22
battery
Overall performance score

We compared Xiaomi 17 Max and Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.

Xiaomi 17 Max Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
88/100
3654776 AnTuTu
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
54/100 -343.3%
824513 AnTuTu

Xiaomi 17 Max leads Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer by 343.3% in our overall performance rating.

Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Xiaomi 17 Max
$799
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
Price unknown
Detailed category analysis
performance

In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 17 Max significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (97/100 vs 54/100).

display

In the "display" category, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer and the Xiaomi 17 Max are nearly equal (83/100 vs 81/100).

battery

In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 Max significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (90/100 vs 22/100).

portability

In the "portability" category, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 17 Max (79/100 vs 40/100).

Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Xiaomi 17 Max or the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?

The Xiaomi 17 Max significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer by 34 points (88/100 vs 54/100).

What is the rating of the Xiaomi 17 Max and the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?

The Xiaomi 17 Max has a MobileRank rating of 88/100, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer — 54/100.

Which is more powerful: the Xiaomi 17 Max or the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?

The Xiaomi 17 Max leads on performance (97/100 vs 54/100).

Should you choose the Xiaomi 17 Max over the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?

The Xiaomi 17 Max is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers. The Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer is a better fit for everyday use.