Xiaomi 17 Pro: Durability test reveals Dragon Glass 3.0 screen… and a plastic back?

Whenever a flagship designed for the Chinese market comes under the scrutiny of JerryRigEverything, curiosity naturally piques. This time, Zack Nelson has taken a closer look at the Xiaomi 17 Pro, a compact smartphone that visually resembles the iPhone 17 Pro while hiding several surprises beneath its exterior.

Xiaomi 17 Pro: An Ultra-Resistant Screen Thanks to Dragon Glass 3.0

The 6.3-inch AMOLED display is shielded by the new Dragon Glass 3.0, developed in-house by Xiaomi. Consequently, there are no scratches up to level 6, with only minor marks at level 7 on the Mohs scale, comparable to Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2.

“The Dragon Crystal is clearly the best glass we’ve seen on an Android smartphone,” Nelson remarked, applauding Xiaomi’s efforts to reduce reliance on external suppliers.

An Elegant Mini-Screen… But a Plastic Back

On the back, a small secondary display integrated into the camera module serves notifications and selfies well, yet it is protected by standard glass that scratches at level 6.

Even more surprising is that the back of the phone is made of plastic, a rare choice for a device priced around €900. This material, however, does offer advantages like reduced weight, better drop resistance, and easier repairs. Nonetheless, it detracts from the “premium” feel expected at this price point.

The aluminum chassis holds up well in torsion tests: it exhibits slight flex but no cracks or creaks. Even following exposure to flame, the AMOLED screen recovers without any permanent marks.

More Practical than Luxurious

The Xiaomi 17 Pro excels in the areas that matter most: a robust display, solid frame, and coherent design. The plastic back may disappoint purists, but its lightweight and durable nature make sense for daily use.

In summary, this flagship is well-constructed and designed to last, even if it sacrifices a bit of prestige for practicality. Sometimes, durability outweighs flashiness.