Phone (3) vs 17 Pro Max
Winner
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max
The 17 Pro Max wins this one, taking display and battery decisively. Against the Phone (3) it's also the sounder buy at $12.43 per month of safe use.
Value Score: Phone (3) 69 · 17 Pro Max 75 — methodology
Who should pick which
Beyond the scores — our take on each phone and the buyer it actually suits.
At $799 the Nothing Phone (3) asks full-flagship money and answers with the most distinctive design in phones plus a seven-year security promise — the catch is a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 that sits a rung below the chips rivals hand you for the same cash.
Pick it if
- ✓ Design lovers who want to stand out
- ✓ Long-term keepers who value updates
- ✓ People bored of identical glass slabs
Skip it if
- ✗ You want maximum performance per dollar
- ✗ You rely on carrier financing or in-store service
Xiaomi's biggest-battery flagship -- a 7,500mAh silicon-carbon cell and a fully functional rear display -- but it's China-only, and its update clock, running to September 2031, is already ticking down.
Pick it if
- ✓ Battery-life maximalists who don't mind importing
- ✓ Buyers who want the rear-screen feature with the biggest cell
Skip it if
- ✗ You want a phone with an official warranty in your country
- ✗ You prefer a compact, lighter flagship
The lifespan decider
When specs are close, support length decides it — this is what each phone costs per month of safe use.
Category by category
The 17 Pro Max's screen is the better one — 6.9-inch ltpo amoled, 2k (1200x2608), 120hz, 3500 nits peak; plus 2.9-inch rear oled display (976x596, 120hz).
The 17 Pro Max's Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is simply the faster chip.
Camera systems are comparable on paper — pick by sample photos.
7,500mAh vs 5,150mAh — the 17 Pro Max lasts longer between charges.
The Phone (3) is supported until Jul 2032 — 10 months longer than the 17 Pro Max.
Overall value goes to the 17 Pro Max at $12.43 per month of safe use.
Frequently asked
How long will the Nothing Phone (3) get updates?
Nothing promises five Android OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from the July 2025 launch, so it's patched until July 2032 — a security window on par with Samsung's Galaxy S and Google's Pixel lines, and longer than the OnePlus 13.
Nothing Phone (3) vs Galaxy S25 or OnePlus 13?
The S25 and OnePlus 13 give you a faster flagship chip for similar money, so on raw specs they win. The Phone (3) counters with a genuinely unique design, the Glyph Matrix, and a seven-year security promise that matches the S25. It comes down to whether character or peak performance matters more to you.
Was the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max ever sold globally?
No. Xiaomi limited the international MWC 2026 launch to the standard Xiaomi 17 and the 17 Ultra; the Pro and Pro Max stayed exclusive to the Chinese market, so buyers elsewhere rely on gray-market imports.
How long does the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max get updates?
Under Xiaomi's 4-year OS / 6-year security policy for the 17 series, support runs through roughly September 2031 from its September 2025 China launch -- about 5 years remaining if bought in mid-2026.
Full spec table
| Spec | Phone (3) | 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Price (street) | $799 | $770 |
| Display | 6.67-inch LTPS AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 960Hz PWM dimming | 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED, 2K (1200x2608), 120Hz, 3500 nits peak; plus 2.9-inch rear OLED display (976x596, 120Hz) |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB | 12GB/16GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB | 256GB/512GB/1TB |
| Battery | 5,150 mAh | 7,500 mAh |
| Charging | 65W wired, 15W wireless | 100W wired, 50W wireless, 22.5W reverse wireless |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 50MP periscope 3x | 50MP main, 50MP periscope 5x, 50MP ultra-wide |
| Dimensions | 160.6 × 75.6 × 9.0 mm | 162.9 x 77.6 x 8.0 mm |
| Weight | 218 g | 219 g |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Supported until | Jul 2032 | Sep 2031 |
More comparisons
Scores and verdicts are computed from our verified database — see exactly how. Specs from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers.