Canceled Before Launch: Xiaomi 17 Air Prototype Surfaces Online

An early engineering prototype of the Xiaomi 17 Air, a smartphone project that was ultimately shelved, has surfaced on social media. Featuring an ultra-thin body, the leaked model offers the first tangible look at a device that never made it past the development stage, shedding light on Xiaomi’s experimental design ambitions.

The leak was shared via a video published by Bald Panda, a source known for reliable hardware disclosures. The device shown is believed to be the Xiaomi 17 Air. From a design perspective, it bears a resemblance to Apple’s iPhone Air concept, particularly in its clean and minimal rear layout. However, Xiaomi appears to have added its own twist by including an additional rear camera, resulting in a horizontally aligned multi-camera module.

An Ultra-Thin Design at 5.5 mm

The leaked mold suggests that the Xiaomi 17 Air was designed with an incredibly slim 5.5 mm chassis, making it even thinner than the rumored 5.6 mm iPhone Air. The prototype is also said to feature a 6.59-inch display, combining a large screen with an exceptionally slender profile.

While visually striking, such an extreme level of thinness often introduces compromises in battery capacity, thermal performance, and overall durability. According to industry insiders, Xiaomi explored multiple engineering solutions, but the project struggled to overcome these inherent limitations.

Why the Project Was Scrapped

Despite the promising design, the Xiaomi 17 Air reportedly never advanced beyond the prototype phase and was eventually canceled. The primary reason behind this decision appears to be weak consumer demand for ultra-thin smartphones. In recent years, buyers have increasingly prioritized battery life, camera quality, and performance over ultra-slim form factors, making such devices less viable from a commercial standpoint.

Although the Xiaomi 17 Air will never reach consumers, the emergence of this prototype highlights Xiaomi’s willingness to push boundaries and experiment with bold concepts—insights that may well influence the company’s future smartphone designs.