Big surprise on the Xiaomi 17 Pro

The fact that the Xiaomi 17 Pro uses a plastic back cover has surprised many users. Photo: JerryRigEverything .

Xiaomi recently launched its Xiaomi 17 series smartphones in China a few weeks ago. Recently, popular YouTuber Zack Nelson from the JerryRigEverything channel conducted rigorous durability tests on the Xiaomi 17 Pro. The testing process revealed a surprising truth about Xiaomi's latest flagship model.

Specifically, Xiaomi used plastic instead of glass for the back of the 17 Pro. While plastic has advantages in terms of heat dissipation and is less prone to breakage than glass, this decision may surprise many customers, especially since plastic backs are commonly found on many lower-end smartphones.

In the video , viewers can clearly see Zack easily using a utility knife to scratch the plastic back of the Xiaomi 17 Pro. After using a hairdryer to melt the adhesive, the removed back panel easily bent, further evidence that the back panel is made of plastic.

On the other hand, with its anodized aluminum frame, the phone maintains a solid feel and robust appearance. However, the use of a plastic back may be disappointing for many users expecting a glass back in the premium segment.

The back of the Xiaomi 17 Pro is easily bent due to the use of plastic material. Photo: JerryRigEverything.

Besides the back panel, the most outstanding feature in the durability test was the screen's superior scratch resistance. Xiaomi equipped it with a type of glass called "Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0," capable of withstanding damage at level 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. This is considered a significant improvement, as most other flagship devices usually start showing scratches at level 6 on the Mohs scale.

While not rating Dragon Crystal Glass as being on par with the Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 17 Pro, Zack still asserts that the Xiaomi 17 Pro's glass performs better than any Android phone he's ever tested. However, the secondary screen on the back uses only standard tempered glass and is easily scratched at Mohs level 6.

Moving on to the bend test, the Xiaomi 17 Pro once again performed excellently. The smartphone showed no signs of cracking or deformation when bent by hand.

The robust internal structure allows the device to withstand high pressure without damage – a rarity in phones with plastic backs. The aluminum frame effectively absorbs impact forces, minimizing the risk of injury from drops.

Zack then proceeded to remove the back cover to examine the phone's internal details, revealing the component layout and efficient cooling system. His conclusion was that the Xiaomi 17 Pro is one of the most durable flagships of the year, although it hasn't reached perfection in terms of body materials.

The Xiaomi 17 series is currently only sold in China and an international version is expected to be released in early 2026.