The Xiaomi Mi Max Pro (codename helium), also known as the Mi Max Prime, was the top-tier version of the original groundbreaking phablet launched in 2016. It was designed for users who wanted maximum screen real estate and battery life, featuring a gigantic 6.44-inch display and a massive 4850 mAh battery. The helium variant was distinguished from the standard model by its more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor and higher RAM and storage configurations. For enthusiasts of this classic media powerhouse, this page provides the official fastboot ROMs for China and Global, the popular Xiaomi.eu custom ROM, and the official TWRP recovery.
Important: This firmware is ONLY for the Mi Max Pro/Prime version with a Snapdragon 652 processor, codenamed helium. It is not compatible with the standard Mi Max (hydrogen), which uses a Snapdragon 650. Flashing the wrong firmware will hard brick your device.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: Xiaomi Mi Max Pro / Prime (helium)
- Release year: 2016
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 652
- Display: 6.44″ IPS LCD
- Battery: 4850 mAh
- Original MIUI: Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), MIUI 8
Required Downloads
| File / Tool | Download Link |
|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Flash Tool | Download Latest Version |
| Xiaomi USB Drivers | Included with Mi Flash Tool |
| Bootloader Unlock Tool | Official Mi Unlock Page |
Official & Custom ROMs / Recovery
| Region | Build | Android | Type | Download | Codename |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | V10.2.2.0.NBDCNXM | 7.0 | Official Fastboot ROM | Download | helium |
| Global | V10.2.2.0.NBDMIXM | 7.0 | Official Fastboot ROM | Download | helium |
| Xiaomi.eu (Custom) | V10.2.1.0.NBDCNXM (Based) | 7.0 | Custom Recovery ROM | Download | helium |
| TWRP (Official) | 3.7.0_9-0 | — | Custom Recovery | Download | helium |
How to Flash Official ROM (Mi Flash Tool)
This is a quick checklist for this device. For a complete tutorial on installing drivers, unlocking the bootloader, and troubleshooting, please read our master guide:
Read Our Ultimate Guide to Mi Flash Tool
Use this method to unbrick your phone or restore official MIUI firmware.
- Boot into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down).
- Extract the official firmware (.tgz file) and select the main folder containing the
/imagesdirectory in Mi Flash Tool. - Select clean all for a safe installation (you can use clean all and lock to return to a fully stock, locked state).
How to Install TWRP & Flash Custom ROMs
Use this method to install the Xiaomi.eu custom ROM or other community-developed ROMs.
What is TWRP? TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is a powerful custom recovery that replaces your phone’s limited stock recovery. It is the essential tool that allows you to install custom software (.zip files), create full backups of your system (a “Nandroid”), and perform other advanced maintenance. The official ROMs on this page do not require TWRP.
Disclaimer: This is an advanced process. Proceed at your own risk.
- Unlock the Bootloader: This is a mandatory first step. Use the official Mi Unlock Tool.
- Flash TWRP:
- Boot your phone into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down) and connect it to your PC.
- Using ADB & Fastboot tools on your PC, flash the downloaded twrp-3.7.0_9-0-helium.img file with the command:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-helium.img
- Boot into TWRP: After flashing, immediately boot into recovery by holding Power + Volume Up.
- Install Custom ROM:
- In TWRP, it’s recommended to first perform a Factory Reset via the “Wipe” menu.
- Transfer the Xiaomi.eu .zip ROM file to your phone’s storage.
- In TWRP, tap “Install,” select the .zip file, and swipe to confirm the flash.
- Reboot your system once complete.
Device-Specific Troubleshooting for Mi Max Pro (helium)
The Mi Max is a classic device with some specific quirks. Please read these points carefully.
- CRITICAL: helium vs. hydrogen Firmware: Before flashing, you must confirm your device is the helium variant (Snapdragon 652). Flashing a ROM for the standard hydrogen model (Snapdragon 650) can cause a hard brick or loss of network connectivity due to modem incompatibility. Use an app like AIDA64 to verify your chipset.
- Hard Brick Recovery (EDL Mode): If your Mi Max becomes completely unresponsive (hard bricked), the only way to recover it is via EDL Mode (Qualcomm 9008). This requires opening the phone’s back cover and shorting two specific test points on the motherboard while connecting it to a PC, which forces Mi Flash Tool to detect it.
- Ghost Touch / Unresponsive Screen: Some Mi Max units were known to experience “ghost touch” issues. If you face this, first try a clean flash of the latest official MIUI ROM, as this can sometimes fix software-related touch driver issues. If the problem persists on stock firmware, it is likely a hardware fault with the display digitizer.
- Using an Older Mi Flash Tool: For a classic device like the Mi Max, the latest versions of Mi Flash Tool may not be fully compatible. If you encounter flashing errors, using a stable older version (like MiFlash20160830) can often solve the problem.
FAQs
Q1. How do I know if I have the Mi Max Pro (helium) or the standard Mi Max (hydrogen)? The most reliable method is to install a device info app like AIDA64 from the Play Store. The Pro/Prime version will show the CPU as Qualcomm Snapdragon 652, while the standard version will show Snapdragon 650. The Pro/Prime versions also came with higher RAM (3GB/4GB).
Q2. What was the final official update for the Mi Max Pro? The Mi Max launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow and received its final major OS upgrade to Android 7.0 Nougat. The MIUI 10 builds provided on this page are the last official software updates for this model.
