It’s official! Xiaomi has kicked off MWC 2026 in Barcelona, bringing the much-talked-about Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra to the global stage. If you were hoping for the Pro models, they are staying in China. But don’t worry, the standard 17 and the ultimate 17 Ultra are fully equipped to take on heavyweights like the Galaxy S26 and iPhone 17.
The standard Xiaomi 17 is actually quite pocketable. At 6.3 inches, it’s a refreshing change from the oversized slabs we usually see, yet it still packs a super bright 3,500-nit LTPO OLED display. The 17 Ultra, meanwhile, goes all out with a 6.9-inch screen. It’s thick, heavy, and unapologetically huge in order to accommodate all that camera hardware on the back.
Both devices run on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip with Android 16 out of the box. But here is an interesting quirk: the smaller phone actually has a bigger battery. You get a massive 6,330mAh cell in the regular 17, compared to 6,000mAh in the Ultra. Xiaomi had to shrink the Ultra’s battery slightly to make room for its massive 1-inch sensor and periscope lens.
Speaking of cameras, the 17 Ultra is where the real hardware flex happens. It features a new 1-inch Light Fusion 1050L primary sensor, but the real upgrade is the 200MP periscope telephoto. It offers true optical zoom between 75mm and 100mm, which is great for portrait and distance shots. The standard 17 keeps things simpler but effective with a solid triple 50MP setup.
| Feature | Xiaomi 17 | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3″ LTPO (1.5K) | 6.9″ HyperRGB (2K) |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Main Cam | 50MP Light Fusion 950 | 50MP 1-inch (1050L) |
| Telephoto | 50MP (60mm) | 200MP (75–100mm Mech) |
| Battery | 6,330 mAh (100W) | 6,000 mAh (90W) |
| Price | From €999 | From €1,499 |
Pricing starts at €999 for the 17 and jumps to €1,499 for the Ultra. At €999, the base model is looking like a very strong competitor for daily use, giving you top-tier performance and great battery life in a smaller size. The Ultra is definitely priced for the premium tier, targeting people who specifically want that 200MP zoom capability and don’t mind the extra bulk and cost.
Additionally, Xiaomi announced a special edition called the “Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi” starting at €1,999, featuring a nickel-anodized aluminum body and a physical Leica Camera Ring to celebrate Leica’s 100th anniversary
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