Media365
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has stepped up its overseas expansion with the global launch of its flagship Xiaomi 17 series in Barcelona, in its latest effort to challenge Apple and Samsung in the premium segment.
The launch event, held on Saturday ahead of MWC Barcelona, marked the overseas release of Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra, months after the company launched the Xiaomi 17 series domestically.
As with the domestic versions, both models are powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, with a starting price of €999 (US$1,180) for Xiaomi 17 and €1,499 for Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
The latest handsets are set to compete directly with Apple and Samsung in the premium smartphone segment, defined as handsets costing more than US$600. By comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 starts at US$900, while Apple’s iPhone 17 has a starting retail price of US$800.
Beijing-based Xiaomi maintained its third position in the global smartphone market in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to data from tech research firm Counterpoint. With an 11 per cent share, it followed Apple’s 25 per cent and Samsung’s 18 per cent.
The Xiaomi 17 series, unveiled in China last September, features the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, with a 17 Ultra variant released later in December. The models were launched about two weeks after Apple introduced its iPhone 17 models.
