Xiaomi unveils 17 series worldwide to compete with Apple, Samsung

Xiaomi launched its flagship 17 series globally in Barcelona ahead of MWC and unveiled the Xiaomi 17 and 17 Ultra.

Both models were released in China last year, with the 17 in September and the 17 Ultra in December, using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.

Prices start at €999 (US$1,179) for the 17 and €1,499 (US$1,769) for the 17 Ultra.

The company also introduced the Xiaomi Pad 8 tablet series, the Watch 5 smartwatch, and the Vision Gran Turismo electric hypercar.

Market researcher Counterpoint said Xiaomi held an 11% share of the global smartphone market in Q4 2025, ranking third after Apple with 25% and Samsung with 18%.

Lei Jun, founder, chairman and CEO, reiterated a commitment to invest 200 billion yuan in R&D over five years and expects to integrate an in-house chip, operating system, and a self-developed large AI model in one device this year.

With starting prices above US$1,000, the new handsets place Xiaomi in the premium segment alongside rivals whose flagship phones start at about US$900 for Samsung’s Galaxy S26 and US$800 for Apple’s iPhone 17.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Xiaomis higher prices come from pressure at home and abroad

Xiaomi priced the Xiaomi 17 line at the high end in response to tougher conditions.
Its global smartphone average selling price (ASP) fell 2.7% year over year in Q2 2025, partly because overseas sales leaned heavily on lower-cost Redmi phones 1.
In China, Xiaomi finished 2025 in fourth place, losing ground to Apples ecosystem and a stronger Huawei 1.
A large research and development (R&D) budget was expected to top $4.2 billion in 2025, while rising costs pushed Xiaomi to drop its lowest flagship price tiers 2.

This puts pressure on the Google- and Qualcomm-led Android model

Xiaomi aims to combine an in-house chip, an in-house operating system, and a self-developed large AI model in one device, copying the vertical integration that helps Apple and Huawei compete 1.
The approach runs against the usual Android setup, where brands depend on Google for the operating system and Qualcomm for top-tier processors.
Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra still use a Snapdragon chip, yet the longer-term push for self-reliance could strain supplier ties, similar to how Huaweis Kirin chips and HarmonyOS cut reliance on U.S. technology 1.
If vivo and OPPO, which face similar market pressure 1, take the same route, the Android ecosystem could splinter and the platforms core technology firms could lose influence.