According to information shared by reputable leaker @MysteryLupin on X, the European version of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is expected to launch with a starting price of €1,499 for the configuration featuring 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM. Notably, this figure represents the base price for the Ultra model in Europe.
From a historical perspective, this pricing is not entirely unexpected. Both the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Xiaomi 16 Ultra debuted in Europe at similar price points. However, in a market where flagship buyers increasingly expect either aggressive pricing or tangible generational improvements, the absence of a price adjustment may feel disappointing.
The more controversial aspect of the leak concerns battery capacity. While the Chinese version of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is rumored to feature a 6,800mAh battery, the European variant is said to ship with a reduced 6,000mAh cell. Although 6,000mAh remains generous by flagship standards, the downgrade is difficult to overlook.
The issue here is not purely technical. For many users, it is about perception. Receiving a global version with inferior hardware compared to the China-exclusive model reinforces a long-standing criticism aimed at several Chinese manufacturers: prioritizing the domestic market while offering toned-down variants internationally.
Despite this, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is shaping up to be one of the most powerful smartphones of 2026. It is expected to feature a 6.9-inch AMOLED display, the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and a high-end camera setup consisting of a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a massive 200MP periscope telephoto lens, alongside a 50MP front-facing camera.
Even with the smaller 6,000mAh battery, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra would still outperform many rivals in raw capacity. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to feature a battery around 5,000mAh, while the rumored Galaxy S26 Ultra is also said to retain a 5,000mAh battery. In this context, Xiaomi maintains a numerical advantage, though less pronounced than in China.
From an iTDAY technical analysis standpoint, the battery reduction may be influenced by European logistics and safety regulations. Large single-cell batteries face stricter transport and certification requirements within the EU, often forcing manufacturers to either redesign battery architecture or reduce capacity to ensure compliance and control costs.
Nevertheless, even if regulatory constraints are the underlying reason, transparency remains crucial. Without clear communication from Xiaomi, global consumers are left with the impression that they are receiving a compromised version of a flagship device they are paying a premium for.
In conclusion, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra remains an exceptionally capable flagship on paper. However, if this leak proves accurate, Xiaomi risks repeating a familiar strategy: delivering its most complete hardware experience to China while offering a slightly downgraded — yet equally expensive — version to global markets.
