Xiaomi is launching its T-series in its home market for the first time. The Xiaomi 17T and 17T Pro, already available globally, are now hitting China with nearly identical specs but dramatically lower prices. The T line had been exclusive to international markets since the Mi 9T debuted in 2019.
The standard Xiaomi 17T packs a 6.59-inch 12-bit LTPS OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra chipset, a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide, a 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 32MP selfie camera. The key difference from the global model is the battery: it jumps from 6,500mAh to 7,000mAh.
The Xiaomi 17T Pro in China is essentially a carbon copy of the global variant. It comes with a 6.83-inch 12-bit LTPS OLED display running at 144Hz, a Dimensity 9500 chip, and the same camera array as the 17T — though the main 50MP sensor is larger. The 7,000mAh battery, 100W wired charging, and 50W wireless charging carry over unchanged.
The real story here is pricing. In China, the Xiaomi 17T with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage costs just 2,999 yuan, or about €385. The same configuration in Europe goes for €749.99. The 12/512GB variant is priced at 3,499 yuan (around €450) in China, compared to €799.99 globally. This stark difference highlights how regional pricing, taxes, and distribution channels inflate Xiaomi's prices outside China.
The Xiaomi 17T Pro is also significantly cheaper in China. The base 12/256GB model comes in at 3,999 yuan (roughly €515), while the 12/512GB version is 4,499 yuan (€580), and the top-tier 16/512GB variant hits 4,799 yuan (€615). For perspective, the global 17T Pro with 12/512GB retails for €999.99 in Europe.
On paper, these Chinese variants of the Xiaomi 17T look especially appealing. Customers get nearly identical hardware to their European counterparts — and in the base 17T's case, even a larger battery. However, for the global market, this launch underscores a troubling trend: the same phones in China and Europe are increasingly defined not by what's inside, but by how much they cost.