In recent years, exponential Euler difference methods for first-order semi-linear differential equations have been developed rapidly, and various exponential Euler difference methods have become a very important research topic. For fractional-order shunting inhibitory cellular neural networks with time lags, this article first establishes a new difference method named Mittag-Leffler Euler difference, which includes exponential Euler difference. Second, the existence of unique global bounded solution and equilibrium point, exponential stability and synchronization of the derived difference model are investigated. Compared with the classical fractional-order Euler difference method, the Mittag-Leffler discrete shunting inhibitory cellular neural networks can better describe and maintain the dynamic properties of the corresponding continuous-time models. More importantly, it opens up a new way to study discrete-time fractional-order systems and establishes a set of theory and methods to study Mittag-Leffler discrete neural networks.