How to Find the Exact Name of Xiaomi Phone: The Complete Guide

Owners of Chinese-brand smartphones often face a paradox: the device works properly, but its exact identification in the system or on the box raises questions. Marketing names such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro or Poco F5 can hide various hardware revisions that are critical when searching for firmware or parts. Different regions of the same device often have different code names, which confuses the untrained user.

The need to know the exact model is not just a matter of curiosity: When you flash a device through a Fastboot or recover from a crash, knowing the real codename is a prerequisite for success. A mistake in choosing a firmware file even by one letter can lead to a device being inoperable, so it is important to understand the manufacturer's nomenclature.

In this article, we will explore all possible ways to identify a device, from simple methods through the MIUI and HyperOS interface to advanced techniques using debugging commands, learn to distinguish between the global and Chinese versions, and understand why the settings sometimes display one name, and the system – a completely different one.

Identification through the device settings menu

The most obvious and accessible way to learn a smartphone model is to look at the system menu. However, the interface of the MIUI and HyperOS shells often hides technical details behind beautiful marketing names. To get to the bottom of it, the user needs to be attentive to the small details on the screen.

Walk the way Settings → The top of the screen usually shows a large image of the device and its commercial name, for example, Xiaomi. 13T. This is where many users stop, believing they have all the information, but for technologists, it's just the tip of the iceberg.

To get the full technical information, you need to run a series of quick clicks: Find a line with the name of the MIUI version (for example, MIUI 14 for Xiaomi) and click on it 7-10 times in a row. This action activates the hidden Special Features menu, which displays the technical data necessary for deep customization.

• 📱 Model: alphanumeric code, usually starting with 22 or 23 (e.g, 22101320G).
• 🔢 Codename: a short word in English unique to each model (e.g. unicorn, fuxi).
• 🌍 Region: The letter at the end of the model code indicates the market (G – Global, C – China, I – India).
• 📦 Kernel Version: Information about Android Base and Linux Version.

⚠️ Be careful when frequently clicking on the Android kernel version in some older versions MIUI. Instead of the feature menu, you can run a screen test or an Android logo, which will not give you the necessary information.

It’s important to understand the difference between the commercial name and the internal name. While you’re buying a Redmi Note 11 in the store, it can be listed as a Redmi Note 11S or Redmi Note 11 4G. These differences are due to different processors and camera modules installed in the same housing.

Use of engineering menus and codes

If the standard settings menu seems to you not informative enough or access to it is limited, special ones come to the rescue. USSD-This method allows you to access hidden parts of the system, where detailed technical documentation of a particular instance is stored.

To call the engineering menu, open the Phone app and dial ##6484##. The screen will instantly open the CIT (Customer Information Test) interface. This is all the hardware tests collected here, but we are interested in the top of the screen or the Version section, where the exact code name of the device is often duplicated.

An alternative is to use the *#06# code. Although it is designed to display IMEI, modern versions of Xiaomi firmware often list the numbers with a full-letter "Model" line under the list of numbers, which is especially useful if the touch screen is not working properly and navigation on the menu is difficult.

💡

If the ##6484## code doesn't work, try typing it through the Phone app without pressing the call button. Some models require a prefix, such as adding an asterisk at the end.

There is also a lesser-known code ##4636## that opens the testing menu, and if you go to Phone Information, you can see not only the model, but also the connection status, network type, and other diagnostic information that is useful for troubleshooting.

• 🔍 Accessibility: Codes work even without SIM-Maps and screen unlocks (on some versions).
• ⚙️ Functional: allows you to check the performance of the sensor, vibration and speakers.
• 🚫 Restrictions: On global firmware, some engineering codes may be blocked by the operator or manufacturer.

Checking through ADB and Fastboot mode

For advanced users who are engaged in system modification, the most reliable source of truth is interaction with the device through the computer. The ADB debugging protocol (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to get data directly from the system, bypassing the graphical interface.

You need to activate the developer mode beforehand. To do this, click on the build number in the About Phone menu 7 times, then in the advanced settings, turn on "Debugging by USB." After connecting the smartphone to the PC, execute the command in the terminal:

adb shell getprop ro.product.device

This command will return the exact codename of the device that is used in all official Xiaomi sources, and that is the name used to search for custom firmware (TWRP, LineageOS) and patches. The commercial name does not play any role here.

If the phone is in Fastboot mode, you can get the information without turning on the operating system. Connect the device to the computer and type in the command:

fastboot getvar all

In the lead, among the many lines, find the product or variant parameter, which is the internal designation of the model, and this method is indispensable if the system is not booting and you need to understand which firmware was on the device before the failure.

⚠️ Note: Working with Fastboot and ADB Incorrect commands can lead to a complete lockdown of the bootloader or loss of data.

Analysis of markings on the case and box

Physical media, such as the box and back of the device, often contain more complete data than software, especially for devices purchased in the secondary market or brought from other regions where the firmware may have been changed.

The original box always has a barcode sticker on it. Look for the Model line. It contains a full index, like the M2102J20SG. The last letter here is critical: G stands for Global (global version), C stands for China (Chinese), I for India (Indian), and it depends on the band support (Band 20) and the availability of NFC.

On the body of the smartphone, if you remove the tray SIM-If you look at the small print on the back (depending on the model), you can also find the markings, but manufacturers often only specify the commercial name, so the box remains a more reliable source.

When you buy a used device, compare the model on the box and the settings. If they differ (for example, on the box 22021211RG, and in the system 22021211RG - the same, but if in the Global system and on the China box), then the phone has been installed global firmware on top of Chinese, this can affect the operation of notifications and banking applications.

IMEI Online Services and Databases

When you don’t have physical access to your device (for example, you’re just planning to buy or checking your phone remotely), IMEI databases come to the rescue. Knowing the device’s unique identifier, you can find out its exact model, color, memory capacity and release region.

Enter IMEI (available on the box or by dialing *#06#) on specialized resources. Mi Verification's official website allows you to verify authenticity and basic characteristics. Third-party databases, such as IMEI.info or XiaomiDB, often provide more detailed technical specifications.

Using these services helps identify gray devices or phones assembled from different parts, and if the database says that the device should be black and you have white, then you should consider replacing the case or integrity of the device.

• ✅ Reliability: Data is taken from the manufacturer.
• 🔒 Security: Checking does not require a phone connection to a PC.
• 🌐 Accessibility: Works with any device with Internet access.

Differences in code names and modifications

Understanding the logic of Xiaomi’s codenames is key to success in the custom firmware world. The same commercial name can sling to as many as 3-4 different hardware platforms. For example, the Redmi Note 10 series includes 4G, 5G, Pro and Pro Max versions, which have completely different code names (sunny, mojito, alioth).

A firmware designed for mojito will never stand on sunny, even if the phones are visually identical. Trying to install inappropriate software will lead to a compatibility check error in the Recovery or, in the worst case, to a “brick”.

💡

Always check the codename before downloading any files: firmware, cores, mods. The commercial name on the box does not guarantee compatibility.

Often confusion arises with the brand. POCO. Many models POCO They are called Redmi or Xiaomi, POCO F3 — It's the same Redmi. K40 (Knowing this match, you can use resources and instructions destined for the Chinese versions of Redmi, which often gives access to more recent updates.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)