How to Find Out the Exact Xiaomi Phone Model: The Complete Guide

Owning a device from the Xiaomi ecosystem is always a balance between advanced features and the need to understand the intricacies of the MIUI or HyperOS interface. Users often face a situation where the standard name on the menu does not match what is required to find firmware, drivers or parts. The exact device model is not just a marketing name, but a unique identifier necessary for correct operation of the software.

The confusion arises from the fact that the same device can be sold in different regions under different brands. For example, the device, known globally as the Redmi Note 10 Pro, in China may be called differently, and its technical code will differ from the European version. Understanding this difference is critical, especially if you plan to unlock the bootloader or install custom firmware.

In this article, we will explore all the methods available to identify your gadget, from simple visual checks to the use of engineering codes, learn to distinguish between code names like alioth or gauguin, and understand why they are more important than the beautiful name on the box, which will save you from installing incompatible software.

Visual identification and marking of the body

The most obvious, but often ignored, way is to inspect the device itself, either on the back or under the tray. SIM-If you can retrieve the cards, you often have small prints with technical information, look for a line that starts with an "M" followed by a combination of letters and numbers, and that's the model number that you can use to identify the device in the databases.

If there's no explicit indication on the case, look at the original packaging. There's always a white barcode sticker on the side of the box, and it's got IMEI, serial number, and most importantly, Model, and it's usually in a format like M2101K7BG, which encrypts information about the region and modifications.

⚠️ Warning: Never rely on a name printed in large print on the box (e.g., "Redmi Note 12"). Use only small technical code starting with "M" to find drivers or firmware".

In some cases, especially on global versions, the labeling on the case may be erased or missing due to design features, and software techniques come to the rescue that give more detailed information about the hardware inside.

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If the sticker on the box is lost, take a picture of the barcode from the back of the device immediately after purchase, which will keep the exact model in case you need to flash it back.

Determining the model through system settings

The Android operating system, regardless of the shell, stores complete device data. To access it, open the settings menu and find the About Phone (or About Device) section, which displays basic information, but it is often hidden behind a marketing name.

To get detailed information, you need to click several times in a row on the line called MIUI or HyperOS version. This action activates the hidden menu "Internal Version". In the list that opens, you will see the device model line that contains the desired alphanumeric code.

• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone.
• 🔢 Press. 7-10 once on the logo or OS version to open the extended menu.
• 👁️ Find the Model field (for example, 2201123G).
• 📝 Write down this code to search for further information.

It's this code that defines the region of the device. Codes that end in "G" are usually for the Global version "CN" — for China, and on "RU" — This distinction is important when choosing firmware, because the firmware is reflashed. CN-Global version may be difficult to block.

Use of the engineering menu and USSD-code

There's an engineering menu for more in-depth diagnostics and hardware information, and it's accessed through the standard Phone app by entering special combinations, and it's a powerful tool that shows not only the model, but also the status of component testing.

The most universal code for Xiaomi devices is ##6484##. Once you enter this setting combination, the CIT (Customer Information Test) menu will automatically open. Here, at the top or in the Version section, the exact model code and the hardware revision version are often duplicated.

##6484##
##4636##

Another useful code is ##4636##. It opens the testing menu, where you can see more technical details about the network and device in the "Phone Information" section, but on newer versions of Android, access to this menu through the code may be limited to the manufacturer.

⚠️ Note: In the engineering menu, do not change the settings, the value of which you do not know. Resetting the calibration of sensors or changing the parameters of the radio module can lead to malfunctioning of the phone.

Comparison of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models

Xiaomi’s branding is confusing, with the umbrella brand coming out of Redmi and POCO devices. Often the same hardware platform is sold under different names. Understanding the matchsheet helps you find the right files, even if the device is called differently in your region.

Below is a table showing how a single code name can be hidden behind different commercial names, and a codename is the most reliable identifier that doesn't change.

Using a codename in search terms (e.g., “Xiaomi alioth firmware”) yields far more accurate results than a search by marketing title, especially for developer forums such as 4PDA or XDA Developers.

Using ADB and Fastboot for advanced users

If the phone is not turned on or the screen is damaged but the system is responding, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) toolkit.This method requires connecting to the computer and having drivers installed, but it gives the most reliable information directly from the bootloader.

Connect the device to your PC in USB debugging mode. Open the command line and type a command to get the serial number and device properties. The system will give you a long list of parameters, among which you need to look for ro.product.model.

adb shell getprop ro.product.model


adb shell getprop ro.product.device

The ro.product.device command will return the device's codename (e.g., lmi), which is the "gold standard" of identification, a name used in firmware and backup file names, and a single-letter error when downloading an image can lead to a "brickle" of the gadget.

In Fastboot mode, information is also available. If you plug your phone in this mode and run the fastboot getvar all command in the console, you'll see a complete list of variables, including the current bootloader version and product ID.

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Using ADB/Fastboot is the only way to know exactly if the operating system is damaged or the phone is in Recovery mode.

Third-party diagnostic applications

When embedded tools are scarce or require the most detailed information about each chip inside a smartphone, specialized applications come to the rescue, reading data directly from system files and presenting it in a convenient way.

One of the most popular and reliable tools is CPU-Z or AIDA64. Once installed and run, the "Device" or "System" tab displays the exact processor model, screen resolution, and device model, which often matches the technical code.

• 📥 CPU-Z: Lightweight application showing basic characteristics and SoC model.
• 📊 AIDA64: Professional tool with detailing to sensors and heat sensors.
• 🔍 DevCheck: Useful for viewing camera and sensor information.

These applications are useful not only for model identification, but also for device authentication. If you see features in AIDA64 that do not match the stated ones (for example, an old processor instead of a new one), this is a sign of a fake or a re-flashed “Chinese” with the changed system files.