Users often face a situation where they need to accurately identify a device but do not know where to look for this information.This may be necessary to find the current firmware, check the compatibility of accessories or issue a warranty. Owners of budget models often confuse the marketing name with the technical code, which leads to errors when installing the software.
In MIUI and the new HyperOS, device information is hidden in several places, but it is not always displayed in a way that is understandable to the average user. For example, the About Phone menu may feature a beautiful name like Redmi Note 12 Pro, but a service center or driver search requires a digital index such as 22101320G. Understanding this difference is critical for competent maintenance of the gadget.
In this article, we will look at all the existing ways to get accurate technical data about your smartphone, we will look at standard settings menus, secret engineering codes, and physical identification methods, and you will learn to distinguish between global and Chinese versions of devices, which is often the key to solving update problems.
Search for information in the menu "About the phone"
The most obvious and affordable way is to look at the standard operating system settings menu. However, manufacturers often hide technical details behind multiple layers of nesting to avoid overloading the interface with unnecessary data. Depending on the shell version, the path may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same for all devices of the brand.
First, you need to open the main menu and find the gear icon. Next, scroll down to the About Phone section. This is the basic summary. Note that at the top of the screen, the marketing name that is used in the ads is usually displayed in large print, but is not a unique identifier.
To see hidden details, including the exact model number, you need to click one or more clicks on the MIUI or HyperOS version name. This action activates the hidden mode of advanced information. In the list that opens, you will see the "Model" line, where the alphanumeric code will be indicated.
☑️ Checking the data in the menu
It is important to understand that the model code consists of numbers and letters, where the last letter indicates the region of the device’s destination, for example, “G” stands for the global version, “CN” stands for China, and “RU” is an adapted version for Russia and CIS countries.
Use of the engineering menu and USSD-code
If the settings menu is limited or the system is unstable, special service codes come to the rescue, allowing you to access diagnostic information directly, bypassing the graphical interface, a method that is especially useful when the screen is partially down or the sensor is reacting with delays.
For the purpose of obtaining model data and IMEI You need to open the application "Phone" (caller) and dial a universal code *#06#. Once you enter the last grille, the technical menu will automatically open on the screen, and all identifiers will be listed here, including: IMEI each SIM-map and serial number of the device (S/N).
⚠️ Note: Some newer versions of Xiaomi shells may not have code #4636## open the full test menu, but only show basic battery information.
There is also a deeper level of diagnostics available through code ##6484##. This is a CIT (Customer Integration Test) menu designed to check hardware components. At the top of the screen or in the Version section, the exact model name is often duplicated, which matches the data on the back cover.
Use of the USSD-The codes are safe for the user's data, as they only read information from the system files. However, do not change the settings in the engineering menu if you are not sure about your actions, as this may affect the operation of the radio module.
Analysis of packaging and stickers on the body
Physical media — the box and stickers on the device itself — are the most reliable source of data, independent of software, so the information on them is relevant even if the phone is not turning on or in a “brick state”.
There's always a white barcode label on the back of the box, and look for a line that starts with the word "Model," which usually shows the color of the device, the amount of memory and the date of production, and this is necessary for initial identification when you buy used equipment.
If you have a factory protective film on the back of your smartphone, the model information is often printed directly on it. In modern models, where there is no film, the sticker can be under the tray for the device. SIM-To see it, you need to take out the tray with a paper clip and light the flashlight inside the slot.
What do the letters at the end of the model mean?
When buying a device from hand, be sure to check the code on the box with the code in the system. If they do not match, this may indicate that components from another phone were installed in the case of one phone, or the device was assembled from different parts in artisanal conditions.
Checking with Google Play and Mi Account
Modern ecosystems allow you to learn a device model remotely, through a web interface, which is convenient if you want to check which gadgets are tied to your account, or search for a lost phone, information is synchronized automatically when you have an Internet connection.
To check with Google, go to the device management page in your account, which will display a list of all smartphones, tablets and watches that have ever logged in with your data, and the model will be listed as it is registered in the Google Play database.
Similar functionality is available on Xiaomi Cloud, and if you go to i.mi.com from a computer, you will see all the devices attached, which is a great way to double-check the data if you have any doubts about the authenticity of the device or its origin.
| Source of data | precision | Availability | Phone needs to be turned on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settings (About the phone) | Tall. | Always. | Yes. |
| Box/Sticker | Maximum | Only if there is a package | No. |
| Google Play / Mi Cloud | Medium | If there is an Internet | Yes (for synchronization) |
| Annex CPU-Z | Tall. | After installation | Yes. |
Third-party diagnostic applications
When embedded tools are scarce or more detailed hardware information is needed, specialized utilities come to the rescue, reading data directly from the chips and controllers, providing a complete picture of the device's configuration.
One of the most popular and reliable tools is the CPU-Z application. Once installed and launched, it immediately displays the “Device” tab, where the exact technical name is indicated in the “Model” field, and this application will also show the real screen resolution, the number of cores and the type of processor.
Another powerful tool is AIDA64, which provides comprehensive information not only about the model, but also about sensors, battery temperature, memory and network load, and is an indispensable tool for deep diagnostics for experts and engineers.
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Use apps like CPU-Z or AIDA64 to test the actual screen resolution and matrix. Some unscrupulous vendors refashion cheap phones by changing the name of the model in the system, but hardware is harder to fool.
Installing these programs takes a couple of minutes, but they can save you from buying counterfeit. Pay attention to the Hardware box, which often indicates the code name of the processor (for example, lito for Snapdragon 778G), which allows you to accurately identify the platform.
Decoding of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO model codes
Understanding the logic (naming) helps to quickly navigate the model range. Xiaomi model codes are usually built according to a certain scheme, knowing which, you can understand the year of release and the class of the device.
The first two digits often indicate the year of development or release. For example, models starting with "22" or "23" are likely to refer to 2022 and 2023 respectively.
It's important to distinguish between brands within the ecosystem. Redmi and POCO have their own lineups, but technically they're based on Xiaomi platforms. So they may have similar model codes, but the marketing names will be completely different.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t confuse the processor model (like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) with the phone itself.
The codes used for the global market are often the same as those used for China, but with the last letter changed, but sometimes there are completely unique codes for certain regions, due to differences in frequency bands.
Frequent problems and solutions in identification
Users sometimes encounter a situation where the phone is not displayed correctly, such as on a computer it may be defined as "Android" or "Qualcomm" rather than a specific Xiaomi model.
If the menu "About the phone" instead of the model name says "Unknown" or a dash, this may indicate damage to the system partition build.prop. In this case, resetting the settings to factory or flashing the device through the computer will help.
It also happens that after a software update, the name on the menu changes, which happens when the manufacturer changes the marketing position of the device, but the technical code remains unchanged, so always focus on it first.
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The exact model code (e.g. 22101320G) is more important than the beautiful name (Redmi Note 12 Pro), since it is the code that search for drivers, firmware and spare parts.