Did you find an old Xiaomi fitness bracelet in the drawer, did you get it from your family, or just forgot which model you bought? It can be harder than it seems to identify the Mi Band version: the devices look similar, and the inscriptions on the case are often erased. But without a precise model, you can't download the right firmware, buy a strap or accessories, and sometimes even connect the bracelet to your phone.
In this article, we’ve collected all the working ways of identifying, from visual differences to hidden technical tags, you’ll learn how to distinguish the Mi Band 4 from the Mi Band 5 from the screen interface, where to look for the serial number on the body, and why the Mi Fitness app sometimes shows incorrect information.
1. Visual differences: compare the appearance of models
The quickest way is to look at the wristband carefully, and the manufacturer has changed the design every 1-2 generations, so even without technical knowledge, you can identify the model by the key details.
- 📱 Screen shape: square (Mi Band) 7/8) Or oval (Mi Band) 1–6).
- 🔘 Button: physical (Mi Band 1-4) or touch (Mi Band 5 and later).
- 🔋 Latch strap: metal (old models) or plastic with a magnet (new ones).
- 🎨 Color of the case: black matte (Mi Band) 3/4), glossy (Mi Band) 5), metal (Mi Band) 6 NFC).
If your bracelet has full color AMOLED-And the one that's animationd when you connect is the Mi Band 5 or later, and the one that's monochrome with green characters is the Mi Band 1-4:
| Model | Screen shape | Type of button | Case material | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 1/1S | Oval, monochrome | Physically | Plastic. | No pulse sensor, 3 LEDs. |
| Mi Band 2 | Oval, OLED | Physically | Plastic. | Pulse sensor, 1 button |
| Mi Band 5 | Oval, AMOLED | Sensory | Gloss/matte | 11 sports modes, magnetic charging |
| Mi Band 7 Pro | Square, AMOLED | Sensory | Metal + glass | GPS, always on screen |
⚠️ Attention: Mi Band bracelets 3 and Mi Band 4 They are almost identical, both of which are oval. OLED-The screen and the physical button can be distinguished by the screen resolution: 4-It's higher than the model (120×240 against 80×160 bal 3-oo).
2.Looking for serial number and model on the case
On the back of the case (under the strap) or on the charging module always marked.
- 🔢 Full name of the model: for example, XMSH10HM (Mi Band 5) or XMSH15HM (Mi Band 6).
- 📌 Abbreviated code: MIBAND5, MB4 etc.
- 📄 Serial number: begins with letters MDZ, MIL or XMSH.
To read the text, remove the capsule from the strap (click on the latch on the back) and light it with a flashlight. If the text is erased, try looking at it under a magnifying glass or taking a close-up picture.
Where to find the Mi Band 7 Pro?
⚠️ Note: Fakes often indicate non-existent models (for example, Mi Band 4 Pro or Mi Band 6 Lite).If you see such a designation, this is 100% fake. The original Xiaomi bracelets have only digital or alphanumeric indexes (without the "Lite", "Pro" in the model name on the body).
3. define the model through the official annex
If the bracelet is connected to a smartphone, check the information in the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit).
- Open the app and go to the Profile → My Devices section.
- Click on the bracelet icon and the data page will open.
- In the device information block, a model will be specified (e.g., Mi Smart Band 6).
🔍 Important nuance: The app may not show the exact model, but a generalized name (for example, Mi Band instead of Mi Band 4:
- 📊 Firmware version: The firmware file name always has a model index (e.g., a model index, mili_pro_1.7.0.14 for the Mi Band 5).
- 🔄 List of functions: if any SpO₂ (oxygenation, this is the Mi Band. 5/6/7.
💡
If the app shows "Unknown Device," try untie and reconnect the bracelet, and sometimes sync failure resets the model data.
4. Analysis of the interface and functions of the bracelet
Each generation of the Mi Band has unique chips on the menu, so turn on the bracelet and flip through the screens to help narrow the search.
| Function | Mi Band 1–4 | Mi Band 5–6 | Mi Band 7–8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animations when connected | ❌ No. | ✅ Aye (simple) | ✅ Aye (complex, coloured) |
| Sport regimes | ⚠️ Up to 5 species | ✅ 11+ species | ✅ 150+ species (with self-determination) |
| Measurement SpO₂ | ❌ No. | ✅ Got it (manually) | ✅ Aye (automatically) |
For example, if the bracelet menu has a Breathing mode, it's Mi Band 5 or later, and the presence of puzzles (games like "2048") indicates a Mi Band 6 or 7.
Flick through all menu screens|Find unique icons (SpO₂, stress, sleep)|Try to start a sports mode|View animations during synchronization-->
Verification of internal components (for advanced)
If external methods don't work, you can look under the hood, and you don't have to take apart the bracelet, you just have to know what chips are used in each model.
- 🔧 Mi Band 1-3: Dialog chip DA14580 (Bluetooth 4.0).
- 🔧 Mi Band 4: Nordic nRF52832 (Bluetooth 5.0).
- 🔧 Mi Band 5–8: Huami Huangshan 1/2 or Dialog DA14706.
You can find out the model of the chip through:
- Bluetooth Scanner: Use an application like nRF Connect (Android/iOS) and look at the name of the device in the list of connected devices. For example, the HRS3300 is the pulse sensor from the Mi Band 5.
- System logs: On Android, plug in the bracelet and check the logs via adb logcat | grep -i "ble." The output will be the chip model.
⚠️ Attention: This method requires technical knowledge. Incorrect use of adb or Bluetooth scanning applications can lead to loss of communication with the bracelet.
💡
The most reliable way is a combination of visual inspection + In 90% of cases, this is enough to accurately identify the.
6. Comparison with Xiaomi database
If you find a serial number or model on the case, but are not sure of its authenticity, check the data in the official database:
- Go to the Mi Verify website.
- Enter the serial number (e.g., MDZ09ABC12345).
- The system will show the model, the date of production and the status of the guarantee.
🔍 Xiaomi base is not always relevant for older models (for example, Mi Band) 1S). If your website makes a mistake, try alternative services:
- 🌍 IMEI.info (for models with SIM, For example, Mi Band 3 NFC).
- 🔍 SNDeepInfo (to check serials).
7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
When defining the Mi Band, users often experience false positives, and these are the most common mistakes:
- 🤖 Fakes: Clones often copy Mi Band design 4/5, But they have different software. Check if the bracelet menu has Chinese characters -- that's a sure sign of fake.
- 🔄 Update: After firmware is customized (e.g., Amazfit), the bracelet can be disguised as another model, in which case, reset it to factory settings.
- 📱 Incompatible App: If you use unofficial apps (like Notify for Mi Band), they may show an incorrect model.
💡 Tip: If none of the methods worked, take high-quality photos of the bracelet (front, back, menu screen) and ask a question on forums like 4PDA or MIUI Supergroups, experts can help identify the model by the little things you might have missed.