How to distinguish the original Xiaomi Mi Band 4 from a fake: 12 proven ways

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular gadgets for tracking activity, despite the release of new models. Its affordable price and wide functionality attract not only honest buyers, but also scammers. According to AliExpress and Wildberries, up to 30% of the Mi Band 4 bracelets on the market are fakes. These copies often pose as branded devices, but in terms of build quality, sensor accuracy and durability are inferior to even budget counterparts.

In this article, we’ll look at 12 key differences that can help you identify a fake before you buy it, or refund your money if the fraud has already occurred. We’ve analyzed serial numbers, packaging, firmware and hardware tests to make the most accurate checklist, and we’ll focus on Chinese clones (such as the Haylou LS02 or Amazfit Bip U) that masquerade as the Mi Band 4 with minimal design changes, and if you buy the bracelet from your hands, on the marketplace or even in the official store, these tips will save you nerves and money.

1. Packaging check: 5 parts that give out a fake

The box is the first and most obvious sign of originality, and counterfeiters often save on packaging, but copy it in a way that only makes a difference when you look closely. The original Mi Band 4 box has:

• 📦 Matte coating with light texture (fakes are usually glossy or too rough).
• 🔍 Clear logo printing: Mi and Xiaomi not blurred, no paint shifting.
• 📏 Exact dimensions: original — 10.5 × 5.5 × 2 (c) Fakes are often already or higher on 1-2 mm).
• 💡 Hologram on the side (copies do not have it or it is glued separately).
• 📄 Barcode and serial number that can be checked on the Xiaomi website.

Look at the fonts and the color gamut. The original box uses a gray color with a slight blue hue (Pantone Cool Gray 6), and fakes are often printed on cheap yellow paper. If there are grammatical errors in the English or Chinese text on the box, it's 100% fake.

⚠️ Note: Some sellers repackage fakes into original boxes from other Xiaomi devices (e.g. Mi Band 3 or Redmi Note).Always check the model's matching on the box and bracelet!

External inspection of the bracelet: plastic, buttons and display

Even if the packaging is perfect, the bracelet itself can produce a fake.

• 🔧 The gaps between the body and the strap: the original they are minimal (less than 0.5 mm), the copies often see gaps.
• 🖱️ Touch button: on the original it is slightly recessed and has a tactile response; fakes use a flat button without clicking.
• 📱 AMOLED-Display: the original has clear pixels and deep black (fakes are often used in black) IPS grey-lit).
• 🔄 Logo on the back: the original it is engraved, the copies – sticker or paint that is erased.

Do a waterproof test: the original Mi Band 4 has 5 ATM protection, which means it can withstand a 50-meter dive. Counterfeiting often leaks when you wash your hands. To check, lower the bracelet in the water for 10 minutes — if drops appear under the display, it's fake.

💡

If the seller refuses to provide a photo of the bracelet in the on state, this is a reason to be wary. The original has a signature screensaver Mi at launch, which is difficult to fake.

3.Serial number and verification via Mi Fit

Each original Mi Band 4 has a unique serial number (S/N) that can be checked through the official Mi Fit app or on Xiaomi's website.

1. On the back of the bracelet (under the sensor).
2. On a box (usually on a barcode sticker).
3. In the bracelet settings in the Mi Fit application (Profile → Device → Information).

How to verify authenticity:

1. Open the Mi Verification website.
2. Enter the serial number and code from the picture.
3. If the system gives an error or the data does not match, you are a fake.

Note that some fakes mimic serial numbers, but they don't pass the test, like the original numbers starting with MIBAND4 or XMSH, and copies often have random character sets.

4. Firmware and software differences

Fakes often use stripped-down versions of firmware or even third-party software. Here's how to check it:

• 📱 Connection app: the original only works with Mi Fit or Zepp Life; fakes may require Haylou Fun, Amazfit or unknown Chinese apps.
• 🔄 The original version of the firmware: it begins with 1.0.9.x or higher (checked in Mi Fit) → Device profile → Firmware update).
• 🔍 Interface language: Copies often lack Russian or curve translation.
• 🎵 The function of the "Music remote": the original can control the player on the phone, fakes - no.

Another test is data synchronization: the original Mi Band 4 transmits steps, pulse and sleep to Mi Fit without delay, and fakes often “hang” or show unrealistic data (for example, 20,000 steps per hour).

5. Sensor test: pulse, pedometer and accelerometer

The original Mi Band 4 is equipped with an optical heart rate sensor PPG and a 3-axis accelerometer that shows accurate data. Fakes save on iron, so their readings are often unrealistic.

• ❤️ Pulse sensor: Compare the bracelet readings to a medical pulseometer or smartphone app (e.g. Heart Rate Monitor) A difference of more than 10% is a sign of fake.
• 👟 Stepmer: Come in 100 Compare the steps to the actual number. The original is wrong by no more than the number of steps. 5%, copy-on 20-50%.
• 💤 Sleep Tracking: Original captures sleep phases (deep, light, REM), The fakes only show the total time.

Another test is reaction to movement. Shake the bracelet sharply, the original will instantly update the data on the screen, the fake can "hang" or show an error.

Compare pulse with other device |Take 100 steps and check accuracy |View sleep detail |Check response to shaking-->

⚠️ Attention: Some fakes mimic high accuracy rates, but they actually use random algorithms, for example, they can show a pulse of 72 beats per minute regardless of the actual state.

6.Compact: What should be in the box

The original Xiaomi Mi Band 4 comes with a minimalistic but complete set. Counterfeiting is often spared on trifles.

• 📦 Mi Band 4 bracelet with strap.
• 🔋 Charging cable (with magnetic connector) USB-A).
• 📄 Brief guide in Chinese/English (in the Russian version there may be an insert in Russian).

What should not be in the original:

• 🚫 Additional straps (only one in the set).
• 🚫 Charging cable with USB-C Micro-USB (original only) USB-A).
• 🚫 Software discs or instructions in other languages (except Chinese/English/Russian).

Notice the quality of the charging cable. The original connector fits tightly into the bracelet, and counterfeits often hang around or don't hold the charge.

7.Price and place of purchase: how not to run into fraud

The average price of the original Mi Band 4 in 2026:

• 🇷🇺 Russia: 1,500–2,500 ₽ (stock-based).
• 🇨🇳 China (AliExpress): $15–$25 (with delivery).
• 🇪🇺 Europe: €20–€35.

If you are offered a bracelet for less than 1,200 ₽ ($12) is almost guaranteed forgery. Also beware of sellers who:

• 🚩 Refuse to provide photo of packaging and serial number.
• 🚩 The bracelet is said to be “very similar to the original, but cheaper".
• 🚩 They are sold without a box or with a "European firmware".

Where to buy safely:

• ✅ Official Xiaomi store (mi.com or branded salons).
• ✅ Certified resellers: Wildberries, Ozon, Svyaznoy, M. Video.
• ✅ AliExpress vetted sellers with a rating above 98% and reviews of Mi Band 4.

💡

Even in official stores, there are fakes! Always check the serial number and packaging, even if you buy from a verified place.

8 What to do if you have already bought a fake

If you find that your Mi Band 4 is fake, follow the following algorithm:

1. Gather evidence: take a picture of the bracelet, packaging, serial number and check.
2. Contact the seller: On the marketplace (Wildberries, Ozon) - write in support and demand a return under the law "On consumer protection." On AliExpress - open a dispute (Order Details → Open Dispute) with a photo attached and a link to this article. From your hands (Avito, Yula) - write to the seller with a demand to return the money, threatening to go to the police under article 159 of the criminal code (fraud).

If the seller refuses

• Write a complaint to the marketplace (section "Help" or "Feedback").
• Leave a negative review of the fake photo.
• Contact the Rospotrebnadzor or the Prosecutor’s Office (if the amount is significant).

If the bracelet is not returned, but it more or less works, you can try to sew it with alternative firmware (for example, Amazfit Mod), but this is risky - fakes often break after such manipulations.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Band 4