The Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets are among the most popular wearables on the market due to a combination of functionality and affordable price. However, high demand has led to the mass appearance of fakes that are almost indistinguishable from the originals, but in terms of build quality, sensor accuracy and durability are significantly inferior. According to a study by Counterpoint Research, up to 30% of the Mi Band bracelets sold in the secondary market (including marketplaces) are counterfeit.
Not only do counterfeits fail faster, they can also be dangerous: poor-quality batteries sometimes swell, and uncertified sensors give false readings (for example, about pulse or blood oxygen levels). 7 We'll use reliable ways to verify originality, including visuals, software tests and nuances that even experienced salespeople don't know about. 7/8 Pro and Smart Band 8, Because they are often counterfeited.
1. Packaging check: 5 parts that give out a fake
Xiaomi's original packaging is the first and most obvious indicator of authenticity. Counterfeit bracelets often come in boxes with blurry fonts, crooked seams or color inconsistencies.
- 📦 Box material: the original is made of thick matového cardboard with a glossy coating on the front. Counterfeiters often use cheap glossy cardboard that shines through the light.
- 🔍 Barcode and serial number: a sticker with a 12-digit serial number must be pasted at the bottom of the box (starts with a 12-digit serial number). MIL or MB) and a barcode, which can be checked through the official website Mi.com.
- 🖋️ Logo embossed: the original box has the Mi or Xiaomi logo engraved in relief rather than printed.
- 📏 Size and fit: the lid of the original box fits tightly without gaps. Counterfeiting often has backlashes or opens with a characteristic crackle.
- 🌍 Localization of text: on boxes for the Russian market, the text is duplicated in Russian (including instructions). If the inscriptions are only in English or Chinese, this is a reason to be wary.
Pay special attention to the protective film on the box. Xiaomi's original bracelets come with a transparent film with microdots (anti-counterfeit protection), which is difficult to remove neatly - it breaks into small pieces. Counterfeit is often wrapped in a smooth film without dots.
⚠️ Note: If the box says "For Russian Market", but there is no Russian instruction or certificate of the EAC, you are guaranteed a fake.
2. Visual inspection of the bracelet: what should alert
Even if the packaging looks perfect, the bracelet itself can give off a fake.
- 🔄 Sensor button: on the original Mi Band 7/8 The physical button under the screen has a barely noticeable backlash (about the 0.3 And it makes a quiet click when you press it, and it's often hard buttons with no tactile feedback.
- 💡 Screenlight: Turn on the bracelet and look at the screen at an angle of 45°. The original has a uniform backlight without yellowness around the edges. Fakes often have dark spots in the corners or a greenish hue.
- 🔌 Charging connector: The original bracelet's back has a gold-colored charging connector and two symmetrical magnetic contacts, and the fakes save on gold, with contacts that are silver or with oxidation marks.
- 📱 Screen and oleophobic coating: swipe your finger across the screen off. The original has a smooth coating that repels prints. The fakes quickly get greasy and scratched.
Notice the weight of the bracelet. The original Mi Band 8 weighs 14.9g (without the strap), and most fakes are 2-3g heavier because of the cheap body materials. Weigh the device on a kitchen scale for a precise check.
| Sign. | Original | Fake. |
|---|---|---|
| Strap material | Thermoplastic elastomer (TPU) with soft texture | Hard plastic or silicone with a pungent smell |
| Logo on the case | Mi or Xiaomi laser engravings, not erased | A sticker or paint that will eventually come off |
| The sound of vibration | A quiet, high-frequency hum | Loud rattling sound (cheap motor) |
| Color of charging indicator | Orange when charged, green when full | Red or blue (arbitrary colors) |
A critical sign of forgery: if you connect to the Mi Fitness app, the bracelet is defined as a model older than the Mi Band 5 (e.g., Mi Band 4), despite the Mi Band 8 marking on the body, it is 100% fake.
3.Verification through the official Mi Fitness app
The most reliable way to detect a fake is to sync the bracelet to the official Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit), which either doesn't connect at all or is identified as unknown gadgets.
- Download Mi Fitness from the App Store or Google Play.
- Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required!).
- Go to the Profile section → Add the device → Bracelet.
- Select your bracelet model from the list (e.g. Mi Smart Band 8).
- Follow the instructions on the screen for pairing over Bluetooth.
If the bracelet is original:
- 🔵 The application will immediately determine the model and offer to update the firmware.
- 📊 All functions will appear: sleep monitoring, measurement SpO₂, stress-test.
- 🔄 In the About section, the serial number will be specified that matches the number on the box.
If the bracelet is fake:
- ❌ The app will not find the device or identify it as “Unknown Device".
- ⚠️ Functions will be limited (e.g. no measurement of oxygen in the blood).
- 🔢 The serial number will be missing or consist of random characters.
Download the official annex|Registering a Xiaomi account|Check the match of the model in the application and on the case|Make sure that the serial number is in the section "About the device"-->
Note that some fakes simulate connection through third-party apps (such as Notify & Fitness for Mi Band).However, these programs do not have access to Xiaomi’s proprietary algorithms, so the sensor readings will be inaccurate.
4. Analysis of firmware and software
Xiaomi's original bracelets are proprietary, closed-source firmware, and fakes use simplified versions of the software that give themselves away on several grounds:
- 📲 Firmware version: in original devices it is updated through Mi Fitness and has a format X.X.XX.XX (For example, 1.16.8.14 for Mi Band 8, counterfeits often have a static version of type 1.0.0.0.
- 🔄 Update logs: original software gets patches regularly (every 1-2 months). If the last update is dated to the year of release of the bracelet, it is a fake.
- 🛠️ Developer Settings: Forgeries often have hidden menus (e.g. for sensor calibration) that are not available in the original devices.
To check the firmware version:
- Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Your Device → Settings → About the Device.
- Scroll down to the firmware version.
- Compare it with the latest official releases on the site mi-fitness.ru.
⚠️ Warning: Some fakes mimic the process of updating the firmware, showing a false progress bar. If the update lasts more than 5 minutes or the bracelet is rebooted several times in a row - this is a sign of fraud.
For advanced users: you can check MAC-The Bluetooth address of the bracelet module. The original devices have addresses in the range 88:0F:10:XX:XX:XX or C8:0F:10:XX:XX:XX. Forgery addresses usually start with 00:1A:7D or other arbitrary combinations.
How do you know? MAC-bracelet?
5.Sensor testing: how fakes give themselves away
The sensors of Xiaomi’s original bracelets are ISO 13485 certified (medical devices), and fakes use cheap analogues that give themselves away when tested:
- ❤️ Pulsemeter: measure the pulse on the original bracelet and compare it to the readings of the medical blood pressure monitor. ±5 beats/min Counterfeiting often spreads between 10 and 20 beats.
- 🌙 Sleep monitoring: original devices recognize sleep phases (deep, light, REM). Fakes show only total sleep time without detail.
- 🩸 SpO₂ (Oxygen in the blood: on the original bracelet, the measurement takes 20-30 seconds and is accompanied by vibration; counterfeits give the result instantly (often a bogus, for example, 98% unchanged).
- 🏃 Stepper: walk 100 steps and compare the bracelet readings to the real number. ±3%, fakes up to 20%.
Run a stress test:
- Put on a bracelet and start measuring stress in Mi Fitness.
- Close your eyes and breathe deeply for 1 minute.
- Look at the graph: the original bracelet will show a reduction in stress levels, the fake - chaotic jumps.
Note the response time of the sensors: the original bracelets respond to a hand lift (to turn on the screen) in 0.3-0.5 seconds; counterfeits have a delay of 1-2 seconds or require a sharp movement.
💡
To check the pulsemeter accurately, use the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) app on your smartphone, and simultaneously measure your pulse with your bracelet and phone, a difference of more than 7 beats indicates a fake.
Serial number and IMEI check
Each original Xiaomi bracelet has a unique serial number and IMEI (for models with NFC, for example, Mi Band 7 Pro).
- 🔢 Serial number: Find the number on the box (starts with the box) MIL or MB). Go to the site. mi.com/global/verify. Enter the number and the captcha. The original device will be confirmed by the system.
IMEI
- Find the IMEI on the box or in the bracelet settings (About device → Status).
- Check it out via imei.info.
- The original IMEI will be tied to the Xiaomi model and the country of sale.
If you are buying from hand (for example, on Avito):
- 📱 Ask the seller to send a video with the bracelet attached to the Mi Fitness and a demonstration of the serial number.
- 🔋 Check the charge history: the original bracelets hold a charge for 10 to 14 days when used actively. If the seller says that they charge every 3-4 days, it is a fake.
- 🛡️ Require a check or a warranty card. Official warranty for Mi Band in Russia - 12 months.
Without a box, it is impossible to check the serial number through the Xiaomi website, so the risk of buying a fake is higher.