How to check Xiaomi watch for authenticity: a complete guide with photos and codes

Xiaomi smartwatches are now available not only in official stores — thousands of offers appear on marketplaces, social networks and even handheld. But as the brand grows in popularity, so does the number of fakes. According to the manufacturer, up to 30% of devices in the secondary market are fakes, and their quality often does not reach even budget counterparts. At best, you get a gadget with stripped down functionality, at worst — a device with malware or a dangerous battery.

This article will help 100% verify the originality of Xiaomi Mi Band, Xiaomi Watch or Redmi Watch before buying or immediately after receiving a parcel.We will analyze 7 key methods of verification, from visual inspection of the box to hidden service codes that only Xiaomi engineers know.

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

The original Xiaomi watch box is not just cardboard, but a well-designed branding element with many security features. It is rarely counterfeited with high quality, so it is worth starting with it.

First, look at the material and the seal.

• 📦 Dense matte cardboard with light texture (not glossy or slippery).
• 🎨 Clear colors with no blurred edges, especially on the Mi or Redmi logo.
• 🔍 Microtext – small letters on a barcode or next to a serial number that cannot be read with the naked eye (it is often not on fakes or it is blurred).

Second, check the stickers and the holograms. The original box always has:

• 🏷️ Serial number (SN) — must match the number on the device and in the Mi application Fit/Zepp.
• 🔐 Hologram with the Xiaomi logo - when changing the viewing angle, it flickers, and on fakes it is often a regular sticker.
• 📄 QR-code – leads to the official Xiaomi website (check through the scanner, not the link from the seller’s description!).

💡

If the seller refuses to show the package before buying or sends a photo of the box without a serial number, this is a reason to be wary.

Special attention is paid to fonts and spellings. Forgeries are often found typos in the model names (for example, Mi Band 6 instead of Mi Smart Band 6) or incorrect certification marks (for example, misprints in the model names, CE Xiaomi's official boxes are always printed in English or Chinese - if you see a translation into Russian with errors, it's fake.

2.Serial number and IMEI: how to check through the Xiaomi database

Each Xiaomi device has a unique serial number (SN) and IMEI (model SIM-- the card, which are registered in the manufacturer's database, you can verify their authenticity in 2 minutes.

Where to find SN/IMEI:

• 📦 On the box (sticker at the back or on the end).
• ⚙️ In the settings of the clock: About the device → Serial number.
• 📱 In annex Mi Fit/Zepp: section “My devices" → watch-watch → "Information".

How to check:

1. Barcode Scanner (for example, Barcode Scanner on Android) QR-It should lead to the model page on the Xiaomi website.
2. Go to the official inspection page and enter the serial number. The original device will display the model, the date of production and the warranty status.
3. For models with SIM (For example, Xiaomi Watch S1) check IMEI The original will be indicated by the correct model and manufacturer of Xiaomi Communications Co Ltd.

Compare. SN box and clock settings

Make sure that QR-The code leads to the official website of Xiaomi

Check it out. SN through mi.com/global/verify

For models with SIM check IMEI onimeinfo-->

A critical sign of forgery: if the serial number on the box and in the settings of the watch do not match, you are 100% fake.

Official Xiaomi Store

Marketplaces (AliExpress, Amazon, Wildberries)

Social networks (Avito, Facebook Marketplace)

Other-->

3. External inspection of the watch: 8 differences between the original and fake

Even if the package and serial number look suspicious, the final verdict can be reached after examining the watch itself, and counterfeits often reveal poor build and material quality.

What to check:

Pay special attention to the belt. The original Mi Band has it made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPU) — It's a flexible but durable material that doesn't stretch or stick to the skin, and fakes are often equipped with cheap silicone straps that smell like chemicals and tear socks after a month.

Another test is weight. The original watch weighs strictly by specification (e.g. Mi Band). 7 — 13,5 (d) Unstraped. Counterfeiting is usually easier on the 20-30% Weigh the device on a kitchen scale and compare it to the official Xiaomi website.

4. firmware and software: hidden menus and service codes

The most reliable way to detect a fake is to look at the system menu of the watch, and fakes often run on simplified or hacked versions of the firmware, where key features are missing.

How to check firmware:

1. Connect the watch to the Mi Fit or Zepp app. The original device will be automatically identified, and the fake may not connect or appear as a "Unknown device."
2. Check the version of the software in the settings of the clock: About the device → The original version of the firmware must match the latest official version on Xiaomi's website.
3. Enter the service code to call the hidden menu: *#06# The original watch will display IMEI (model SIM) A fake may show an error or a random set of numbers.

Another test is the firmware update. The original watch is updated through the official Mi app. Fit/Zepp. If you try to update an error or firmware is downloaded from a third-party source (not from Xiaomi servers), it is a fake.

Malware Warning: Some fakes are deliberately equipped with firmware with ad viruses or spyware modules. If unfamiliar apps or ads appear on your smartphone after connecting the watch, immediately disable the gadget and perform a virus check (for example, through Malwarebytes).

5. Function testing: what the original can do, but does not know how to fake

Counterfeit watches often copy only the look of the watch, but not its functionality.

Sensors:

• 🩺 Pulsemeter: the original shows heart rate for 5-10 second-in-second ±5 A forgery can give random values or take a long time to think".
• 🌡️ SpO₂ (oxygen saturation: the original measure 20-30 Fake – instantaneous (which is physically impossible).

2. GPS linkage:

• 📡 The models with GPS (For example, Xiaomi Watch S1 Active) check the accuracy of the tracking. The original shows the route with an error of up to 5 meters, a fake - up to 50 meters.+ meters.
• 📞 If the clock supports the calls (SIM Or Bluetooth, call them. The original has pure sound, the fake has noise and echoes.

Waterproof:

• 💦 The original Mi Band can withstand a 50-meter dive (5 meters) ATM). Fakes often flow after showers. Don't test this intentionally - unless the watch is original, there will be no warranty for repairs.

Battery:

• 🔋 The original Mi Band 7 charge 15 The counterfeits are discharged in the middle of the day. 3-5 days.

5. Synchronization with Mi Fit/Zepp:

• 📲 The original synchronizes data (steps, sleep, heart rate) in real time. Fake can update information with a delay or not show some metrics.

💡

If the watch fails at least 2 out of 5 tests, the probability of counterfeiting is 90%.The original Xiaomi devices never skimp on sensors or firmware.

6.Price and place of purchase: how not to run into fake

One of the most obvious signs of counterfeiting is the suspiciously low price. Xiaomi’s original watches rarely sell for less than the official website (especially new models). For example, if the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro costs 40% less than the average market price, this is a reason to check.

Where is it safe to buy:

• 🏪 Official stores: mi.com, Xiaomi Store Russia (for Russia).
• 🛒 Authorized retailers: Svyaznoy, M. Video, Citilink (check the availability of the certificate on the window).
• 🌍 Buyer-protected marketplaces: Wildberries, Ozon (only 4.9-rated sellers)+ and photo reviews).

Where the risk of a fake is maximum:

• 🤝 Social networks (Avito, Facebook Marketplace, VKontakte).
• 📦 Marketplaces without protection (AliExpress from unverified sellers, eBay).
• 🏢 Small online stores without an address or contacts.

💡

Before buying on the marketplace, check the reviews with the photos from the seller. Pay attention to the details: if the photo of the package does not have a hologram or serial number, it is a fake.

If you buy a watch with your hands, ask the seller:

1. Make a video with a demonstration of all functions (pulsemeter, GPS, call-up).
2. Show checks or a warranty card (the original has it with the stamp of the store).
3. Connect the watch to your smartphone via Mi Fit (if you refuse – 100% scammer).

7 What to do if you have purchased a fake

If after checking it turned out that your Xiaomi watch is fake, act according to the algorithm:

1. Return the money:

• 📄 If you bought in a store, demand a refund under the Consumer Protection Act (Article 18), which is considered a defective product.
• 🛒 On the marketplace (Wildberries, Ozon) – open a dispute with the attachment of a photo check (inconsistency) SN, Mistakes in Mi Fit, etc.).
• 🤝 When buying from hand, write a statement to the police under Art. 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (fraud.

2. Dispose of fake:

• ⚠️ Do not use a fake – it can be dangerous (bloated battery, malware).
• ♻️ Hand over for processing to electronics reception points (in some cities, they give bonuses for this).

Buy the original:

• 🛡️ Use only the verified sources in the section above.
• 🔍 Before buying, check the device according to this instruction.

💡

Fake Xiaomi watches not only work worse, but also dangerous: there are cases of fire batteries in fake Mi Band due to the lack of protection from overheating.

If you doubt the authenticity of the device, but can not verify it yourself, contact the service center Xiaomi. mi.com/global/service. Experts will check the clock for free on the database and issue a conclusion.

FAQ: Frequent questions about checking Xiaomi watches