Buying a Xiaomi smartphone is always a risk of running into a fake, especially if we are talking about popular models like the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or Xiaomi 14 Ultra. According to Counterpoint Research, up to 12% of the brand’s devices in the secondary market are counterfeit or “gray” devices with modified firmware. While the exterior copies are so swollen that they can fool even experienced users. How is it guaranteed to distinguish the original from a fake before buying or immediately after?
In this article, we will discuss 7 official and independent methods of verification, including analysis of IMEI, serial number, proprietary software and even hidden hardware tokens. You will learn what services Xiaomi provides for verification, how to recognize counterfeit packaging and why some methods (such as checking with *#06#) can give false results, and at the end – answers to the most common questions and a list of models that are forged most often in 2026.
1. IMEI check: the fastest way
IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 15-digit code for your phone that is assigned in the factory. In Xiaomi, it is duplicated on the box, in the device settings and under the battery (if removable). IMEI mismatch in these three places is a sure sign of forgery.
How to check:
- 📱 Dial on the phone keyboard *#06# - a window will appear with IMEI (Or two if the smartphone supports two. SIM-map).
- 📦 Compare the code to what is printed on the box (usually on a barcode sticker).
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → General information → IMEI and check the match.
If the codes match, move on to the next step, check through official databases, and if not, you have a 100% fake or a phone with a replaced motherboard (which should also be alert).
2. Official verification through Xiaomi services
Xiaomi provides two authentication tools: serial number verification and IMEI on its website, but there are nuances: the service does not work for all regions, and some models (for example, for the Chinese market) may not appear in the database.
Instructions:
- Go to Xiaomi’s official checkout page (or use an alternative service for Chinese devices).
- Enter the serial number (SN) or IMEI. Find it. SN possible: 📦 On the box next to IMEI. 🔧 In settings: About the phone → General information → Serial number. 🔋 Under the battery (for models with removable battery).
Verify
What do the results mean?
| Message | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication passed | The device is original, the data coincides with the base Xiaomi. | You can buy it, but check the packaging and software. |
| IMEI/Serial number not found | The code is not found in the database. Possible reasons: fake. Device for another region (e.g., Chinese). IMEI changed (re-flashed). | Check other methods or refuse to buy. |
| This device has been reported as lost/stolen | The phone is blacklisted (stolen or lost). | Stop buying – the device may be blocked. |
💡
If Xiaomi doesn’t find your IMEI, try checking it through independent databases like IMEI.info or IMEI24, which will show the device model and country of manufacture, even if the phone isn’t original.
Packaging and configuration analysis
Counterfeiting is often given out by poor-quality packaging. Xiaomi's original boxes have a number of distinctive features:
- 📦 Material: thick, matte-coated cardboard, barbed-free, often made from thin, glossy cardboard.
- 🖨️ Print: logo and text on the original are clear, without blurring. The barcode is scanned (check through Barcode). LT).
- 🔖 Sticker: At the bottom of the box should be a holographic sticker with IMEI and SN. When changing the viewing angle on it manifests a rainbow effect.
- 📄 Documents: the package must have a warranty card (for official deliveries) and instructions in the language of the region of sale.
Pay attention to the package. The original kit always has:
- 🔌 USB-Type-C cable (for new models) or Micro-USB (for older models).
- ⚡ Charger with the Mi logo (power must match the model).
- 🎧 Headphones (not in all models, but in most budget lines like Redmi they are available).
- 🔑 Paperclip for the tray SIM-Cards (often missing in counterfeits).
Example of a fake Xiaomi box
Warning: Some scammers use original boxes from other Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 9 box sells a fake Redmi Note 12).Always check the model on the box and in the phone settings!
4. Check firmware and system markers
MIUI proprietary software is one of the most reliable indicators of authenticity, and counterfeits often run on customized firmware (e.g., Medatek-based, with a shell that mimics MIUI).
- MIUI Version: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. Compare to the official version for your model on MIUI Downloads. If the version is very outdated or missing from the list, it is a fake.
- Hidden menus: Enter ##4636## in the phone app, the test menu should open, and for fakes, this menu is either missing or looks different (e.g., in Chinese with characters).
- Mi Account Link: Original phones require a link to a Xiaomi account when you first turn on. If the phone is activated without an account or allows you to skip this step, it is suspicious.
Another test is to check hardware identifiers:
- Install the Identifier CPU application.
- Check the processor model, RAM and ROM, and they should match the official specifications of the model.
- In the System section, find the Build Number – it should start with the model code (e.g. tucana for Redmi Note 8).
MIUI version conforms to model |Hidden menu ##4636## opens | Phone requires Xiaomi account upon activation | Characteristics in Identifier CPU match official |Build Number starts with model code-->
5. Physical markers of authenticity
Even if the IMEI and the firmware seem original, it's worth looking at the device itself.
- 📱 Build quality: Clearances between the body and the screen (the original does not exist); Script or backlash buttons (especially power and volume buttons); Uneven edges of the screen or protective glass.
- 🔍 Logo: The original Mi or Redmi logo on the back is convex and crisp. In fakes, it is often flat, blurred or painted (rather than laser engraving).
- 📡 Antenna lines: In the original Xiaomi antenna lines (plastic inserts on the metal body) are symmetrical and neat.
- 🔋 Battery: The original battery (if removable) has a holographic sticker with the code. The capacity must match the declared (checked through Settings). → Battery).
Attention: ⚠️ Some fakes even copy small things like the shape of speaker holes or the location of microphones. If in doubt, compare the phone to official photos on Xiaomi or in YouTube reviews (for example, Xiaomi Russia channel).
6. Verification through third-party services
If the official methods have failed, you can use independent services, which don't give you 100% guarantee, but they help you identify obvious inconsistencies.
Popular tools:
- 🌍 IMEI.info – shows the model, country of production and date of release IMEI.
- 🔍 SNDeepInfo – checks serial numbers and detects fakes from the database.
- 📱 GSMArena – here you can compare the characteristics of your phone with the official.
- 🛡️ CheckMEND – a paid service to check the history of the device (stolen, pledged, etc.).
Example of the report from IMEI.info for the original Xiaomi 13T Pro:
Model: Xiaomi 23113RKC4Y (13T Pro)
Brand: Xiaomi
Manufacturer: Xiaomi Communications Co Ltd
Type: Smartphone
Country of Origin: China
Production Date: Week 35, 2023Important: If the service shows that the phone is released later than your purchase date (for example, the production date is 2026, and you buy in 2023), this could mean that the IMEI is faked or the phone is “gray” (brought unofficially).
💡
No third-party service offers 100% authenticity. Always use multiple verification methods at the same time (IMEI + firmware + packaging).
7.Shopping in Official Stores: How to Avoid Counterfeiting
The most reliable way to buy the original Xiaomi is to contact the official points of sale.
- 🏬 Xiaomi Store (list on the official website).
- 🛒 Official partners: Svyaznoy, M.Video, Eldorado, Citilink (check the availability of the certificate on the showcase).
- 🌐 Official website mi.com or shop.mi.com (for international orders).
When buying from hand or on marketplaces (Avito, Yula, Ozon, Wildberries) pay attention to:
- 📄 Availability of a check and a warranty card (ideally - with the stamp of the store).
- 🔄 Refund within 14 days (under the Consumer Protection Act").
- 💳 Payment method: avoid cash and card transfers – use secure transactions (for example, through Avito Protection).
Attention: ⚠️ AliExpress and similar sites sell both original Xiaomi (from official sellers with the Official Store badge) and fakes:
- Seller rating (should be 98%+).
- Photo/video reviews (see IMEI checklists).
- Price (if it is 30-50% below the market price, it is a fake).