Xiaomi AirDots 2: How to Check Originality in 5 Minutes – Full Photo and Video Guide

Xiaomi AirDots 2 (or Redmi AirDots 2 — as they are also called) have been one of the most popular budget TWS- models for several years, but along with the popularity of counterfeits, according to AliExpress and Wildberries, ZXPH0003QXZ% of the offers on the market are counterfeit. And fakes are so swollen that even an experienced user can be fooled. In this article, we take the ZXPHKXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It's important to understand that fakes aren't just worse in quality, they can be dangerous to health. Cheap batteries in copies are often inflated, and poor speakers when used for long periods are harmful to hearing. In addition, counterfeit headphones do not support proprietary features of the original, such as Low Latency Mode (low latency mode) or automatic connection to Mi Ecosystem devices.

We tested 12 pairs of headphones (3 originals and 9 fakes of different quality) and found key differences. All methods in this article are relevant for AirDots 2 and AirDots 2S models (with support for LC3 codec). If you buy headphones from hand or on marketplaces like Ozon or Yandex Market, be sure to check them with this instruction before payment.

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

The original Xiaomi AirDots 2 box is the first and most reliable authentication indicator. Counterfeit packages often copy the design but never repeat it 100%.

• 📦 Box material: the original is made of thick matového cardboard with light texture, the fakes are glossy or thin. Swipe your finger, there's no trace left on the original.
• 🔍 Barcode and serial number: At the bottom of the box must be a unique QR- code (leads to the Xiaomi page) and a serial number that can be checked on the mi.com/verify website.
• 🎨 Color gamut: the original uses a Pantone 7547 C (a shade of orange), fakes - dimmer or reddish.
• 📏 Box sizes: original - 60×60×25 mm Counterfeiting is often narrower or higher by 2-3 mm.
• 📝 Packaging text: the original text is clear, no blurs. Notice the Cyrillic alphabet, because fakes often have translation errors (e.g., "Wireless headphones" instead of "Wireless earphones").

Pay special attention to the film on the box. The original is sealed in a matte microperforated film (easily detachable, leaves no glue), counterfeits are often wrapped in glossy film or scotch.

⚠️ Warning: If a seller refuses to show a box before buying or says it's "lost" - that's 100% fraud. Even used AirDots 2s are always sold in branded packaging.

2. Visual inspection of headphones: what should alert

Take the headphones out of the box and inspect them carefully.The original AirDots 2 has some unique parts that are hard to fake:

• 🔴 Charge indicators: Originally they are red (when charged) and white (full charge). Fakes often use blue or green LEDs.
• 🕳️ Microphone holes: original 3 pieces (two on top, one on bottom), fake 1-2 or randomly arranged.
• 🔧 Button on the body: the original is soft, easy to move, fakes have hard or creaky buttons.
• 📱 The inscription "Mi": on the original case, the Xiaomi logo is made by laser engraving (not erased), on fakes - with paint (during time it fades).

Another key point is the weight of the headphones. The original AirDots 2 weighs 4,1 grams each (case — 35 g). Counterfeiting is usually heavier on the 0,5-1 g because of the cheap materials. Weigh on the kitchen scale!

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Try rubbing the earphone case with a napkin dipped in alcohol. The original plastic won't change color, and the fake can water or become sticky.

3. Check through the official Xiaomi website

The most reliable way to verify originality is to use Xiaomi's verification service.

1. Find the serial number on the box or under the cover of the case (barcode sticker).
2. Go to mi.com/verify (only works with VPN if you are not in China).
3. Enter the serial number in the IMEI/SN field and the captcha.
4. If the headphones are original, a green checkmark and a Redmi AirDots 2 model will appear.

If a site displays an error called "Invalid SN" or shows a different model, it's a fake. Please note that some scammers also forge serial numbers, so it's best to combine this method with others.

Another way to do this is to check the IMEI case (if you have one).

1. Open the cover and find the sticker with IMEI.
2. Enter it on imei.info.
3. The original case will be identified as the Xiaomi Bluetooth Headset Case.

4. Sound and microphone test: how to hear the difference

Sound is where the fakes lose the most to the original. Xiaomi AirDots 2 use 7,2-mm speakers with support for AAC and SBC codecs, while copies are cheap 6-mm drivers without any audio processing.

Run this test:

• 🎵 Bass: Play a track with deep basses (like "Seven Nation Army" - The White Stripes) The original bass is clear, the fake bass is "booming" or missing.
• 🎶 High frequencies: Listen to a hi-hat track (like "Breezeblocks" -- alt-J). The original sound is crystal, the fake sound is hiss.
• 🎤 Microphone: Record your voice on a voice recorder. Originally, it's natural, in a fake, it's metallic, it's echoed.
• 🔊 Volume: The original gives up to 95 dB without distortion, the forgeries begin to "hrizzle" already at 70-80 dB.

Note the latency of the sound. In the original video, the latency is ~100 ms (invisible), in fakes, up to 300-500 ms (deep synchronization is lost).

⚠️ Warning: Some fakes mimic the sound of the original "Connected" but the voice is recorded in low quality. The original uses natural voice acting with intonations, the fakes are a robotic voice.

5. Firmware and connection check

The original AirDots 2 runs on Xiaomi’s proprietary firmware, which has unique chips.

1. Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.
2. Open Bluetooth settings on your phone and find AirDots 2 in the list of devices.
3. Press the badge. ⚙️ headphone-name.
4. The original one will be "Low Latency Mode" and it's not in the fakes.

Another way to use the Mi Home app is to use:

1. Install Mi Home from Google Play or App Store.
2. Add a new device → select Headphones → Redmi AirDots 2.
3. If the headphones are original, the app will find them and suggest updating the firmware.

Pay attention to the name of the device when connecting:

Original title: "Redmi AirDots 2" or "Mi True Wireless Earphones 2"

Fake: "TWS Earbuds", "Wireless Earphones" or Cyrillic name.

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If the headphones are not defined in Mi Home or do not have the Low Latency Mode function, it is 100% fake, even if they are externally identical to the original.

6. Battery and operating time test

The original AirDots 2 features 43 mAh (headphones) and 300 mAh (cases) batteries, saving on batteries by installing cheap lithium-polymer cells at 20-30 mAh.

Run the test:

1. Charge your headphones and case to 100%.
2. Turn on the music at 50% volume and record the time.
3. The original will run 4-5 hours on a single charge, a fake - 1,5-2 hours.
4. Full cycle of discharge of the case: the original - 12-15 hours of music, fake - 4-6 hours.

Also check the charging time:

The original case charges for 1,5-2 hours from the 5V/1A network.

Counterfeit products either charge for longer than 3 hours or overheat.

⚠️ Warning: If the headphone case gets too hot when charging (you can't hold it in your hand) or smells plastic, disconnect it immediately from the mains, a sign of a poor battery that might swell or ignite.

7 Where to buy so as not to run into a fake

Even if you know all the signs of the original, you should buy AirDots 2 from trusted locations.

• 🏆 Official Mi Store (mi.com/ru) — 100% original, but priced above the market by 10-15%.
• 🛒 Authorized resellers (Svyaznoy, M. Video, Citilink) are original, but limited assortment.
• 🌍 Global marketplaces (Amazon, eBay) are original if the seller is “Xiaomi Authorized.”
• 📦 Wildberries/Ozon — 70% of the originals, but many forgeries under the guise of "sales."
• 🤝 Avito/Yula is a high risk of forgery (up to 60%). Check with this instruction!

If you buy on AliExpress, choose sellers with:

- Rating 98%+

- Number of orders 1000+

The name of the original Xiaomi (but that’s no guarantee!)

- Reviews from photo/video unpacking

The price of the original AirDots 2 at the beginning of 2026:

- New: 1800-2500 ₽

- B/w (in good condition): 1000-1500 ₽

If the price is below 1200 ₽ for new headphones, it is a fake or stolen item.

Refusing to show the serial number before purchase

- Claim that "earphones are brought from China directly" (this is not a guarantee of the original)

- They are sold without a box or with "European packaging" (in Europe, these headphones are not officially sold).-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about AirDots 2