Buying a smartphone from a well-known Chinese brand is always a lottery, especially if you choose a device in the secondary market or at dubious points of sale. The electronics market is full of high-quality copies that are visually almost indistinguishable from the original, but inside have a completely different filling. It becomes more difficult to identify a fake every year, as replica manufacturers have learned to bypass basic checks.
In this article, we will look at all the ways you can test, from simple visuals to sophisticated computer-based techniques, you don't have to be an engineer to figure out what you're holding, but you need to look at the device carefully before you buy and activate it.
Ignoring these steps can lead to buying a device with a poor screen, stripped-down memory and no official support.Let's figure out how not to fall victim to scammers and make sure you pay for a real Xiaomi, not for its cheap imitation.
Visual inspection and configuration
The first thing that catches your eye is the packaging: boxes of original devices are always made of dense cardboard of high quality, with clear printing and perfect facet docking, and forgeries often have blurry fonts, errors in model names or even spelling errors in the description of characteristics in English.
Note the brand logo. On the original Mi or Redmi smartphones, the logo is always flat, free of distortions and air bubbles. The color reproduction of the logo must be consistent with the company's corporate identity. On cheap copies, the logo often unstick over time or has a dull, faded hue.
⚠️ Warning: If the back of the device has a logo pasted over metal or glass and feels like a separate element with your finger, it is a sure sign of a forgery.
The package also plays an important role. Inside the box of the original smartphone, there is always a multilingual instruction, a warranty card, a paper clip for extraction. SIM-Charger must be clearly marked, including model, input and output parameters, and safety certificates.
- 📦 Print quality on the box: fonts are clear, without “porridge” and blurred letters.
- 🔌 Charger: heavy, with smooth seams of plastic and readable marking.
- 📄 Documentation: availability of multilingual instructions and warranty stamped by the seller.
Check the ports and connectors. In the original devices, USB-C or Micro-USB connectors are located strictly in the center, without distortion. The plastic inside the connector must be of high quality, without barbs. The Luft buttons of volume and inclusion are not allowed - they must have a clear, elastic stroke.
IMEI and serial number verification
The most reliable way to determine the originality of a Xiaomi phone is to verify the unique IMEI ID, which is assigned to each mobile device during production and entered into global databases, and can be found in several ways without disassembling the phone.
The easiest way to type a universal code is in the Phone app. Enter *#06# and press the call button. The screen will show a window with information about IMEI. This number should match the number printed on the box and on the sticker on the back of the device (if it is removable) or in the system settings.
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Always check the IMEI displayed on the screen against the number on the box. Even a minimal discrepancy in one digit indicates that the device is made from different parts or is a fake.
Next, you need to break the code through official services. Xiaomi provides a special portal for authentication. Enter IMEI and serial number (S/N) in the appropriate fields. The system will tell you whether the device is registered and whether its model is consistent with the declared.
If the system gives you an error or says that the number is not found, it's an alarm bell, but remember that the scammers have learned to clone the IMEI from the original devices. So matching the number with the base is a good, but not a absolute guarantee. You need to look at the activation date: if the phone is new, and the activation date was a year ago, you have a restored device or used.
| Method of verification | Where to find the data | Which must match. |
|---|---|---|
| Code in the ringer. | Set *#06# | IMEI 1 and IMEI 2 |
| Settings | Settings → About the phone | Serial number and IMEI |
| Box | Sticker on the back wall | All numbers and barcodes |
| System unit | Under the battery (if removable) | Factory sticker |
Diagnostics through the Engineering Menu
The Android operating system, which runs the MIUI or HyperOS shell, has a special engineering menu hidden in it, which allows you to access the hardware of the smartphone and check the operation of all components, and you can access it through code # # # #6484##.
If you don't open the menu after you enter the code, and instead you see a standard Google search or an error, it's definitely a fake. In the original Xiaomi devices, this code works always, even without a SIM card or the Internet. The menu features tests for the screen, speakers, microphone, sensor, vibrator and other modules.
☑️ Checking in the engineering menu
Pay special attention to the screen test. Original AMOLED displays or quality IPS panels show deep black and saturated shades. You can start the display of monochrome colors in the diagnostic menu. If you see lights, uneven backlights or broken pixels, this is a sign of a low-quality copy.
Also check the proximity sensor. Hold your palm to the top of the screen during the test. In the original, the screen should go out instantly. In fakes, this sensor is often software (operates through the front camera) or absent at all, which prevents the screen from going out during a conversation.
Analysis of the software shell and characteristics
The software part is the Achilles heel of most fakes. Chinese craftsmen can copy the look of the MIUI shell, but they can't recreate its functionality and optimization. The original firmware runs smoothly, animations don't have jerks, and transitions between menus look natural.
Go to Settings → About the phone. Here are the specifications: processor, amount of RAM and internal memory. Often fakes in this menu are spelled out false data. For example, you can specify 8 GB of RAM, although physically installed 2 GB.
How to find out the actual amount of memory?
Note that there are system applications. The original pre-installed store GetApps, Google services (in global versions), Mi Cloud. Fakes often lack Xiaomi branded services, or they work incorrectly, requiring updates that are not found.
- 🚀 Speed: The original works fast even after the time of use.
- 📲 Interface: No strange fonts, icon curves and grammatical errors in the menu.
- 🔄 Updates: the ability to check and install system updates through Settings → The phone.
Try running a heavy app or game. Counterfeiting is usually based on very old and weak processors. If a smartphone starts to slow down when you open a menu or heat up to critical temperatures in 5 minutes of operation, this is a clear sign of non-compliance with the declared characteristics.
Use of the Mi Verify application
Xiaomi has developed the official Mi Verify app, which allows you to quickly verify the authenticity of the device, it is available for download in the official Google Play store, which is one of the easiest ways for the average user.
Once installed, launch the application. It automatically reads IMEI and other identification data, and then sends a request to the company's server, and in a few seconds you will receive a result: "Genuine" or a warning that the device is not found in the database.
⚠️ Note: If the Mi Verify app can't connect to the server, don't panic. This may be due to Internet issues. However, if it says that the device isn't original, chances are you're dealing with a replica.
It’s important to note that the app only works with devices released after a certain period when the protection system was implemented.Old models may not be supported, but for modern smartphones this is a mandatory verification step.
Comparison with the standard on the official website
Never rely on a seller’s photo alone. Go to Xiaomi’s official global site or site for your region, find the model you plan to buy, and carefully examine its appearance, layout of elements, and color options.
Fakes often have differences in the location of the flash, the shape of the camera module, or the absence of some functional openings (for example, a second speaker or an IR port), even if the difference is a millimeter, this is already a reason to doubt the authenticity.
Note the weight of the device. Xiaomi’s original smartphones have a specific weight, specified in the specs. Counterfeiting is often easier because of the use of cheap housing materials and a less capacious battery, or heavier because of the low quality of components.
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All factors give 100% guarantee, if one parameter is doubtful, but the rest are normal, most likely, the phone is original, if 2-3 items are suspicious, it is better to refrain from buying.
Check for an IR port. Most Xiaomi models have an infrared port to control appliances. On the top of the device, there should be a small black window. In cheap copies, it is often simply painted or deaf.