Xiaomi is now available not only in official stores — hundreds of sellers offer devices on marketplaces, social networks and even handheld. But as the brand grows in popularity, so does the number of fakes. According to RBC, in 2023, the share of counterfeit Xiaomi gadgets in the Russian market reached 12%, and in the categories of accessories (headphones, powerbank) — up to 30%, and fakes are becoming more convincing: copy design, packaging and even serial numbers.
The problem is that counterfeiting doesn't just disappoint expectations, it can be dangerous. Counterfeit batteries explode, low-quality chargers melt sockets, and left-wing firmware steal data. In 2022, for example, Rospotrebnadzor recorded 18 cases of powerbank fires from "gray" suppliers who pretended to be original Mi Power Banks. How not to run into such a product? In this guide, there are 10 working ways of checking, from visual inspection to hidden commands in the system that detect forgery even from experienced fraudsters.
1. Packaging check: 7 parts that give out a fake
The first thing that catches your eye is the box, and the fake companies give it the most attention, but they still leave their blunders, and the original Xiaomi package has a matte coating with a slight roughness, not a glossy one, like many copies.
- 📦 Barcode and serial number: original laser-painted (not nail-washed) rather than paint-printed. Counterfeiting often has blurred or double lines.
- 🔍 Logo: Xiaomi has a clear, flat edge, and fake letters can be offset or have an uneven thickness.
- 📏 Box sizes: original dimensions are strictly standardized. 12 boxed 165×85×35 mm - deviation even by 2–3 mm says it's a forgery.
Special attention is paid to printing. Original boxes are printed in high-resolution factories (1200+ dpi), so text and images are pixelated. Forgeries often show paint stains, especially in dark areas. Also check for adhesive tapes: the original ones break with a characteristic crack (uses special glue), and on fakes they easily leave in a whole piece.
Example of a fake Xiaomi 12T box
If a seller refuses to show a box before buying it is 100% a sign of fraud. Even on marketplaces like Wildberries or Ozon, demand a photo of the package from different angles. In 2023, Xiaomi Russia officially announced that all original devices come in branded boxes with a hologram on the end (see photo in the next section).
2. Holograms and stickers: where to look and how to check
Since 2021, Xiaomi has been equipping all devices with unique coded holograms.
- 📱 On the box (end side) - for smartphones and tablets.
- 🔋 On the battery (under the cover) - for powerbank and wireless headphones.
- 🕶️ On the bow - for smart glasses Xiaomi Smart Glasses.
How to check the hologram:
1. Hold the box under a bright light - the original hologram changes color from green to blue when tilted.
2 Enter the code from the sticker on mi.com/global/verify. If the system is in error or the data is not the same as the model, you are a fake.
3. Check the microtext: The original hologram shows the repeating words "XIAOMI" smaller than 1 mm as it zooms in.
| Type of device | Hologram location | Signs of forgery |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 11/12 | End of the box + under the battery | The hologram does not change color, the code is not checked on the site |
| Mi Band 7/8 | On the back of the bracelet. | The sticker is easy to peel off, there is no microtext |
| Mi Power Bank 3 | Under the label on the case | The code matches another device when checking |
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If there is no hologram at all, but the seller claims that the device is original, ask for a check from the official Xiaomi store or a certificate of conformity.
3. Serial number: how to calculate a fake by IMEI and SN
Each Xiaomi device has unique identifiers:
IMEI (for smartphones and tablets with SIM-card)
SN (Serial Number) (for all devices, including accessories)
Where to find them:
- On a box (usually on a barcode sticker).
- In device settings: Settings → About phone → General information (for smartphones) or Settings → About device (for gadgets).
Under the battery (for devices with a removable cover).
How to check:
1. Compare the IMEI/SN on the box and in the settings – they should match completely.
2. Check the IMEI at imei.info. The original number will show the model of the device, the date of manufacture and the country of manufacture (for example, "Made in China" or "Made in India").
3. Enter SN on Xiaomi's official website (mi.com/verify). If the system gives "Invalid", the device is fake.
Yes, I bought it by mistake | Yes, but I noticed it in time |No, I always buy it in official stores |I don't know how to check-->
⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters often use cloned IMEI If you look at imei.info and you see a model, but the date of production is older than 1-2 years, and the gadget is "new" is a reason to doubt. For example, Redmi Note 10 with a production date of 2020 in 2026 is a clear fake.
4.External inspection: 5 signs that give off fake
Even if the packaging and documents look perfect, carefully examine the device itself.
- 🔧 Build quality: the original Xiaomi smartphones have uniform gaps between the body and the screen (no more than 0.3 mm.
- 🎨 Color and texture: the original devices are oleophobic (repels prints), the screen gets dirty quickly on fakes, and the case can be too glossy or rough.
- 🔊 Speakers and microphones: the original Redmi/POCO The speakers are symmetrical. On fakes, the holes can be displaced or have different diameters.
- 🔋 Charging port: the original devices connector USB-C (Or Micro-USB for older models) has a metal frame without backlash. Counterfeiting often saves on this - the port wobbles or plastic.
- 📸 Camera: Fake cameras may not be centered or have different sizes (for example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro).+ All three cameras must be the same diameter).
Pay special attention to the weight of the device. Xiaomi’s original smartphones weigh strictly by specification (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Lite – 171 g). Counterfeiting is often easier by 10-20 g due to cheap materials. Weigh the device on a precise scale (e.g. kitchen scale) and compare it with official data on mi.com.
Check the gaps between the screen and the body
Evaluate the quality of the oleophobic screen cover
Compare the location of speakers and microphones with official photos
Check the back of the charging port
Weigh the device and compare it to passport data-->
5. Software Verification: Hidden Commands and Tests
If the outside looks original, go to software diagnostics, and often the fakes come out from firmware or hardware tests.
Method 1: Checking through the Engineering Menu
1. Open the Phone application and enter:
##4636##2. Go to the tab Phone Information.
3. Check the Model number and Build number lines – they must match the official data for your model (you can find it on the MIUI website).
Method 2: Test of hardware components
1. Enter in the telephone application:
##6484##2. Run the Manual Test (manual test).
3. Check all the components: Camera, Sensor, Touch. on fakes often do not work sensors (gyroscope, compass) or cameras show artifacts.
Method 3: Checking through Fastboot (for advanced users)
1. Connect the device to the PC and start the Fastboot (hold Volume Down + Power when turned on).
2. Enter the command:
fastboot getvar all3. Check the product, model, and serialno lines – they must match the data on the box.
⚠️ Note: Fake devices often have modified firmware installed that simulates MIUI. To find out: - Check the version MIUI In Settings → The original firmware is updated through Settings. → Update of the system: If there are no updates or the version does not conform to the official version (e.g, MIUI 15 for a model that supports only MIUI 14) is a fake. - Install the app AIDA64 and check the System section → Android. fakes often indicate a non-existent Build ID Kernel version older than 2020.
6.Accessories check: charging, cables and headphones
Fake Xiaomi accessories are no less dangerous than fake smartphones, such as counterfeit chargers that can produce unstable voltages that cause fire.
- ⚡ Charger: - The original has a matte case with laser engraving of the logo (not paint!) - The back shows the Model: MDY-12-ES (Or another model) and Made in China. - Weight of the original Xiaomi charging 33W — 58g counterfeiting is easier by 10-15g.
- 🔌 Cable USB-C: - The original cable has compacted connectors (do not bend when pressed). - The connector is marked with Xiaomi laser (not a sticker!) - The cable length is strictly 1 m (for standard equipment).
- 🎧 Headphones (e.g. Mi True Wireless Earbuds): - Original have magnetic latches in the case (fakes often stick or not fixed). - On the inside of the case is applied QR-- The sound in the headphones is balanced - on fakes, one speaker often wheezes.
To check the chargers, use a voltage tester (for example, USB Tester for 500–1000 ₽). The original Xiaomi RAM gives stable 5V/3A, 9V/2A or 11V/2.7A (Counterfeiting is often "sink" to the point of 4.5V or give off surges of tension.
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If the seller refuses to show accessories in the kit or offers "analogues" - this is a sure sign of fraud. Xiaomi original devices always come with branded cables and charges (except for the models of the Redmi A series, where the RAM may be missing).
7.Where to buy Xiaomi, so as not to run into a fake
Even if you know all the signs of the original, the risk of buying a fake is still there, to minimize it:
- 🏪 Official stores: - Mi Store (official retailer in Russia). - Svyaznoy, M. Video, Eldorado (only marked "Official supplier"). - Official website mi.com/ru.
- 🛒 Marketplaces (with caution): - On Wildberries and Ozon, choose sellers with a rating of at least 4.9 and a mark "Official Partner of Xiaomi". - Check reviews: if they have a photo of the package - compare with the original. Avoid sellers with the words "brought from China", "without a box", "from the warehouse".
- 🤝 Hand-held purchase: - Demand a check, warranty card and box. - Check out IMEI/SN Use check.mts.ru (for smartphones) - it shows whether the device is blacklisted.
The price of the original device cannot be lower than the market price by more than 15%.+ officially worth 35,000. ₽, The seller offers for 22,000. ₽ — It's almost guaranteed fake, except for the official stores (like Black Friday), but even there, the discount rarely exceeds 10-12%.
8 What to do if you have already bought a fake
If you find out after the purchase that the device is not original:
- Collect evidence: - Photos of packaging, serial numbers, check. - Screenshots of inspections on mi.com/verify and imei.info. - Videos with a demonstration of malfunctions (if any).
- Contact the seller: - On the marketplaces (Wildberries, Ozon) write in support with the demand to return money under the law "On Protection of Consumer Rights" (Article 18). - When buying from hand, file a claim through Rospotrebnadzor or the court (if the amount is more than 10 000). ₽).
- Check for fraud: - If the seller disappeared after payment, write a statement to the police under Art. 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (fraud). - For online purchases, use the form on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
If the device is dangerous (for example, the battery is swollen or charging sparks), do not use it - hand over for disposal to electronics reception points (for example, in M. Video or Svyaznoy). Fake batteries can spontaneously ignite, and poor-quality circuits can be electrocuted.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to reflash a fake device! This can lead to: - Total loss of service (brick). - Data leak (left-handed firmware often has spyware embedded). - Problems with the law (if the device was imported illegally).