Xiaomi's smartphone market has long been a tasty morsel for scammers.According to Counterpoint Research, before 15% branded Mi/Redmi/POCO into 2023 They were counterfeit in the last year, especially in the CIS, Africa and Southeast Asia, and they look like they're actually the original design, but inside you, you're going to have cheap parts, stripped-down iron, and virus firmware. 68% buyers (by survey) 4PDA) They can’t tell the difference between fake and original even after buying.
This article is not just a list of features, but you'll find step-by-step code instructions, package photo comparisons, matching tables. IMEI We tested 12 fake Xiaomis (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 13 Ultra) and identified 23 authentication markers, from obvious to hidden.
1.Packaging Check: 7 Parts That Counterfeiters Never Copy
The box is the first barrier to fraud, and Xiaomi's original boxes are manufactured in China with strict quality control, while counterfeits are often printed on cheap equipment in China or Vietnam.
- 📦 Box material: original - thick cardboard with matte coating (not shiny), fake - thin, sometimes rough.
- 🖼️ Hologram: in the original it changes color when tilted (green) → blue-colored → It's purple, and it's either static or non-existent on the fake. 2023+ The hologram has a microtext "XIAOMI OFFICIAL".
- 🔍 Barcode and QR-code: scan them through Barcode Scanner. mi.com/global, Fake – on suspicious domains like Xiaomishop-ru.com.
- 📏 Box sizes: compare to official data on mi.com. e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+ box 16.5 × 8.5 × 3.2 cm - deviation more than by 5 mm says it's a forgery.
What does the original hologram of Xiaomi 2026 look like?
Pay special attention to the serial number on the sticker. It should match the number in the phone settings (Settings) → The phone. → Fakes often contain repetitive numbers (e.g. 123456789) or non-existent series (e.g. beginning with 000).
⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters sometimes paste the original serial stickers onto fake boxes.Always check the number on the box against what's listed on the phone menu and on Xiaomi's verification site.
2. External examination of the phone: 5 hardware authenticity markers
Even if the box is perfect, the phone can be a fake.
- 📱 Weight and balance: the original Xiaomis have a clear weight distribution (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T weight 201 Fakes are often easier to counterfeit. 10-30 d or skewed (battery shifted).
- 🔧 The rivets on the body: they're flat on the original, with the same pitch. On fakes, they're curves, with burrs or glue marks.
- 🎨 Color and texture: Xiaomi’s original technology AG Glass, which doesn't collect prints, fakes glitter and get dirty quickly.
- 🔊 Speakers: the original has two speakers (stereo), the fake one (mono), and you can check by closing the top and bottom grilles alternately while playing music.
Notice the camera module. The original Xiaomi lenses are flat, without backlash.
- Clearances between glass and case
- Uneven edging (especially on the Redmi series)
- Lack of infrared sensor (on models with IR-port)
Screen authenticity test: turn on your phone and look at the corners of the display. AMOLED-Xiaomi screens have a uniform backlight, while fakes are noticeable:
- Yellow or blue spots at the edges
- Uneven brightness (especially against gray background)
- Artifacts when tilted (for example, “waves” in white)
3. IMEI and serial number check: step-by-step instruction
IMEI — This is a phone passport. The original Xiaomi has it tied to a serial number and checked through official databases:
- Find it. IMEI: On the box (barcode sticker) In the phone: Settings → The phone. → General information → IMEI By code: enter in the phone keyboard *#06#
Convert. IMEI
last-minute
Check out the Xiaomi website
- Go to the order.mi.com/service/verify
- Enter the serial number (S/N) and IMEI
- The original will show the model, production date and warranty status
☑️ Verification IMEI Xiaomi
If the site is making an error, "Invalid" IMEI" Or it shows you another model -- you're 100 percent fake. IMEI through international bases:
- IMEI.info – will show the manufacturer (must be Xiaomi Communications Co Ltd)
- SNDeeP – to check the serial number
⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters have learned to fake answers to order.mi.com by showing fake warranty data. IMEI through third-party services and look at the date of production – if the phone was released in 2026, and the seller claims that it is new, this is a reason to doubt the phone.
| Sign. | Original | Fake. |
|---|---|---|
| IMEI on the box and on the phone | Coinciding completely. | Different or absent from the box |
| Response to order.mi.com | Shows model, date, warranty | Mistake or incorrect model |
| Manufacturer for IMEI | Xiaomi Communications Co Ltd | Unknown brand or MediaTek (unless it is Redmi on the Internet) MTK) |
| Date of production | Corresponding to the year of model release | Too old (for example, 2020 for Xiaomi 13) |
4. Analysis of firmware and software: how to detect a fake through settings
Fake Xiaomi often runs on custom firmware that mimics MIUI, But they have critical differences. Here's how to find them:
- 📱 Version. MIUI: The original has the latest firmware (check on the official website) and fakes are often on outdated versions (for example, for example, the fakes are not used in the original version, MIUI 12 for Xiaomi 12, which should have MIUI 14+).
- 🔧 Engineering menu: type in the phone keyboard ##4636##. The original will open the test menu, on the fake - an error or an empty screen.
- 🔒 Anti-Rollback: Original Xiaomi blocks downgrade firmware. Try manually installing the old version MIUI — on a fake it will pass without errors.
Another reliable way is to check through ADB (Android Debug Bridge. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:
adb shell getprop ro.product.brandThe original will return Xiaomi or Redmi, a fake is something like the unknown or the name of another brand.
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If a phone requires Mi-account authorization on first turn on, but you didn't create it, that's a sure sign of a fake. The original Xiaomi isn't blocked for no reason.
Performance test: Install Geekbench and compare the results with the benchmarks for your model on geekbench.com. 2-3 Lower numbers due to weak iron.
5.Iron Check: How to Know What's Inside Your Phone
Fake Xiaomis are often equipped with cheap chips, memory and batteries, and here's how to spot it:
- 🔋 Battery: Original: Capacity matches the declared (check in Settings) → Battery. → Condition: Fake: capacity is understated (e.g. 3,500 mAh instead of 5,000 mAh)
- 🖥️ Processor: Find out the model through CPU-Z Compare this to the official data: for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ MediaTek Dimensity 1080 should be available, not Helio G99
- 📸 Cameras: Original: the number of megapixels is the same as stated (check in the EXIF Fake: 12 MP main camera instead of 200 MP (yes, it happens!)
Heat test: run a heavy game (like Genshin Impact) at maximum settings. The original Xiaomi heats up evenly, the fakes heat up locally (like just in the CPU area) and to critical temperatures (above 50).°C).
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If the phone is positioned as a flagship (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), but in the future, the phone is not a flagship. CPU-Z And this shows a mid-range processor (like the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1) that's a total fake.
Pay special attention to memory. Counterfeiting often has:
- Slow eMMC instead of slow eMMC UFS (Check it out at AndroBench)
- Understated RAM (for example, 4 GB instead of 8 GB)
- Fake "dynamic memory" (in Settings) → Memory shows 12GB, though physically 6GB)
6. Check through official Xiaomi services
Xiaomi provides several authentication tools, and here's how to use them:
- Authentication Site: Go to the order.mi.com/service/verify Enter the serial number (S/N) and IMEI The original will show the model, production date and warranty status
- Mi Verify app (China only): Download Mi Verify (required) VPN for China) Scan QR-code on the box or enter IMEI The original will get a green tick, the fake will get a red cross.
Chat with support for Xiaomi
- Write to the official chat with a request to check IMEI
- Send photos of the box and phone (especially holograms)
- Support will confirm or deny authenticity
⚠️ Note: Some fakes are able to deceive Xiaomi services by showing false warranty information. If you are confused (for example, the activation date is older than the production date), ask the seller for a check or certificate.
7.Price and place of purchase: how not to run into a fake
The most obvious sign of counterfeiting is that it's too low. Here are the model references (2026):
| Model | Minimum price of the original (new), ₽ | The price of a fake, ₽ |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | 28 000 | 12 000–18 000 |
| Xiaomi 13 | 55 000 | 25 000–35 000 |
| POCO F5 | 22 000 | 9 000–14 000 |
| Xiaomi 13 Ultra | 110 000 | 40 000–60 000 |
Where you can not buy Xiaomi:
- 🛒 Hands-on (Avito, Yula, Facebook Marketplace) – 80% of fakes are sold here
- 🌍 Foreign sites without official status (for example, AliExpress from unverified sellers)
- 🏪 Unofficial stores with a name like “Xiaomi Shop” (check if they are on the list of partners)
Where to buy:
- 🏢 Official website of mi.com
- 🛒 Authorized retailers: Svyaznoy, M. Video, Citilink (check the availability of the certificate)
- 📦 Official distributors in your country (list on the support page)
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If the seller refuses to provide a photo of the package with a hologram or IMEI The original Xiaomis are sold with complete transparency before buying.
8 What to do if you have already purchased a fake?
If you find that your Xiaomi is a fake, follow the algorithm:
- Gather proof: Photos of the box, holograms, IMEI Screenshots of checks at order.mi.com Check or payment order
- Contact the seller: Demand a refund under the law "On consumer protection" (Article 18) Indicate that the goods do not meet the declared characteristics
- Write a complaint: On the site (if you bought online): Avito, Ozon, Wildberries have protection services in Rospotrebnadzor or a local analogue (if the seller refuses to return the money)
Check your phone for viruses.
- Install an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes)
- Reset to factory settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Reset)
If the seller refuses to return the money, you can:
- 📝 Write a claim demanding refund and compensation (sample here)
- 🏛️ Sue the court (with the amount of the claim from 50 000) ₽ It's profitable)
- 📢 Post a review of the seller on IRecommend or Otzovik
⚠️ Please do not try to reflash the fake Xiaomi on the original. MIUI — It can finally brick the device, and fakes often have incompatible hardware, and the firmware of the original software will lead to a loss of functionality.