Previous articleThe original Xiaomi or fake? 12 ways to distinguish a real smartphone

Xiaomi, a Chinese brand, has long been popularized by a combination of high technology and affordable prices. But where there is demand, counterfeits inevitably appear. According to the Global Anti-Counterfeit Alliance, up to 15% of Xiaomi smartphones in the secondary market are fake, and in some regions this figure reaches 30%, and scammers have learned to copy not only budget models like the Redmi Note 12, but also the flagships of the Xiaomi 14 series.

The problem is that modern fakes are almost indistinguishable from the originals: the same logos, similar packaging, even firmware can mimic MIUI. However, there are key details that give off fake. In this article, we will discuss 12 reliable ways to verify, from visual inspection to deep diagnostics through service menus, you will learn how to recognize a fake before you buy and what to do if you have already become a victim of fraud.

1. Packaging check: 5 signs of forgery

The box is the first barrier that separates the original from the fake. Fraudsters often save on packaging materials, so a careful inspection can save you from error.

• 📦 Print quality: On the original box, the Mi or Redmi logo is clear, blurry, and the colors are bright. Counterfeiting often has dull hues and uneven edges of inscriptions.
• 🔍 Serial number: At the bottom of the box should be pasted sticker with IMEI, S/N (serial number) and QR-For fakes, this data may be missing or duplicated.
• 🧩 Box content: The original is always equipped with a proprietary cable (with the Mi logo), a power adapter (if provided), and documentation.
• 🔖 Hologram: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro) has a protective hologram on the box, changes color when you change the angle of view, and in fakes, the hologram is either missing or unresponsive to light.
• 📏 Size and weight: The original box is dense, with even slices. Counterfeiting is often thinner and the lid may not close well.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters sometimes use boxes from other models, such as a Redmi Note 11 package that may contain a fake Poco X5. Always check the model on the box and on the device itself!

2. External inspection of the device: details that give off fake

Even if the box looks perfect, the device itself could be a fake.

• 🔧 Logo: On the original Xiaomi, the Mi or Redmi logo on the back is laser engraving or anodizing. In fakes, it is often pasted or painted (may wear off over time).
• 📱 Screen: The originals have a matrix AMOLED (for flagships) or IPS Fakes are often equipped with cheap pixels. TFT-You can check it by looking at the display at an angle, and fakes have the colors that burn out".
• 🔊 Speakers and microphones: In the original Xiaomi speakers are symmetrically arranged, and the microphone holes are clearly shaped. Counterfeiters often lack a second speaker (stereo sound), and microphone holes are uneven.
• 🔋 Connectors and buttons: USB-The original C port has a tight fit, and the power and volume buttons are a clear stroke without backlash. The fakes can stagger and the buttons can fall.

Pay special attention to the camera. The original Xiaomi camera lenses have oleophobic-coated protective glass (no fingerprints left), and fake glass is often plastic, scratches quickly and collects dust.

3. IMEI and serial number check: official Xiaomi services

The most reliable way to verify is to verify IMEI and serial number (S/N) through Xiaomi’s official databases, which must match on the box, under the battery (if removable), and in the smartphone settings.

How to check:

1. Find the IMEI on the box or under the battery (for models with removable battery).
2. Enter *#06# on your phone and IMEI will be displayed on the screen.
3. Compare the two. If they're different, it's a fake.
4. Go to mi.com/global/verify and enter IMEI or S/N. The system will show if the device is registered.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters sometimes clone IMEI If the site test was successful, but there are doubts, go to the following diagnostic methods!

Diagnostics through MIUI: Hidden menus and tests

MIUI has a service menu that helps you detect a fake.

1. Check out MIUI version: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. Original devices have current versions (e.g. MIUI 14 for new models). Fakes often have outdated or modified firmware.
2. Run the hardware test: Enter ##4636## → select Testing. In the original, all sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, compass) must display data. For fakes, some sensors may not be available.
3. Check the CPU information: Install the CPU-Z app from Google Play. In the original Xiaomi processors meet official specifications (for example, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Xiaomi 13 Pro). Fakes often have cheap MediaTek Helio or unknown chips.

Critical sign of fake: if the About phone menu says "Model Number: Unknown" or instead of the model name - a set of numbers (for example, "M2007J3SC"), it is 100% fake.

MIUI version conforms to model | All sensors are running in ##4636##| The processor matches official specifications |No unknown applications in the system-->

5. firmware analysis: how to recognize the "left" MIUI

Fakes are often equipped with pirated versions of MIUI, which look similar to the original but contain vulnerabilities.

• 🔄 Updates: The original firmware has an automatic update feature (Settings) → The phone. → System updates. For fakes, this section may be missing or may give an error.
• 🛡️ Security: Go to Settings → Passwords and security. The original ones are "Find Device" and "Mi Cloud.
• 📱 Pre-installed annexes: Original MIUI It contains proprietary utilities: Mi Video, Mi Music, Mi Browser, and in fakes they are replaced by third-party ones (for example, for example, UC Browser).
• 🔍 Language packages: The original supports all major languages, including Russian. Fakes often don't have translations or are made crooked (with errors).

Another test: try resetting your phone to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset). The original MIUI will reset without errors. A fake can "hang" or give a message like "Reset failed."

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If you have an "Engineer Mode" item in your settings with Chinese characters, that's a sign of "grey" firmware. The original Xiaomi for the global market doesn't include that.

6. Check of components: battery, cameras, speakers

Counterfeiting saves on stuffing, so the internal components often give off fake.

• 🔋 Battery: The original Xiaomi batteries are labeled with the Mi logo, production date and capacity (e.g., the Mi battery, 4500mAh). Fakes often have low capacity (for example, instead of 5000mAh — 3000mAh), And the inscriptions are carelessly made.
• 📸 Cameras: Remove the back cover (if possible) and inspect the camera modules. Originally, they are connected through branded Xiaomi logo plumes. The fake cameras are often soldered on the lap or missing a part of the lenses (for example, instead of a triple camera, one with decorative dummys").
• 🔊 Speakers: The original Xiaomi uses speakers from Harman Kardon (in flagships) or quality components with clear labeling. Fake speakers are often glued, without branding, with flimsy contacts.

You can use AIDA64 to test in depth, and it will show the real-world characteristics of the components, for example, if the specification says Snapdragon 888, and the application specifies Helio G95, it's a fake.

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If you see soldering marks, a mismatch in the colors of the board or the absence of protective screens when disassembling the device, this is a sure sign of a fake.The original Xiaomis are assembled on automated lines with minimal human involvement.

7 Buying with Hands: How Not to Run Into a Fake

If you buy Xiaomi from hand (on Avito, Yula or in social networks), follow these rules:

• 📱 Require a live inspection: Ask the seller to shoot a video with the phone on, where you can see: All cameras are working (switching between lenses). Running heavy games (eg, Genshin Impact) - fakes are often slowed down. IMEI via *#06#.
• 💳 Pay securely: Use secure payment methods (such as a guarantee BPS or PayPal) Never transfer money to a card or a card. QIWI stock-check.
• 📄 Check the documents: the original Xiaomi must have a check or warranty card stamped with the official store stamp.If the seller says that "there are no documents" - this is a reason to be wary.
• 🔄 Compare prices: If the price is 30-50% Below the market (e.g. Xiaomi) 13 Ultra for a scoop. 30 000 ₽ instead 90 000 ₽), It's almost certainly a fake.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters often sell fakes under the guise of "clear" or "gray" smartphones. Real Xiaomi "gray" (brought from abroad) differs from fakes in that: Have original firmware (Settings item) → Additionally. → The region shows "China" or "Global." IMEI Supports updates (albeit with a delay).

8 What to do if you have already bought a fake

If after the purchase it was found that the device is fake, act quickly:

1. Collect evidence: Take pictures of the device, packaging, IMEI, checks (if any) and record a video of the malfunction demonstration.
2. Contact the seller: Write a claim demanding a refund, indicate that the goods do not meet the declared characteristics (Article 18 of the Consumer Protection Act).
3. Complaint to the site: If the purchase was on Avito, Wildberries or Ozon, report support fraud.
4. Contact the police: If the amount is significant (from 10 000) ₽), write a statement of fraud (Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
5. Check for viruses: Fake smartphones often contain spyware. Don't enter passwords from bank cards or social networks. Use antivirus (such as Malwarebytes) to scan.

If the seller refuses to return the money, and the site does not help, contact Rospotrebnadzor or the Society for Consumer Protection. In most cases, it is possible to return the funds through the court.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi fakes