Previous article12 Ways to Check Xiaomi Before Buying

Buying a Xiaomi smartphone from hand or in an unofficial store is always a risk of running into a fake. According to Counterpoint Research, up to 15% of Xiaomi-branded devices in the secondary market are counterfeit or “gray” replicas. While scammers manage to copy not only budget Redmis, but also the flagship Mi 13 Ultra or POCO F5 Pro. On the outside, forgeries are often indistinguishable: the same logos, packaging, even firmware can simulate MIUI. But there are ways to calculate the fraud before buying – and we have them all in one guide.

This article will help you check the originality of Xiaomi in 12 parameters: from visual inspection to hidden service codes. POCO X5 frequently absent IR-What to do if the seller refuses to show the box, and at the end, a checklist of 5 steps for quick on-site checks".

1. Packaging check: 7 parts that give out a fake

The box is the first and most obvious sign. Fraudsters rarely pay attention to the little things, so the original Xiaomi packaging can be identified by:

• 🔹 Material: The real box is made of thick, matte-coated cardboard, and the fakes are often glossy or too thin (bending when pressed).
• 🔹 Fonts and logo: on the original Mi/Redmi/POCO It's written in a clear font, without blurring. In clones, the letters can be curved or shifted.
• 🔹 Serial number: at the bottom of the box should be glued sticker with IMEI, S/N and QR-If there's no sticker or it's printed on the box itself — 100% fake.
• 🔹 Hologram: The original Xiaomi boxes (especially the flagship series) have a holographic sticker that changes color when tilted.

Pay special attention to the barcode, which on the original package must match the code on the phone itself (under the battery or in the SIM slot), and you can check the authenticity of the barcode at mi.com/verify, and if the system gives an error, you have a clone.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters often paste stickers from the original boxes to fake ones. IMEI on the box, phone and firmware (on how to do this – in section 4).

External inspection: what should alert

Even if the box looks perfect, look at the phone itself.

• 📱 Build quality: the original Xiaomi has no backlashes, buttons are pressed with a clear click. Clones often have a wobbly camera or body cover.
• 🔍 Logo: on the back of the original logo Mi/Redmi It's laser-engraved (not nail-washed) and it's usually pasted or painted on fakes.
• 🔌 Connectors: the original Xiaomi USB-Type C port is symmetrical and tightly holds the cable.
• 🎨 Body color: fakes can have inaccurate shades. For example, the original Redmi Note 12 Pro in the color "Star Blue" shimmers blue, and the clone in purple.

Note the chamber module. The original Xiaomi camera lenses are protected by Gorilla Glass and do not scratch with a key. On fakes, the glass is often plastic, you can check this by swiping the lens with a coin (the original will not leave traces).

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If the seller refuses to put the phone in his hands for inspection, it is a reason to doubt.

3. IMEI check: the most reliable way

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique phone identifier, which is registered in three places in the original Xiaomi.

1. On the box (sticker on the bottom).
2. Under the battery (or in a slot) SIM-map).
3. In the firmware (in the settings of the phone).

To check the IMEI:

1. Dial *#06# and the screen will display a 15-digit number.
2. Compare it to the number on the box and under the battery, and if one number doesn't match, it's a fake.
3. Check IMEI on IMEI.info. The original Xiaomi should be defined as a model with the Xiaomi brand, not “Generic” or “Unknown”.

If the seller removed the IMEI sticker under the battery, it is a warning sign, perhaps the phone is recovered after theft or is a replica, and you should also be wary if the IMEI starts with the number 0000 or contains repeatable blocks (for example, 123456789123456) – such numbers are forged.

4. Service codes: what hides firmware

Xiaomi’s original smartphones have hidden service menus that help verify authenticity.

• 📱 ##4636## - phone information. Android Version should include the official firmware MIUI (for example, MIUI Global 14.0.5) Counterfeiting often has custom firmware type "MIUI v12.5 (Fake)".
• 🔧 ##225## - Sensor calibration. The original will open a test menu, the clone will have an error or an empty screen.
• 📡 ##4634## — The original Xiaomi will have support here. 5G (If the model supports it, the fakes are 4G/LTE.

Another way is to check the serial number in the settings:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → General information.
2. Find the lines Model and Serial number.
3. Compare it to the data on the box. The original must match.

A critical sign of forgery: if the settings say "Model: Unknown" or the serial number consists of only zeros, it is a guaranteed clone.

Dial #06# and check IMEI| Check the model in ##4636##*| Make sure you have MIUI in the settings | Compare the serial number to the box-->

5 Hardware features: that counterfeits are always absent

Xiaomi fakes often save on "chips" that are difficult to copy.

• 🌡️ Infrared port (IR-Blaster: present in all original Redmis and POCO (You can check it through the Mi Remote app - if the phone does not find a device to control (for example, air conditioning), it is a fake.
• 🔋 Fast charging: original Xiaomi supports proprietary technology (Quick Charge 4)+, Connect your phone to the original RAM – if charging is slower than stated (e.g, 18W instead 33W), it's a clone.
• 🎵 Stereodynamics: flagships (Mi 11, POCO F4 GT) You can check by closing the top and bottom lattices alternately while playing music, and the sound has to change.
• 📸 Camera quality: take the photo at maximum resolution and increase it. the original will not have strong noise or blur at the edges (especially in low light conditions).

Another test is the light sensor, which on the original Xiaomi, when you close your hand above the top of the screen, the brightness automatically decreases, and for fakes, this sensor is often missing or latency.

6.Software: MIUI vs. Fake Firmware

Firmware is one of the most reliable ways to detect a fake, and the original MIUI has a number of unique features:

• 📱 Branded apps: original preinstalled Mi Community, Mi Home, Security (with shield icon) for fakes, these apps are either missing or have translation errors.
• 🔒 Reset protection: When trying to make Factory Reset, the original Xiaomi requires you to enter a password from your Mi Account.
• 🔄 Updates: C Settings → The phone. → The system update should be able to download official updates, and for clones, this section is either empty or offers to download files from dubious sources.

Also check the build number in the settings. It should match the official MIUI versions for your model. For example, for the Redmi Note 12 Pro, it could be V14.0.4.0.TMOCNXM. If the build number contains the words "test", "debug" or "fake" - it is a fake.

Another test is Google Services, where the original Xiaomi uses all of Google’s services (Play Market, Gmail, YouTube) without bugs, and fakes often lack certification, which prevents apps like Netflix or Google Pay from running.

⚠️ Some fakes install "pirate" versions MIUI, These firmwares may contain viruses or spyware. Always check the source of updates!

7. Check through official Xiaomi services

Xiaomi provides several authentication tools:

1. Website mi.com/verify: enter IMEI or S/N The system will show if the device is original and if it is not listed in the database of stolen items.
2. Mi Verify app (available for Android) download it from Google Play, scan it QR-box code or enter IMEI.
3. Xiaomi Support Chat: Write to the official chat (on Xiaomi’s website or in Mi Community) and request a serial number check.

If the device fails to be checked, but the seller claims it is original, request the purchase documents (checks from the official store). Without them, the risk of running into a fake or stolen phone is extremely high.

The original Xiaomi, purchased in Russia, has a 12-month warranty (for a battery – 6 months), and if the seller says that the warranty is “international” or refuses to provide a warranty card, then there is reason to doubt.

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Even if the phone has passed IMEI, but it doesn't have an official warranty in Russia, it could be a "grey" import, and these devices are not serviced at local service centers.

8 Where and how to buy Xiaomi without risk

To minimize the risk of buying a fake:

• 🛒 Official stores: Mi Store, Svyaznoy, MVideo, Eldorado - only original devices with a guarantee are sold here.
• 🌍 Official partners: Xiaomi has a list of authorized resellers.
• 📦 Proven marketplaces: on Wildberries or Ozon, choose sellers with a rating above 4.8 and reviews of the checkout IMEI.
• 🤝 Buying from hand: if you take on Avito or Yula, demand:

Avoid shopping in:

• 🚫 Unofficial online stores with suspiciously low prices.
• 🚫 Social media (VK, Telegram sellers without a history of sales.
• 🚫 In street markets or “with hands” without the possibility of checking.

The average price of the original Xiaomi rarely drops below 70-80% from the recommended retailer. If you're offered a Redmi Note 12 Pro. 15 000 ₽ (RCF 30 000 ₽) — It's almost certainly a fake or a stolen phone.

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Before buying, check the IMEI history of the device on Swappa’s website to see if the phone is listed as a blacklist of operators (stolen/lost).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi fakes