Previous articleOriginal Xiaomi or Fake? 12 Ways to Check Before Buying

You can buy a smartphone, smartwatch or Xiaomi headphones today not only in official stores, but also on marketplaces, social networks or from hand. However, as the brand grows in popularity, so does the number of fakes — from rough copies to almost perfect replicas that will deceive even an experienced user. According to Roskoshestvo, up to 30% of Xiaomi devices sold outside official channels are counterfeit, while counterfeiting not only works worse, but can pose dangers, from exploding batteries to leaking personal data through spyware.

In this article, we’ll look at 12 reliable ways to tell the difference between the original Xiaomi and the fake, from visual inspection to software testing. You’ll learn what to look for when buying a Redmi Note 13 Pro+, Mi Band 8 or Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro, what tools to use to check for IMEI, and why even a box can give a fake, and at the end, a checklist for quick diagnostics and answers to frequent questions.

1. Packaging check: 7 signs of forgery

The box is the first thing that catches your eye, and it often turns out to be counterfeit. Xiaomi's original devices are packaged with strict standards that are difficult for artisanal manufacturers to replicate.

• 📦 Print quality: The original box has clear text and logos, no blurring or shifting of paint, and fakes are often made with pale colors or uneven fonts.
• 🔍 Barcodes and QR-codes: scan them through the Xiaomi Authenticity Check app (available for users) Android/iOS). The original code will redirect you to the official website with the model data.
• 🏷️ Sticker with IMEI: There should be a two-barcode sticker on the back of the box (IMEI1 and IMEI2 for smartphones) and serial number, often missing a second number IMEI The serial number does not match the phone number.
• 🔧 Protective elements: the original Xiaomi boxes have special "ears" on the sides that fix the lid.

Pay special attention to the hologram (if it's for your model), on the original devices, the hologram changes color when tilted and contains microtext that can't be seen with the naked eye. K70 Pro hologram has 3D-effect.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters often use boxes from other Xiaomi models (e.g., packing Redmi 12 in a box from Redmi Note 11).Always check the model on the box with the one specified in the device specifications.

2. Visual 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 smartphones, the Mi or Redmi logo is laser-engraved and not erased. On fakes, it is often glued or printed with paint that fades over time.
• 🔌 Connectors and buttons: USB-The port, headphone jack (if any) and the on/loud buttons should be symmetrical, without backlash.
• 🎨 Color and material: the original Xiaomi use matted glass or metal with a uniform coating.Counterfeiters can have glossy plastic that is quickly covered with scratches.
• 📸 Camera: In the original models, the camera lenses are recessed in the body and protected by sapphire glass. On fake glass, the glass is often plastic and scratches quickly.

To check the display, turn on the device and look at the color rendering. AMOLED-Xiaomi screens (such as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra) have saturated colors and deep black. on fakes, often "dirty" shades or uneven lighting at the edges.

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To check the build quality, press the screen slightly at the corners. On the original devices should not be deflected or foreign sounds (squeaking, crunch).

3. IMEI and serial number check: step-by-step instruction

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique identifier for your device, which can be used to verify the originality of Xiaomi.

1. Find IMEI on the box (on the back sticker) or in your phone: Enter the code *#06# in the phone app and a window with IMEI will appear. Or go to Settings → About Phone → General information.
2. Compare the IMEIs from the box and the phone. If they don't match, you're 100% fake.
3. Check IMEI through official services: IMEI.info - will show the model of the device and the country of production. Official Xiaomi Verifier (requires the entry of a serial number).

What to look for when checking:

• 📍 Country of production: the original Xiaomi is made in China, India or Indonesia. If the service shows Vietnam, Pakistan or "Unknown" - it is a fake.
• 📅 Release Date: If the device is released before the official announcement of the model (for example, Redmi Note 13 until November 2023), it is a fake.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters can be faked IMEI, So this test alone is not enough. Always use it in conjunction with other methods.

4. Software Verification: MIUI and Hidden Menus

MIUI is another reliable indicator of originality, and fakes often run on customized firmware or older versions of Android.

• 📱 Version. MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. Original devices are upgraded to the latest stable version.If you have a Redmi Note 12 with MIUI 12, although the current version is — MIUI 14, it's a fake.
• 🔍 Hidden menu: Enter the code ##4636## in the phone app. MIUI The test menu will open, and the fakes may show an error or Chinese characters.
• 🔒 bootloader lock: The original Xiaomi has a locked bootloader.To check, turn on Developer Mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then go to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → bootloader lock state: If the status is "Unblocked" is suspicious (except if you have unlocked it yourself).

Another test is Google Certificate Verification, where original Xiaomi devices are certified by Google and have licensed services (Play Market, Gmail, etc.) to make sure that:

1. Open Settings → Google → Certification of the device.
2. If the status is "Certified" - it's okay, if "Uncertified" or there's no menu item - it's a fake.

5.Iron testing: how fakes give themselves away in work

Even if the device looks like the original, the stuffing can be very different, and fakes are often packed with weak processors, low-volume memory and low-quality screens.

• 📊 Performance: Install the AnTuTu Benchmark app and run the test. Compare the result to the official data for your model (e.g., the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in Xiaomi 14 should dial the ~1.5 million points. If the difference is greater than 30%, it's fake.
• 🖥️ Memory: In Settings → The phone. → Memory check the amount of RAM and ROM. Counterfeiting often shows inflated numbers (for example, 12 GB of RAM instead of the real 4 GB). AIDA64.
• 🔋 Battery: The original Xiaomi uses batteries from the ATL To find out the manufacturer, type in Engineer Mode (code ##4636##) MTK Settings → Battery Information. If the manufacturer is unknown, it's a fake.

And you pay special attention to the camera, because fakes often come with cheap, low-resolution modules, but they're going to show you the parameters of the original, to check:

1. Take a close-up picture of a text document. On the original Xiaomi, the text will be clear, without artifacts.
2. Run the video in 4K (if supported) and fakes often show strong soap or slowdowns.

Accessories check: charging, cables and documentation

Xiaomi’s original accessories are as important as the device itself, and fakes are often equipped with cheap chargers that can damage the battery or even cause a fire.

• ⚡ Charger: The original power supply indicates a model (e.g, MDY-12-ED), input/output voltage and Mi logo. Counterfeiting is often lighter in weight, has uneven seams or faded markings.
• 🔌 Cable USB: Xiaomi’s original cables have thickened connectors and labeling 5A (Fakes are thinner, and the squirts are easy to break.
• 📄 Documentation: The original box contains instructions in several languages (including Russian for official deliveries to the Russian Federation), and counterfeits are often completed with an A4 sheet with printed text or no documentation at all.

To check the charger, you can use the USB Tester app (showing real power) or multimeter. Xiaomi's original 33W unit should produce stable 5V/3A, 9V/3A or 11V/3A depending on the protocol.

⚠️ Warning: Using unoriginal chargers can cause battery bloating or overheating.If your Xiaomi is warming up while charging, immediately stop using the suspicious power supply.

7.Handbuying: Red Flags and How to Avoid Cheating

Buying used Xiaomi devices is always a risk, scammers can sell fakes, stolen phones or devices with a swapped memory, and here are 5 signs that the seller is cheating:

• 🚩 The price is too low: if Xiaomi 13T Pro sells 40% cheaper than the market – it’s almost certainly a fake or a stolen phone.
• 📱 Failure to check: the seller does not allow you to turn on the device, go to the settings or test the camera.
• 🔄 Resetting: If the phone is clean, but the seller cannot show the box or checks, it is suspicious (possibly the device is wanted).
• 🔋 Non-Original Battery: Check the Inspection AIDA64 battery → Health: If the capacity is much lower than the stated capacity (for example, 3,500 mAh instead of 5000 mAh), the battery is replaced.
• 📡 Problems with IMEI: If you are checking through *#06# IMEI missing or consisting of zeros – a phone blacklisted or fake.

Before buying it is necessary:

1. Ask the seller to take a photo of the box with an IMEI and serial number (compare with the phone data).
2. Check the device through IMEI.info for theft.
3. Make sure your phone is not tied to your Mi Account (go to Settings → Accounts).

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Never buy Xiaomi with your hands without checking IMEI and testing all the features (camera, sensors, charging).Even if the seller shows the check, it is not a guarantee of originality - checks are easy to forge.

8.Where to buy Xiaomi, so as not to run into a fake?

The safest way to avoid counterfeiting is to buy Xiaomi from official stores, and here are the rankings of reliable sources from safest to riskiest:

If you still decide to buy Xiaomi in an official store, follow the rules:

• 🛒 Check the seller’s reviews (there should be 95 on the marketplaces%+ positive assessment).
• 📄 Demand a check and a warranty card (even if the seller says "everything is checked").
• 🔍 Use secure payment methods (for example, a secure transaction on Avito or payment by card with the possibility of chargeback).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions