How to distinguish the original Xiaomi phone from a fake: a complete guide with photos and tests

Xiaomi, a Chinese brand, has long been popularized by a combination of high technology and affordable prices. However, with the growing demand, a huge number of fakes have appeared in the market, from low-quality copies to “clones” with the Mi logo, assembled from cheap components. According to official statistics, up to 15% of Xiaomi smartphones in the secondary market are fakes, and in some regions this figure reaches 30%, and scammers have learned to copy not only the appearance, but also packaging, documentation, and sometimes even firmware.

The problem is that fakes not only fail to meet performance expectations, they can be dangerous. Cheap batteries explode, poor-quality chargers cause fires, and pirated software often contains spyware. In 2023, Redmi Note 12 counterfeits, for example, detected malware that stole bank card data. How not to run into fake when buying? We collected 12 proven methods, including hidden tests that only service center specialists know about.

This article is for both checking a new phone before you buy and diagnosing a device you already bought, and focus on the IMEI, serial number, and hardware diagnostics sections, which are the hardest to fake. And if you buy a Xiaomi handheld, be sure to read about the verification method through the official Mi Account service, which detects 98% of fakes.

1. Packaging check: 7 signs of forgery

Fraudsters pay special attention to copying the box, because it is the first thing a buyer sees. However, even the most swinging fakes are given out by small things. Xiaomi's original packaging has unique security elements that cannot be reproduced in artisanal conditions.

First, look at the material in the box: the original is made of thick, matte-coated cardboard that doesn't shine in bright light. Counterfeiting is often made from thin, glossy cardboard that folds easily. Second, check the logo's print: it's clear on the original, without blurred edges, and the letters MI have the right proportions (height to width 1:1.2).

• 📦 Barcode: Must be glued smoothly, without bubbles. Check it through the Barcode Scanner app, which leads to the official Xiaomi website.
• 🔍 Serial number: on the box and under the battery (or in the slot) SIM) Fakes often show random numbers.
• 🎨 Color gamut: the original Redmi boxes - orange, POCO — The yellow ones, the Mis are white and gray, and the fakes are often dull or out of sync with the official ones.
• 📏 Box sizes: the original is exactly matched to the model. 13 Pro+ size 17×9×4 cm - deviation more than by 2 mm says it's a forgery.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters often use original boxes from other Xiaomi models (e.g., packing Redmi 10 in a Redmi 9 box).Always check the model on the box with the model on the phone!

2.External examination of the phone: details that give off a fake

Even if the packaging looks perfect, the phone itself can be a copy. Start with the logo: on the original Xiaomi, it is laser-engraved (on metal) or screen-printed (on plastic). Scroll your nail over the logo - on a fake, the paint is often erased or rough. The original logo is smooth and does not feel to the touch.

Check the connectors and buttons:

• 🔌 USB-Type C: the original connector is symmetrical, the contacts are shiny, scratchless.
• 🔊 Speakers: Xiaomi always pairs them (even in budget models). If the smartphone produces a mono sound, it is 100% fake.
• 📶 The antenna lines are thin and smooth, with no blurred edges, and fakes often show traces of glue or sloppy paint.

Pay special attention to the camera. Xiaomi lenses always have a protective glass with an oleophobic coating (leaves no traces from your fingers). On fakes, the glass quickly becomes stained. Also check the number of modules: for example, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ has 3 cameras + light sensor, and fakes often save by installing 2 modules with a third one drawn.

3. IMEI and serial number check: the most reliable way

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique phone identifier that cannot be forged at the hardware level.

1. Type *#06# on the phone keyboard and the screen will show a 15-digit code (or two if the phone supports two codes). SIM-map).
2. Compare it to the IMEI on the box and under the battery (if removable).
3. Check IMEI through the official IMEI.info service or Mi Verify.The original Xiaomi should be identified as the model with the correct name (e.g. 2304FPNC4G for the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G).

The serial number (S/N) is checked in the same way.

• 📋 On a box (usually on a barcode sticker).
• 📱 In the phone settings: Settings → The phone. → General information → Serial number.
• 🔋 Under the battery or in the slot SIM-cards (for models with removable cover).

⚠️ Attention: If during the inspection IMEI The service shows a model that does not exist (e.g. Redmi). X9 Pro or gives an error "Invalid" IMEI» — You're 100% fake, and beware of cloned phones. IMEI (Two identical codes on different devices – this is illegal and blocked by telecom operators.

4. Software Diagnostics: What the firmware is hiding

Fakes often install pirated versions of MIUI or custom firmware that mimic the original, to test the software:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. The original firmware is V14.0.5.0.TMCCNXM (for Redmi Note 12), and fakes often use simplified versions like MIUI 12.5.1.0 without specifying the model.
2. Check for branded apps: Mi Home, Mi Community, Security, which are either missing or not opening on fakes.
3. Run a performance test using the AnTuTu Benchmark, and if the results are 30 percent or more below the official results, this is a sign of weak hardware. For example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ should show at least 500,000 points.

Please note the updates:

• 🔄 B Settings → The phone. → System update original offers download from Xiaomi servers.Fakes are either not updated or download files from third-party sources.
• 🛡️ The original feature is Mi Unlock, which is missing or is an error on the fakes.

View MIUI version in settings | Check for branded applications | Run the test in AnTuTu| Try to update the system | Check Mi Unlock-->

5. Hardware diagnostics: what is hidden under the case

If you've had experience disassembling phones, check the internal components, and even if the phone looks like the original, the stuffing often gives you a fake.

1. Remove the back cover (in the service center it will be done in 10-15 minutes).
2. Check out the battery: the original has a sticker with the serial number, production date and Xiaomi logo.Fakes often use batteries without markings or with a drawn logo.
3. Check the motherboard. The original Xiaomi has a clear model label (e.g., MSM8953 for the Snapdragon 625). Counterfeit boards often have unlabeled boards or Chinese characters.

Pay special attention to memory chips and processor:

• 🧠 The original Xiaomi uses Qualcomm, Mediatek or Samsung chips with clear labels, and fakes are cheap counterparts (like Spreadtrum instead of Snapdragon).
• 💾 Check the memory through AIDA64. If the phone is declared as 128 GB and the app shows 64 GB, it’s a fake with “bloated” specs.

⚠️ Warning: Some fakes install fake processors with Qualcomm or Mediatek stickers.To check this, run a test CPU Throttling Test: The original chip will show stable performance, and the fake will show sharp drawdowns through 5-10 minute.

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If you are not sure about your disassembly skills, contact the Xiaomi service center - they will conduct a free diagnostics for the first time. IMEI The official CC addresses can be found on the website. mi.com/service.

6. Check through official Xiaomi services

The most reliable way is to use tools from Xiaomi itself, which provides several authentication services:

1. Mi Verify (mi.com/global/verify): enter IMEI or serial number, the system will show whether the phone is officially registered, if it gives an error "Device not found" - it is a fake.
2. Mi Account: Link the phone to a Xiaomi account. The original device will automatically be identified in the system. The fake will either not be attached or will be identified as a "Unknown device."
3. Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud. The original phone model and serial number will be displayed on the forgery, and these fields will be empty or error-free.

You can also use the Mi Check app (available on Google Play), which scans your phone for software and hardware authentication, and if the app doesn't start or shows an error, you have a copy.

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If a phone doesn’t pass the test in at least one of Xiaomi’s official services, it’s a guaranteed fake, and even if it looks perfect, its hardware or software is rigged.

7.The camera and sensor test: what scammers are missing

The camera is one of the hardest parts to copy, and the original Xiaomis use Sony or Samsung sensors with proprietary image processing, and the fakes use cheap modules that give themselves away when they test.

How to check:

• 📸 Resolution: Take a photo and check its properties. If the phone is declared as 108 MP and the photo has a resolution of 12 MP, it is a fake with interpolation.
• 🔦 Night shooting: the original Xiaomi has Night Mode mode, which really improves quality. on fakes it is either absent or simply increases the brightness without detail.
• 🎥 Video 4K: record the video in maximum resolution. The original shoots a smooth video without artifacts, a fake with jerks and a soap image.

Also test the sensors:

• 🧭 Gyroscope: Launch a game with support VR (For fakes, the sensor is late or not at all.
• 📡 NFC: If the model should support contactless payment (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+), Google Pay is not working, it’s a fake.
• 🌡️ Light sensor: cover the LED sensor with your finger - the original will instantly react to the change in the brightness of the screen.

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

Even if you know all the signs of counterfeiting, it's easy to make a mistake when buying.

• 🛒 Official stores: only buy from Mi Store, Svyaznoy, M.Video or the official Xiaomi website. Avoid small online stores with suspiciously low prices.
• 📦 Checking on receipt: if you order online, unpack your phone at the courier. IMEI, serial number and external signs.
• 💳 Payment: Never transfer money to a card or e-wallets. Use secure methods (cash on receipt, SBP, PayPal with buyer protection).
• 📄 Documents: the original Xiaomi always comes with a warranty card on letterhead, and fakes are often accompanied by printouts on ordinary paper.

If you are buying from hand (Avito, Yula) you must:

1. Ask for a photo of the box, IMEI and check.
2. Check your phone through Mi Verify before you meet.
3. Meet in a crowded place and test the phone for at least 15 minutes (camera, sensors, charging).

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters often sell gray phones (brought unofficially) under the guise of original ones. They may be original by hardware, but lack Russian firmware and warranties.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi fakes