Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: How to distinguish the original from the fake in 5 minutes

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (codenamed whyred) remains one of the most popular budget phones even years after its release. Its price-to-performance ratio attracts buyers, but this makes it a hot target for scammers. According to Counterpoint Research, up to 15% of Xiaomi devices in the secondary market are fakes, and in some regions this figure reaches 30%, and counterfeits are becoming more sophisticated: copying not only the appearance, but also firmware, packaging, and sometimes even a box of documentation.

In this article, we will discuss 12 How to distinguish the original Redmi Note 5 From copy, from visual inspection to hardware testing, you'll learn which parts of the package to look at first, how to check. IMEI without the risk of locking your phone, and why even the “right” firmware MIUI This is a sign of forgery, and we're going to focus on hidden tags on the motherboard that fraudsters almost never forge. 5 (3/32 GB), Redmi Note 5 Pro (4/64 GB) and Indian version of Redmi Note 5 AI Dual Camera.

1.Packaging Check: 5 Parts That Copy Worst

The box is the first filter to weed out 70% of fakes, and scammers often save on packaging, so the original Redmi Note 5 box has some unique features that are difficult to replicate:

• 📦 Material and printing: The original box is made of thick, matte-coated cardboard, stamped (feelable by fingers), not just printed. The fakes are usually glossy or blurry.
• 🔍 Serial number on the sticker: At the bottom of the box should be a sticker with S/N (serial), IMEI The original has the same data as the phone settings (Settings). → The phone. → General information).
• 🎨 Color scheme: The original Redmi Note 5 box is white with a gold Mi logo and a red accent called the model.
• 📏 Size and weight: The original box has precise dimensions 16,5 × 8,5 × 4,5 centimeter 210–220 Fakes are often lighter or larger.
• 🔖 Documentation: The package must include a warranty card with a hologram, instructions in several languages (including Russian) and a pin for the product. SIM-card-bag.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters sometimes use boxes from other Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi 5 Plus, which looks similar to the Note 5!

2.External phone inspection: where to look for marriage

Even if the package looks perfect, check the phone itself. Counterfeiting often produces little things that are hard to spot without comparing it to the original:

🔦 Backlight test: Turn on the flashlight and light it up at an angle. The original lighting is uniform, with no waves or yellowness at the edges. Counterfeits often show the "cloud effect" -- uneven spots of light.

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If the seller refuses to show the phone in daylight or turn on the camera, this is a reason to be wary. Counterfeiting often has matrix defects that are noticeable only in bright light.

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

IMEI is a unique phone identifier that cannot be tampered with at the hardware level (unless you have to re-sweeten the chip).

1. Find IMEI on the box and in the phone: On the box: a sticker on the bottom that says IMEI. On the phone: Settings → About the phone → General information → IMEI or dial *#06#.

Compare the values:

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• Go to the checkout page.
• Enter the IMEI, serial number (S/N) and the code from the picture.
• If the system is not correct or the data is not the same as the Redmi Note 5, the phone is fake.

⚠️ Note: Some scammers are replacing IMEI software (via the engineering menu). To rule out this option, check IMEI Once again after the complete reset (Settings) → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge. IMEI It's changed. It's a fake.

Check IMEI on box and phone | Check IMEI on Xiaomi| Make sure the model matches Redmi Note 5| Repeat check after reset-->

4. firmware and software: how to recognize the “left” MIUI

Fakes often install custom firmware that mimics MIUI, but with errors.

• 📱 Version. MIUI: The original Redmi Note 5 was designed to MIUI 9-12 (depending on the year of release) Counterfeitings often have outdated versions (e.g., antiquated versions, MIUI 8) or “self-made” assemblies with translation errors.
• 🔧 Engineering menu: Enter ##4636##. The original menu will open with information about battery, network and usage statistics.
• 🔒 bootloader lock: The original Xiaomi has a locked bootloader.Try to enter Fastboot mode (hold power) + Turning down the volume when you turn on. If the bootloader is unlocked without your knowledge, it's a fake.
• 📡 OTA-Update: Go to Settings → The phone. → System updates: The original should be able to download official updates, or fakes are not updated, or they offer to download files from questionable sources.

🛠️ Performance test: Install the AnTuTu Benchmark app and run the test.Original Redmi Note 5 (Snapdragon on Snapdragon 625/636) show 80 000–100 000 Counterfeit mediaTek Helio or weak chips are issued 30 000–50 000 score.

5. Hardware inspection: what is hidden under the body

If you've already bought a phone and want to verify its authenticity, you'll have to look inside, and you'll need a plastic spatula (or mediator) and a dryer to soften the glue. Attention: Disassembly will void the warranty if it's still valid!

🔧 What to look for under the lid:

1. Battery tag: The original battery has a sticker with QR-The code, serial number and inscription Made in China by ATL (Counterfeiters often use batteries without tags or with typos.
2. Memory chip: The motherboard must have an eMMC 5.1 chip (e.g. Samsung) KLMBG4GEAC hynix H9HKNNNCLMMVR). Counterfeit chips save on memory by installing 4.5 eMMCs or unknown chips.
3. Hidden Label: The original board has a micro-signature under the processor, "MDG5" (for the Snapdragon 625) or "MSM8953" (for 636), which can only be seen under the magnifier.

⚠️ WARNING: If you find that the screws on the motherboard have unscrew marks (scratching slats), it may mean that the phone has already been repaired or forged. Xiaomi's original screws have Torx star-shaped slats. T3/T4 And never cross.

6. Camera and sensor check: why fakes give out photos

The camera is one of the hardest parts to copy, and even if the modules look the same, the quality of the footage and the sensors will give you a fake.

• 📸 Main camera test: Take low-light photos. original Redmi Note 5 uses Sony sensor IMX486 (12 MP) or Samsung S5K2L7 (12 MPs that make little noise on the ISO 1600-3200. The fakes are already making noise. ISO 800.
• 🔦 Flashlight: Turn on the flashlight at full power. The original light is bright and uniform (500-600 lumens); counterfeits often flash or shine dimly (200-300 lumens).
• 🧲 Hall Sensor: Hold the magnet to the top of the phone (where the speaker is). In the original, the screen should go out (the case close sensor is triggered.
• 🎤 Microphone: Record your voice on a tape recorder and listen. The original is clear, without wheezing. Counterfeits often have background noise or distortion.

💡 Secret test: Open the camera and cover the lens with your finger. The screen should display a "Close the lens" warning.

7.Where and how to buy Redmi Note 5, so as not to run into a fake

Even though you know all the signs of the original, you still have the risk of buying a fake if you choose unreliable sources.

💰 Price indicator: At the time of release (2018), the Redmi Note 5 cost 15,000-18 000 ₽ Now (2026) the price of the used original should not be below 6000-8000 ₽. If the seller offers a phone for 3,000-5,000 ₽ — It is almost certainly a fake or faulty device.

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Never buy Xiaomi hand-held without an IMEI check and a camera test, and even if the seller shows the box and checks, they can be forged, and the only reliable way is to check the hardware tags and firmware.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi Note 5 fakes