Xiaomi, a Chinese brand, has long won the love of users around the world through a combination of high technology and affordable prices. But popularity breeds demand — and demand breeds counterfeits. According to the Customs Administration of China, more than 1.2 million counterfeit devices under the Xiaomi brand were seized in 2023, up 37 percent from the year before, with 68 percent of counterfeits entering the market through informal channels, from marketplaces to street stalls.
Compounding the problem, fraudsters are improving their methods: modern fakes copy not only the appearance, but also packaging, firmware, and sometimes even serial numbers. For example, a fake Redmi Note 12 Pro+ may look identical to the original, but inside you waiting for a processor based on MediaTek Helio G35 instead of the promised Dimensity 1080, and a battery – 3000 mAh instead of 5000 mAh. How not to become a victim of fraud and distinguish the original Xiaomi from a fake? In this guide, we will analyze 10 key features, including hidden details that even experienced customers miss.
1.Packaging: 7 parts that give off a fake
The box is the first thing that catches the eye and the first thing that scammers fake. Xiaomi's original packaging has a number of unique features that are difficult to replicate:
- 📦 Material and printing: The original box is made of thick, matte-coated cardboard. The Mi or Xiaomi logo is stamped (convex letters) rather than just printed. Counterfeiting often uses glossy cardboard and flat printing.
- 🔍 Barcode and serial number: At the bottom of the box must be 2D DataMatrix code (square pixel barcode) and 20-significant S/N (Counterfeiting often lacks DataMatrix or a shorter number. 15 symbolism.
- 📏 Size and weight: The original Redmi Note 13 Pro box weighs 380g, a fake is usually 250-300g due to thinner cardboard. The dimensions can also vary by 1-2mm.
- 🎨 Color gamut: Xiaomi uses strictly defined shades, such as a box. POCO X6 Pro – Deep Black with Blue Gradient (#1A1A1A → #0066CC), not a dull gray.
And you'll pay special attention to the plastic bag that packs the device inside the box, and the original one is always colorless, with the Xiaomi logo in the top left corner, and fakes often use blue or green packages.
Example of fake Redmi Note 11 packaging
⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters often repack fakes into boxes from other Xiaomi models. For example, a Redmi 10 box may contain a fake Redmi Note 12. Always check the model's compliance on the box and on the sticker under the battery!
2. IMEI and Serial Number: How to authenticate online
Each Xiaomi device has unique identifiers: IMEI (15 digits) and serial number (20 characters), which can be checked through the official services of the brand.
- Find the IMEI on the box (barcode sticker) or on your phone: dial *#06#.
- Go to mi.com/global/verify (for global versions) or order.mi.com (for Chinese versions).
- Enter the IMEI and serial number. The original device will show the model, the date of production and the warranty status.
If the site gives an error "Invalid IMEI" or the data does not match the model on the box, you are a fake. It is also worth checking the IMEI through the service IMEI.info: the original Xiaomi in the column "Manufacturer" will indicate Xiaomi Communications Co Ltd, not Unknown.
| Sign. | Original | Fake. |
|---|---|---|
| IMEI on the box and on the phone | Coinciding completely. | Different or absent from the box |
| Checkup result on mi.com | Shows model and date | Mistake or incorrect model |
| Serial number (S/N) | 20 characters, starting with letters | Shorter than 15 characters or numbers only |
| IMEI.info → Manufacturer | Xiaomi Communications Co Ltd | Unknown or another brand |
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If you buy by hand, ask the seller to video the process of checking IMEI via *#06# and entering data on the official website, which will protect you from changing the device after payment.
3. firmware and software: hidden markers of the original
Even if the phone looks like Xiaomi, the stuffing may be different, and fakes often use custom Android Go firmware or outdated MIUI versions.
- 📱 Version. MIUI: Go to Settings. → The original will have the exact version, for example. MIUI Global 14.0.5. The fakes are written simply MIUI 14 or Android 13 without specifications.
- 🔧 Hidden menus: Enter ##4636##. The original will open a testing menu with tabs Info, Battery, Usage. For fakes, this menu is either missing or in Chinese.
- 🔒 Bootloader: The original Xiaomi has a locked bootloader.Try to go to fastboot mode (turn off phone, pinch Volume down) + If you see the words "Device is locked" -- it's the original -- fakes are often unlocked or show an error.
Critical sign of fake: no branded Xiaomi applications (Mi Store, Mi Community, GetApps) or their "cut-off" versions without the possibility of updating. Also check Settings → Memory: the original devices always have a section "System applications" with the Mi logo.
4 Camera and sensors: tests that will fool the fake
Cameras are one of the hardest parts of a smartphone to fake, and even if they look identical, the actual capabilities are very different.
- Macro mode: Bring the phone to small text (for example, the serial number on the phone). SIM-map) at a distance of 2-3 cm Original Xiaomi (for example, Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) Focusing clearly, fakes give blurry images.
- Night photography: Take a photo in a dark room with night mode on. Fakes will have a strong noise and green tint, the original will have natural colors.
- Wide-angle module: If the specs indicate 120° FOV, but when shooting you can see distortions at the edges (as in cheap action cameras) – this is a fake.
- Light Sensor: Cover the top sensor (near the speaker) with your finger and call the phone. The original screen will go out, the fake screen will stay on.
Also check for video stabilization: record a 10-second video in motion. The original Xiaomi (starting with the Redmi Note 11) uses EIS + OIS hybrid stabilization, and fakes produce a "shivering" video. For comparison, you can download official video samples from the Xiaomi website.
Take a macro photo of text |Take a video in motion |Test night mode |Test wide-angle module (edge distortion) |Test of light sensor (call with closed sensor)
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5 Hardware parts: what is hidden under the body
If you are ready to disassemble the device (or buy it in disassembled form), pay attention to these details:
- 🔋 Battery: The original Xiaomis have a holographic sticker on the battery with the Mi logo and production date.Fakes often use batteries without markings or with the words Made in China without branding.
- 🛠️ Screws: The original devices use Torx screws T3 or Y00 Fakes are often collected on cross screws.
- 📡 Antenna lines: The inside of the back cover of the original Xiaomi has thin copper antenna tracks, which are either not present or painted with paint.
- 🔌 Charging connector: The original models with Quick Charge 4+ plug-in USB-C It has 24 contacts (see below the magnifying glass) and it saves and uses 16 pins.
The original Xiaomi uses UFS 2.2/3.1 (starting with the Redmi Note 11 Pro), and fakes come with a cheap eMMC 5.1. You can check the type of memory through the AIDA64 application (Section Storage).
⚠️ Warning: Some fakes mimic the dismantling of the original Xiaomi by installing the "right" screws and stickers. Always check for multiple features at once!
Price and place of purchase: red flags
The most obvious sign of counterfeiting is the price tag, for example, if the Xiaomi 14 Ultra sells for $45,000. ₽ (at the official price of 120,000 ₽), It's guaranteed fake, but scammers often disguise fakes as "sales" or "gray deliveries:
- 💰 Discount more than 40% of the official price (even on sales Xiaomi does not reduce prices by more than 25%).
- 🌍 Chinese seller on the marketplace (AliExpress, Taobao) with a rating below 95% and less than 100 reviews.
- 📦 No warranty card or warranty from the store instead of the official Xiaomi.
- 📱 Device "without a box" or with a box from another model.
- 💳 Require payment in cash or transfer to a card (without buyer protection).
Safe ways to buy:
- 🏬 Official stores: Mi Store, Svyaznoy, M. Video (with verification on the Xiaomi website).
- 🌐 Authorized Resellers: List of mi.com/global/where-to-buy.
- 🛡️ Marketplaces with protection: Ozon, Wildberries, Yandex Market (only sellers with a rating of 98%+ and guarantee of return).
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Even if the seller shows a "certificate of originality", check the device yourself. Fraudsters often forge these documents.
7. Xiaomi's signature chips that you won't copy
Some features are unique to the Xiaomi ecosystem and are almost impossible to fake.
- 🔗 Mi Account and Cloud: Register a Mi Account and try syncing data. For fakes, this either doesn't work or syncs with unknown servers (check Settings). → Accounts).
- 🎮 Game Turbo: Run any game and swipe left to right to call the Game Turbo panel.The originals have a proprietary design with a tachometer and performance settings.
- 🔊 Charging sound: Connect the original Xiaomi RAM. When you start charging, the original phone emits a short beep (the fakes don't have it or it's different).
- 📶 Double. GPS: Enable geolocation and check in AIDA64 (section GPS). The original Xiaomi (starting with the Mi 8) uses dual-band GPS (L1 + L5), For fakes, only L1.
Another test is an infrared port (if you have one in the model), try to control the TV using the Mi Remote app, and for fakes, the IR port either doesn't work or only controls the simplest commands (on/off).
8 What to do if you have already purchased a fake?
If after checking it turned out that your device is fake, act on this algorithm:
- Collect evidence: Take a picture of the packaging, IMEI, check (if any), take screenshots of the checks on the official website.
- Contact the seller: On the marketplace (Ozon, WB) - write in support with a request for a return under article 25 of the ZoZPP ("Misconformity with description"). When buying from hand - send a claim with evidence and a demand to return the money (sample: Rospotrebnadzor).
File a complaint.
- On the marketplace - through a form of deception.
- The police or the police (if the amount of the > 10 000 ₽).
- Xiaomi Intellectual Property Complaint (to block the seller)
- Do not use fake: Fake devices are often not certified, which is dangerous to health (for example, due to a poor-quality battery).
If the seller refuses to return the money, you can:
- Appeal to court (claims up to 50,000) ₽ are considered without a state fee).
- Publish a review on Otzovik, Yandex Maps (if you bought offline) or in thematic publics (Xiaomi Russia in VKontakte).
- Write in support of Xiaomi at the address ru_support@xiaomi.com — They can help with the identification of counterfeits for the court.
⚠️ Note: Do not try to re-fake the official MIUI! This can completely disable the device.Fake Xiaomis often have incompatible hardware.