How to tell the original from the copy in 5 minutes (with photos and tests)

Not only are there thousands of offers available on marketplaces, social media, and even handhelds to buy a Xiaomi smartphone or gadget today, but as the brand has grown in popularity, so has the number of fakes. According to Customs Statistics China, more than 1.2 million counterfeit Xiaomi devices were seized in 2023, just the tip of the iceberg. Fake gadgets not only work worse, they can be dangerous, from self-igniting batteries to leaking personal data through spyware.

In this article, you will find 12 working ways to test Xiaomi’s originality, from visual inspection to hidden service codes. We will look at what fake models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 13), what parts give out a fake at first sight, and why even a box can tell more about a gadget than a seller, and at the end – a 5-step checklist that will save you from cheating when buying.

1.Packaging: 7 parts that give off a fake

Xiaomi's original box is not just cardboard, it's a sophisticated branding element with many security features, and it's counterfeited less often than the devices themselves, so inspecting the package can save you before you unpack.

• 📦 Material and printing: The original boxes are made of thick matte cardboard with a clear embossed logo seal. On fakes, often the glossy coating, blurred edges or logo is painted (rather than embossed).
• 🔍 Barcode and serial number: There should be a unique box at the bottom IMEI, S/N And the barcode. You can check them on the website. mi.com/verify. On fakes, these numbers are often repeated or absent.
• 📏 Size and weight: Redmi Note box 12 Pro+ flat-weight 480 d. and its dimensions — 165×85×35 mm. Deviation more than by 5% — reason.
• 🎨 Color gamut: Original boxes use Xiaomi's signature shades (e.g. Pantone 7547 C for blue) POCO). Counterfeiting is often struck in yellow or gray.

Pay special attention to the film on the box. The original devices are sealed in a transparent film with microperforation (ventilation holes), and on the fakes it is either not, or it is smooth and sticky. Also check the equipment: the original always has a proprietary cable (with a logo on the connector), documentation in several languages and an IMEI sticker on the back of the phone.

2.External inspection: 5 signs of fake on the body

Even if the box looks perfect, look at the device itself. Fake Xiaomi often gives out build quality: gaps between the case and the screen, lumpy buttons or an unevenly pasted back panel.

• 🔧 Logo: The original is metal (on Redmi) or matte plastic (on the POCO), On fakes, the logo is often painted or pasted.
• 📱 Screen: Oleophobic coating of original displays repels fingerprints. Swipe across screen with dry finger - if greasy traces remain, it's fake.
• 🔊 Speakers and microphones: On the original Xiaomi speakers are symmetrical, with a metal mesh. on fakes, often one hole under the speaker is painted over or missing.
• 🔌 Connectors: USB-Type C on the original has gold contacts and a tight fit. On fakes, the connector is often luftite or made of cheap plastic.

Weight test: Take the phone in your hand. The original Xiaomi 13 Lite weighs 173g, and its fake is often 10 to 15g heavier due to cheap materials. The exact weights of the models can be found on the official website in the Specifications section.

3. Software Verification: Service Codes and MIUI

The most reliable way to detect a fake is to go to the service menu, and type the following commands into the Phone app:

#4636## - information about the battery and network
#6484## - Camera and display test
#64663## - Sensor checks

On the original Xiaomi, these codes will open diagnostic menus, and on the fakes you will either see an error or the menu will be in Chinese (even if the firmware is Russian).

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 5 times on the MIUI version and the message “You are a developer now” should appear.
3. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional → for developers.
4. Check the OEM Lock Status: The original must have it turned off (if the phone is new) or require a password to unlock.

The critical sign of fake is that if you don't have a MIUI version in your settings or you don't have Android Go in your settings, you're 100% fake. Also, look at fonts and icons: the original MIUI has a corporate identity, and the fakes often use standard Android icons.

4.IMEI and serial number: how to check through the Xiaomi database

Each Xiaomi device has unique features IMEI, S/N (serial number) and MAC-They can be checked in three ways:

1. By code: dial *#06# and IMEI will appear on the screen. Compare it to the number on the box and under the battery (if removable).
2. On Xiaomi, go to mi.com/verify and type in IMEI+CAPTCHA. The original will show the model and activation date.
3. Through the app: download Mi Check from the Mi App Store (not from Google Play!).The app scans the hardware and compares it to Xiaomi's base.

⚠️ Attention: if during the inspection IMEI You see a message on the site saying, "This device has not been activated," but the phone has already been used -- it's a fake:

• The IMEI starts with 000000 or repeats on the box and on the phone.
• The serial number is shorter than 14 characters or contains letters (original – only numbers).
• Xiaomi’s phone model doesn’t match the one on the box.

5. firmware and software: what should alert

The operating system is the one that's the hardest to fake, and the original MIUI has a number of unique features.

• 📱 Branded apps: Mi Home, Mi Community, Security (with shield icons) are often labeled with Clean Masters, UC Browser or other suspicious programs.
• 🔄 Updates: Go to Settings → The phone. → System update. The original must have an update available through OTA. On fakes, this item is often missing.
• 🔒 Lock bootloader: On the original Xiaomi bootloader is locked (checked through fastboot oem device-info.

⚠️ Note: if the phone has a firmware with a name like "MIUI by xda-developers or Global ROM for MTK" — This is a modified version for forgeries. MIUI type-version MIUI Global 14.0.5 (with model indication).

Another test is performance. Run an AnTuTu Benchmark and compare it to the official model data. For example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ should have a score of at least 500,000. Counterfeit mediaTek Helio processors instead of Snapdragon give 2-3 times lower values.

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If the seller refuses to show the phone before payment, it is a reason to doubt. ask to turn on the phone and check at least the IMEI via *#06#.

6. Battery and charging: why fakes are dangerous

Fake Xiaomis are often packed with low-quality batteries that not only sit down quickly, but can swell or ignite.

1. Look at the battery sticker: the original shows capacity (e.g., 5000mAh/19.45Wh), voltage (3.85V) and production date. Counterfeits often only have capacity without other data.
2. Connect the original charger (if any). The original Xiaomi supports fast charging (for example, 67W for the Redmi Note 12 Pro+).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is heated when charging (above 45)°C) and the indicator shows "Charging completed" in 30 minutes - this is a sign of a fake power controller!

Also check the charging connector: on the original Xiaomi it has 24 pins (see below the magnifier), and on the fakes it has 16 or less, which affects charging speed and compatibility with accessories.

7 Camera and sensors: how fakes cheat

One of the most common scams in fake Xiaomis is sham cameras, for example, a phone might have 3 lenses, but only one will work.

• 📸 Camera test: Open the Camera app and alternately close each lens with your finger. The original image should disappear when you close any of them).
• 🔦 Light up: flash through the lens, the original cameras show complex optics (lenses), and the fakes only have plastic stubs.
• 📏 Resolution: take a photo and check its properties. The original Xiaomi 13 Pro shoots at 50.3 MP, and the fake will give 12-16 MP despite the inscriptions on the box.

Also check the sensors:

• 🧭 Gyroscope: in games (for example, PUBG Mobile) turn the phone - the original control responds smoothly, on a fake - with a delay.
• 📍 GPS: Turn on geolocation and check the accuracy in Google Maps. the original Xiaomi determines the location with an error of up to 5 m, fakes - up to 50 m.
• 👆 Approximation sensor: during the call, raise your hand to the top of the screen. The original screen will go out, the fake screen will not.

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If the seller says, "The camera is 108 MP, but it's worse because of the firmware," that's a hoax. The fakes are cheap sensors that can't physically issue that permission.

8 Where and how to buy Xiaomi without risk

Even if you know all the signs of counterfeiting, you should buy your gadgets in trusted places first.

1. The official Mi Store (mi.com or retail outlets) is 100% original, but prices are higher than the market.
2. Authorized resellers: Svyaznoy, M.Video, Eldorado (check the availability of Xiaomi certificate on the showcase).

⚠️ Warning: Avoid hand-held purchases (Avito, Yula) if the seller:

• Refuse to show the phone in working condition.
• The phone was brought from China, but without a box.
• Asks for cash without a check or through a transfer to a card.
• He said the warranty is in effect, but the documents are lost.

Before buying, be sure to check:

1. IMEI matching on the box and on the phone.
2. Availability of all accessories (cable, adapter, paperclip for the SIM tray).
3. The operation of all cameras, sensors and wireless modules (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC).

If you buy online, save screenshots of correspondence with the seller and a check - this will help you return money in case of fraud.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions