How to Know What Xiaomi Phone You Have in Your Hands: A Complete Guide to 2026

Have you bought a used Xiaomi smartphone without a box, received a gift from relatives or simply forgotten the name of your model? The situation is familiar to many: the appearance of the brand’s devices are often similar, and the inscriptions on the case are often rubbed or hidden under the case. Meanwhile, knowing the exact model is critical: it depends on the compatibility of firmware, the availability of updates, the choice of accessories and even the cost of resale.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO phones can identify, from obvious (see box) to hidden (codes for the engineering menu), how to tell the Redmi Note 11 from the Note 11 Pro, why some models don’t have a sticker on the back, and what to do if the phone doesn’t turn on, and at the end, a visual difference table of popular lines that will help you identify the model even without access to the settings.

1. The easiest way: look at the box or documents

If you have the original packaging, it can be solved in 10 seconds.

• 📦 On the front (in large font, for example: Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ 5G)
• 🏷️ On the side sticker (small text, next to the barcode and IMEI)
• 📄 In a warranty card or check (if you bought in an official store)

Note that some boxes may only show a family (e.g., POCO X5) and a specific modification (POCO X5 Pro 5G) on a sticker, and the brand sometimes changes the design of the package: models from 2023 to 2026 come in black boxes with a minimalist logo, and old ones (Redmi 9, Mi 10) in white with bright accents.

⚠️ Note: If the box looks suspicious (no hologram, font blurred, Chinese inscriptions without translation), there is a high probability that it is a fake. IMEI from the sticker with what is displayed in the phone settings (Settings) → The phone. → General information).

No box? Let's move on to the next method.

2.Look for the model in the phone settings

If the phone is on and running, the most reliable way is to look at the system settings.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone (or About Device on MIUI 14+).
3. Click on General Information or Device Information.
4. Look for lines: Device model (e.g. 22101316C is Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G) Model name (e.g. POCO F5)

Some firmware (especially global ones) may not display the model in its entirety, such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro.+ 5G You'll only see the viva (codename), in which case use the codename table below or check through the codename table below. IMEI (method №4).

Try to update. MIUI last-minute|Check the "More" section in the device information|Use the code ##44336## to display the full data|Compare the code name with the table at the end of the article-->

If the phone is not switched on or locked, go to the IMEI or visual identification method.

3. Visual differences: how to determine the model by appearance

Xiaomi has several "branded" design solutions that can distinguish the lines from each other.

Pay attention to the location of the fingerprint scanner:

• 👆 On the side button - budget models (Redmi) 10A, POCO M5)
• 📱 Under the screen – mid- and premium segment (Redmi) K60, Xiaomi 13T)

Rectangular block (Redmi Note)|Round module (POCO)|Vertical stripe (Xiaomi) 12/13)|Another option-->

If in doubt, compare your phone to the official images on Xiaomi's website.

1. Open the Phones section.
2. Select a ruler (e.g. Redmi Note Series).
3. Compare the color, shape of the camera and the location of the logo.

4. IMEI Verification: Universal Method

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 15-digit code for your phone, which can tell you not only the model, but also the country of manufacture, the date of release, and check if the device is not blacklisted. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Recognize the IMEI

• 📞 Type on the keyboard *#06# - a window will appear with IMEI (or two if the phone supports two SIM-map).
• 📄 Look under the battery (on older models) or on the sticker under the slot SIM-map.
• ⚙️ In settings: About the phone → General information → Status → IMEI.

Step 2: Check the model with IMEI

Copy the first IMEI (if there are two) and enter on one of the services:

• 🌍 IMEI.info (shows model, year of release, specification)
• 🔍 IMEI24.com (further checks for locking)
• 📱 Xiaomi official checker (only for original devices)

💡

If the service shows the wrong model, try entering a second IMEI (for dual-symbol phones). Sometimes the manufacturer assigns different codes for modifications (for example, for the version with and without NFC).

Example of IMEI decryption for Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G:

IMEI: 86139XXXXXXXXX


Model: 2201116SG (Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G)




Manufacturer: Xiaomi




Country: China (assembly for the global market)

⚠️ Attention: If IMEI Starting with 000000 or the service gives an error, this may mean that: The phone is unoriginal (a clone under Xiaomi). IMEI Reset after firmware (restore via an engineering menu) Device stolen and locked by operator. 5. Engineering menu and hidden codes For power users there is a way to get full phone information through an engineering menu. This method works even on locked devices (if the screen is on). Enter one of the codes in the Phone application: ##44336## - full information about the device (model, version) MIUI, 225## - screen calibration data (model displays there too). ##6484## - hardware test (model name at the top of the screen). Once you enter the code, you will see a screen with technical data, 23049PCD8G for POCO X5 Pro). Device is a code name (e.g., viva for Redmi Note). 11 Pro+). What do you do if the code doesn't work? Some firmwares have the engineering menu disabled: 1. Install DevCheck from Google Play. 2. Open the Hardware tab – there will be a Model bar. 3. Alternative: connect your phone to your PC and use the adb shell getprop ro.product.model command (you need the debugging mode enabled). USB). If the phone doesn't respond to codes, try hardware reset (clip Volume Up). + Meals for food 10 Seconds), but remember that this will delete all data. 6. Model definition by serial number (S/N) The serial number is another unique identifier that can be used to define a model: 📄 On the box (near the IMEI). ⚙️ In settings: About the phone → General information → Serial number. 🔋 Under the battery (on old models with removable battery). Xiaomi serial number format: XXXXX[Model]XXXX Example: 8QBMK22101316C00123 where 22101316C — Model code (Redmi Note) 12 Pro 5G) To decipher. S/N: Select the middle part of the room (usually) 8–9 Check it with the codename table or type it into a Xiaomi [code] model search engine. ⚠️ Warning: On fake phones, the serial number may match the original, but when checked through the official service, Xiaomi will give an error. S/N s IMEI. 7. Table of code names and models Xiaomi (2019–2026) If you find a code name (for example, through an engineering menu), check it against this table. We have collected the latest models released over the past 5 years: Codename Official name Year of release Features viva Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G 2022 120 W fast charging, AMOLED-The Redmi Note 11 Pro screen 5G 2022 108 MP main camera, marble stereo speakers POCO X5 Pro 5G 2023 Snapdragon 778G, 67W rubens Redmi Note 12 Pro charging+ 5G 2023,200 MP camera, IP53 fuxi Xiaomi 13 2022 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Leica camera Full database of code names can be found on the sites: 📌 XiaomiUI (Devices section) 📌 MIUI Doc (official documentation) 💡If your model is not in the table, check the year of release by the first digits of the serial number: for example, 2210 means October 2022. 8. What to do if the phone does not turn on? If the device does not respond to the power button, it is more difficult to determine the model, but it is possible to determine the model. Here's the algorithm of actions: Check charging: 🔌 Connect the original cable and power supply (for Xiaomi – at least 18 watts). 🕒 Wait 15 to 30 minutes - sometimes a dead battery shows no signs of life: 🔍 Remove the case and inspect the back panel (especially under the camera). 📱 On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) The name is engraved in fine print. Check it through the PC: 🖥️ Connect your phone to your computer through USB. 🔧 Open Device Manager (Windows) → Portable devices. 📝 If the phone is determined, the properties will be the Model string. If nothing works, the last option is to take the phone apart and look at the markings on the board: 🔋 Battery connector. 📶 Antenna contacts. 🖲️ Screen plume connector. ⚠️ Warning: Disassembling the phone voids the warranty and may cause damage to the plumes. If you are not sure about your skills, contact the Xiaomi service center - they will determine the model for free. FAQ: Frequent questions about defining the Xiaomi My Xiaomi model are defined as "M2007J20CG" — What model is it? It's codenamed Redmi Note 9 Pro. The full name of the model can be found through the phone. IMEI Or on XiaomiUI, you search for the code, and it says Redmi Note 10 on the box, and it says "mojito." Is it fake? No, mojito is the codename for Redmi Note 10 (India version). IMEI The difference in names is due to regional variations. How to distinguish the Redmi Note 11 from the Note 11 Pro? Visually: Note 11: camera in a rectangular block, 90 Hz screen, 33 W charging. Note 11 Pro: camera with a metal edging, 120 Hz screen, 67 W charging. Note 11 - spes, Note 11 Pro - veux. Can we define a model by MAC-- The address, MAC-The address of the network interfaces is not tied to the phone model, but it does tell you the manufacturer of the chip. Wi-Fi/Bluetooth (For example, Qualcomm or MediaTek, which will narrow the search. Where can I find original photos of models for comparison? Official images of all Xiaomi phones are available: on the site mi.com (Phones section). in GSMArena (there is a filter by year and characteristics); in the official YouTube channel (reviews of new models).