How to understand, the original headphones Xiaomi or not: a detailed guide with photos and tests

Fake Xiaomi headphones have flooded the market: according to AliExpress Research 2023, up to 40% of the brand’s wireless headsets on sites like AliExpress and Amazon are copies, while visually they may not be different from the original, even for an experienced user. In this article, we will analyze 7 key features that can be used to calculate a fake before buying – from analyzing the packaging to testing the sound and checking the serial number in the official Mi Account database.

The problem is especially relevant for popular models: Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2, Redmi AirDots 3, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro. Counterfeit products are often sold at a price of 30-50% below the market, disguised as "sales" or "liquidation of warehouses." We tested 12 samples of copies and originals - in the article only verified data, not speculation.

1.Packaging check: 5 details that scammers miss

The box is the first and most reliable indicator of authenticity. Xiaomi's original packaging has at least 10 security features that are difficult to replicate in artisanal settings. To start with the obvious, the brand logo on the front side should be matte, not glossy. Copies often print it with a gloss to save on lamination.

Note the serial number font (usually on the side or bottom of the box sticker) the original numbers and letters have flat edges without "burrs" and their height is strictly the same. Forgeries are caused by blurred characters or irregular kerning (letter spacing). For example, in the Redmi Buds 4 Active batch we analyzed, the serial number was printed with an error in the last digit - instead of "8" was a mirror "5".

• 📦 Box material: original – dense cardboard (280-320 g/m2) with soft texture; counterfeit – thin, often rough.
• 🖼️ Hologram: on the original packaging is present 3D-hologram with transfusion effect (when tilted, the Mi logo is visible); copies have flat or no.
• 🔍 Barcode: Check it out with the Barcode Scanner app. The original code leads to Xiaomi's official website; fakes are redirected to random pages.
• 📏 Box size: deviation more than by 1–2 mm from the reference (e.g. for Mi Buds) 3T original box is of size 105×60×30 mm).
• 🎨 Color palette: the original uses the signature shade Mi Blue (HEX #FF6700); The copies are often replaced by cheap orange.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters have learned to fake even holograms, but they're easy to calculate by not having microtext. Take a magnifying glass and check the inscriptions on the hologram -- the original has a small text, "Xiaomi Corp.", which is not visible to the naked eye.

2.Serial number: how to check through the official services of Xiaomi

Each pair of Xiaomi headphones has a unique serial number (S/N), which can be checked in two ways:

1. Through mi.com/verify, enter a number from the box or from the Bluetooth device settings, show the model, date of production and warranty status, and if you see an Invalid SN error, you're 100% fake.
2. In the Mi Home app: connect headphones to your smartphone, open the section "My devices" → "Headphones" → "Information. It should be displayed. S/N, matching.

An important nuance: the original Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and later, the serial number is also duplicated on the inside of the case cover (under the battery), which can be seen by carefully putting the lid on with a plastic card, the copies either empty or have a random set of digits.

⚠️ Warning: Latest generation fakes may have the "correct" serial number, but it will be duplicated in hundreds of other copies. Check it in Xiaomi's database - if the number has already been activated by another user, it is a fake.

Find the S/N on the box and the case (they should match)

Check the number on mi.com/verify

Make sure that QR-code leads to the official website

Compare the first 2-3 characters with the reference for your model-->

3. Design and Assembly: 3 Microscopic Differences That Give Out a Copy

Even if the packaging and serial number seem authentic, carefully examine the headphones themselves. Xiaomi's original models have 3 key design features that cannot be replicated in underground workshops:

1. The gaps between the parts of the case. Take a magnifying glass and examine the joints between the plastic parts. The original has gaps of less than 0.1 mm, and the edges are perfectly flat. The copies often have gaps of up to 0.3-0.5 mm, especially around the control buttons. For example, in Mi Buds 3T fakes, the gap around the touch panel can reach 0.7 mm, which is noticeable even without a magnifying glass.

2. The quality of rubber embroideries. The original embroideries are made from medical grade silicone gel with a matte coating. They don't stick to the fingers and have no smell. The copies use cheap plasticized silicone that:

• 👃 It smells like chemicals (especially in the first few days after purchase).
• 🖐️ Sticks to the skin when heated (check by holding the earpiece in your hand for 1-2 minutes).
• 🔍 It has microcracks on the surface (see under bright light).

3. Weight and Balancing. The original Xiaomi headphones are factory calibrated, so they don't weigh more than ±0.2g (e.g. Redmi AirDots 3 weighs exactly 4.1g each). Counterfeit products often have a difference of up to 0.8-1g, which leads to wear discomfort.

1. Weigh both headphones on the kitchen scale to within 0.1 g.
2. Put them on a flat surface – the originals will not sway.

4.Sound and microphone: tests that will detect a fake in 5 minutes

Sound performance is the most difficult aspect to fake. Xiaomi's original headphones use neodymium magnet speakers and branded codecs AAC/aptX, You can't reproduce them in cheap copies. 3 test:

Test 1: Frequency range. Include a track with deep bass (e.g., "Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes") and increased frequencies ("Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen"). The original transmits basses up to 20 Hz without distortion and high frequencies up to 20 kHz. Copies "cut" basses below 50 Hz and whistle at frequencies above 16 kHz.

Test 2: Stereobalance. In your smartphone settings, turn on mono mode (Settings → Special Options → Monoaudio) and listen to the track. In the original headphones, the sound should come from the center. Counterfeits often have an imbalance — one earphone sounds 10 to 30 percent louder than the other.

Test 3: Microphone. Record your voice on a voice recorder through headphones and compare it to a smartphone. Xiaomi's original microphone suppresses noise by 90% (cVc 8.0 technology), whereas copies transmit all background sounds. Try recording your voice in a noisy place (for example, next to a working vacuum cleaner) - the difference will be obvious.

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For accurate sound testing, use the Audio Test (Android) or Frequency Sound Generator (iOS) app, which will help you test the playback at specific frequencies.

5. Software features: what gives a fake in Mi Home and Bluetooth

The original Xiaomi headphones have a proprietary firmware that interacts with the Mi Home ecosystem. The fakes either don't connect to the app or are displayed with errors.

The originals are displayed with the full name (e.g., "Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2"), and copies often have abbreviated or distorted name (e.g., "Mi TWS Basic" or "Xiaomi Earbuds").

2. Features in Mi Home. Connect the headphones to the app and check the available options:

• 🔊 Equalizer setting: the original has preset profiles (Basic boost, Voice); copies have only a volume control.

3. Sound delay (latency). Play the video on YouTube and sync it with the sound from the headphones. The original Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro latency is 80-120 ms (invisible to the ear), and copies up to 300-500 ms (visible to the naked eye).

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If the headphones don’t connect to the Mi Home or display as “Unknown Device” – it’s 100% fake, even if the package and serial number seem genuine.

Price and place of purchase: how not to run into a fake when ordering

Average retail price of Xiaomi original headphones in Russia and Europe (June 2026):

• Redmi AirDots 3: 2 500–3 200 ₽
• Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2: 3 000–3 800 ₽
• Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro: 8 000–10 000 ₽

Any offer is cheaper by 30% or more - a reason for suspicion.

• 🛒 AliExpress has sellers with a rating below 98% and orders below 1,000.
• 📦 Avito/Yula without original packaging and check.
• 🌍 Foreign sites such as Banggood or Gearbest without official warranty Xiaomi Russia.

Critical sign of fraud: the seller offers payment to the card of an individual or through Qiwi/YuMoney without customer protection: Xiaomi's original headphones are only sold with an official warranty that can be checked on the website mi.com/ru/support/warranty.

7 Additional Tests: What to Do If You Have Any Doubts

If you are still unsure of authenticity after all the checks, do the 3 final tests:

1. Water resistance test: Original models labeled IP54/IPX4 (e.g. Redmi Buds 4 Active) can withstand spray. Drop 2-3 drops of water on the earphone - the original will remain functional, and the fake can start wheezing or shut down.

2. Magnet check in the case. In the original case, the headphones are fixed with neodymium magnets with an attractive force of ~0.5 N. To check:

1. Place the headphone in the case and slightly pull the lace.
2. The original will be held with force; the fake will slip out or the magnet will be weak.

3. LED analysis. Original headphones have lights that are flat without flickering. Copies often have pulsations (especially in the dark). Take a video in slow motion (240 FPS) — if the light is flashing at 50 to 100 Hz, it's fake.

⚠️ Warning: Some latest generation fakes pass most tests, but they give themselves away after 2-3 months of operation: they begin to discharge quickly, lose contact with the phone or give out errors when connecting!

FAQ: Frequent questions about checking Xiaomi headphones