How to check the Xiaomi smartphone for originality: the complete guide

Buying a Xiaomi smartphone in the secondary market or in unofficial stores always carries the risk of running into a fake. According to Counterpoint Research, up to 12% of the brand’s devices in the Russian market in 2023 were counterfeit or “gray” (brought illegally), while outwardly copies are often indistinguishable from the originals – up to 89% of users can not detect fake without specialized checks.

In this article, we will discuss 7 reliable methods of verification that will help detect a fake before buying or in the first minutes after receiving the device. From checking IMEI through official databases to analyzing firmware and hardware components, each method has been confirmed by experts from Xiaomi service centers and tested on Redmi Note 13 Pro+, POCO F6 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra (2026).

1.IMEI Verification: The First Step to Confidence

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 15-digit ID for your device, and it's technically possible to fake it, but it requires deep firmware intervention, leaving traces, and let's start with how to get it right and check it.

Ways to know IMEI on Xiaomi:

• 📱 Type on the phone keyboard *#06# - the code will be displayed automatically.
• 📦 Look at the sticker under the battery (for models with removable battery) or on the box.
• 🖥️ In settings: About the phone → General information → IMEI.
• 🔍 Through ADB (for advanced users): adb shell service call iphonesubinfo 3

We now check the IMEI through official sources:

1. Xiaomi website: Go to the checkout page and enter the code. The original device will show the model, the date of production and the warranty status.
2. GSMA database: IMEI.info defines the brand, model and year of release. Attention: if the site shows the brand not Xiaomi, but, for example, BBK Electronics (owner of Oppo/Realme), you are 100% fake.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters have learned to replace IMEI in the firmware, but cannot change it in the Baseband. If the codes from *#06# and Settings → SIM- cards differ, this is a sign of hacking.

2.Serial number and box data analysis

Serial number (S/N) and data on the package are the second most important indicator of originality. Counterfeiting often contains typos, font inconsistencies or incorrect labeling.

The serial number can be checked by:

• 🌐 The official Xiaomi activator is to type S/N and IMEI. The original will show the status of "Activated" or "Ready to Activate."
• 📧 Letter of Support: Send photos of the box and phone to support@mi.com asking for originality.

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If the seller refuses to provide photos of the box with the serial number before purchase, this is a reason to be wary, 90% of the time it is a sign of counterfeit or “gray” imports.

External inspection: 10 signs of forgery

Even if the IMEI and serial number are tested, external inspection can reveal a fake, fraudsters reduce the cost of production, saving on materials and assembly.

Shell and assembly:

• 🔍 The gaps between the case and the screen: the original has no more than 0.1 mm, the fake - up to 0.5 mm (visible at the lumen).
• 🎨 Color quality: the original has a matte or glossy surface without stains. Counterfeits often shine unevenly.
• 🔧 SIM tray fastening: The original tray is magnetized and extends smoothly. The replicas often jam.

Screen and camera:

• 📱 OLED vs LCD: Xiaomi 13/14 series models and Redmi Note 12/13 Pro have AMOLED- screens. If you tilt it down, you see the rainbow effect, it's cheap LCD.
• 📸 Camera module: The original lenses are perfectly flat, without backlash. Fakes often have convex or curved glass pastes.

Package:

• ⚡ Charger: The original RAM is labeled MDY-12-EX (for 67W) or MDY-11-EX (33W) with a hologram. Counterfeiting is often easier by 10-15 grams.
• 🎧 Headphones: The Xiaomi 14 comes with the Mi True Wireless Earbuds 3 with the branded packaging. The copies often lack the NFC- fast-pair chip.

4. Checking firmware and software

Firmware is a digital fingerprint of a device, and fakes often run on customized versions of Android with stripped-down features or viruses. Here's how to spot the non-original software:

Step 1. Verification of MIUI version

• Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
• Compare it to official builds. For example, for the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G, the current version for June 2026 is MIUI 15.0.4.0.
• If the version is missing from the list or has a fake postfix, the test is a fake.

Step 2: Analysis of pre-installed applications

• 📱 The original firmware contains: Mi App Store, Mi Community, Mi Video, Security.
• ⚠️ Counterfeitings often have: Clone App, KingRoot, UC Browser (default set).

Step 3: Performance test

• Launch AnTuTu Benchmark. The original Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (in Xiaomi 14 Ultra) shows 1,300,000+ points. Counterfeiting on the Helio G99 is no more than 500,000.
• Check the temperature of the processor through AIDA64. The original heats up to 45°C under load, fakes - up to 60°C+.

5. Hardware diagnostics: hidden markers of originality

Deep testing requires disassembling the device or using diagnostic tools, a method that is suitable for handheld purchases or suspected counterfeiting.

Method 1 Testing NFC-

• The original Xiaomi (except the base models of the Redmi A-series) have a chip NXP PN80T or SN100T.
• Install NFC Tools and scan the chip, and if the app doesn't find the module or shows Unknown, it's a fake.

Method 2: Battery test

• Enter the engineering menu: ##4636## → Battery information.
• The original battery has a capacity of ±5% of the declared (for example, 4900-5100 mAh for 5000 mAh). Counterfeit shows inflated values (6000+ mAh).

Method 3: Analysis of the motherboard

• Remove the back cover (for non-disruptive models, a hair dryer and a mediator will be required).
• The original fee has:

⚠️ Warning: Disassembling the device voids the warranty. If you are unsure of your skills, contact Xiaomi's service center for a paid diagnosis (cost ~1500₽).

Verification through service centres and official channels

If you have any doubts about independent methods, consult official sources. Here are 3 reliable ways to do this:

Method 1: Official guarantee

• Go to the warranty check page and enter IMEI or S/N.
• The original device will show the warranty start date and country of sale.The forgery will give an Invalid IMEI error.

Method 2: Visiting a service center

• Addresses of official SC: map on the Xiaomi website.
• The diagnosis takes 10-15 minutes and costs ~500₽.

Method 3: Supported Chat

• Write to the online chat or mail ru_support@mi.com.
• Attach photos:

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Even if the device has passed all the tests, but the price is 30% lower than the market price is a reason to doubt: scammers often sell “gray” phones (smuggled) under the guise of the original, and they do not pass warranty check in Russia.

7.Shopping in Official Stores: How to Avoid Risks

The most reliable way to get the original Xiaomi is to buy from proven locations, here is a list of official and recommended sites for Russia in 2026:

What to do if you have already bought a fake:

1. Collect evidence (photo, video, correspondence with the seller).
2. Please contact the police with a statement of fraud (Article 159 of the Criminal Code).
3. Write a complaint to the marketplace (if you bought there) - many sites compensate for the damage.
4. Conduct an independent examination (cost ~3000₽) for the court.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi vetting