How to check the Xiaomi smartphone for originality: the full guide 2026

Buying a Xiaomi smartphone is always a risk of running into a fake, especially if you choose a model from the popular Redmi Note series, POCO or flagship Mi 13/14. According to Counterpoint Research, 12% The brand's devices in the secondary market are counterfeit or "gray" devices with unofficial firmware. But how to distinguish the original from the clone if they are externally identical? 7 Key parameters – from visual inspection to deep diagnostics through the engineering menu.

We will not only be able to see the signs. IMEI Serial number, but also little-known tricks, such as checking through service commands or analysis MIUI-And we're going to focus on the 2023-2026 models, where fraudsters have learned to fake even holograms on boxes, and if you buy a phone from your hands, through Avito or AliExpress, this guide is going to be your "go-ahead" guide".

1. Packaging and completeness check: 5 parts that give out a fake

The original Xiaomi box is not just cardboard, but a complex security element with unique tags. Start by inspecting the hologram: on official boxes, it changes color when tilted (the effect is the effect of the hologram). 3D-It contains the microtext "Xiaomi" or "Mi" that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Pay attention to fonts and embossing:

• 📦 The serial number at the bottom of the box must match the number on the sticker under the phone's battery.
• 🔍 The "Mi" or "Redmi" logo on the package is convex, with clear edges. In clones, it is flat or blurred.
• 📏 The size of the box is strictly consistent with the model. 13 The Pro comes in a box 16.5 × 8.5 × 3.5 cm - deviation in 2–3 That's a reason to suspect.

Equally important is the trim. The original Xiaomi always includes:

• ⚡ Cable USB-C (Newer models or Micro-USB (for older Redmis) 7/8) brand-labeled.
• 🔋 Charger marked with marking MDY-12-... (If it is provided for your model, for example, Xiaomi 12T Pro is complete with charging MDY-12-EG 120 watts.
• 📄 Warranty card with the stamp of the official dealer (for Russia – Xiaomi Russia or Merlion).

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters often only replace the box, leaving a fake device inside. IMEI on the package with the data in the phone (*#06#).

2. Analysis. IMEI Serial number: how to calculate a clone in 2 minutes

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity is a phone passport that cannot be forged without a trace of interference:

1. Dial *#06# on the phone keyboard and a 15-digit code (or two codes for Dual-SIM) will appear.
2. Compare him to IMEI on the box and under the battery (if removable).
3. Check the first code through the official IMEI.info or Mi Verify service.

The original Xiaomi should be displayed in the database with the model, year of release and country of manufacture, if the service gives an error or the data do not match, you are a fake or a “gray” device (for example, brought from China without official localization).

Additional test – checking the serial number (S/N):

• 🔢 Find it in Settings → The phone. → General information.
• 🔍 Compare with the number on the box and under the battery (for models with a removable lid).
• 🌍 The first 3-4 characters indicate the plant: 8QM, 8HM — Foxconn (China). 8JM, 8KM — Hipad (India). 8LM — Inventec (Vietnam).

Compare. IMEI on the box and on the phone (*#06#)|Check first. IMEI via imei.info|Make sure the serial number starts with the factory code|Check the data with the sticker under the battery (if any)-->

3. Diagnostics through the Engineering Menu: Hidden Tests of Originality

Even if the packaging and IMEI They look perfect, and you can get a fake from an engineering menu to get into it:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination ##4636## (for new models) or ##6484## (for old Redmis).
3. Select Hardware info or Testing.

In the original Xiaomi, you will see:

• 📱 The motherboard model (e.g., the tissot for the Redmi Note 5 or the cas for the Mi 11) is often shared by generic names such as the one used by the fakes. MT6580.
• 🔋 Battery data: Original batteries are labeled Xiaomi or ATL (Clones use cheap batteries with labels LI-PO brandless.
• 📡 Information on modules: in paragraph RF Band should display all supported frequencies (e.g., bands, LTE Band 1/3/5/7/8/20 European versions).

Another test is to check the sensors:

1. In the engineering menu, select Sensor Test.
2. Alternately test the sensors: gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity sensor.
3. In the original devices, all tests are done with a green tick, and fakes often fail to see part of the sensors or show errors.

⚠️ Warning: If the engineering menu is missing or opens with an error, this is a sure sign of an unofficial firmware or clone. Also check if the data has been reset after the reboot (usually for fake devices with left-handed software).

4. Firmware check MIUI: How to distinguish official software from left-handed"

Firmware MIUI — This is the fingerprint of the original Xiaomi. Start by checking the version:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Compare the build number with the official data on the site MIUI ROM.

The original firmware must correspond to:

• 🌍 Region: For Russia, this is MIUI Global or MIUI Russia (e.g, V14.0.4.0.TMCRUXM For the Redmi Note 12 Pro+). Fakes often use Chinese assemblies (MIUI China) or custom firmware.
• 🔒 Unlocking status of the loader: in Settings → Additionally. → For developers, there should be a "Unlock Status" item: locked. If it's missing or written unlocked, the phone could be re-flashed.
• 🔄 Updates: Original devices are available OTA-Update through Settings → System update: Clones either don't update or download files from suspicious servers.

Critical sign of counterfeiting: if the About phone section says "Android Go" or the Android version below the stated model (for example, Android 10 instead of Android 13 for Xiaomi 13).

For a deep check, use the command:

adb shell getprop ro.miui.ui.version.name

She should return the current version. MIUI. If the team does not work or returns a mistake, you have unoriginal software before you.

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If the phone refuses to update through OTA, Try to manually download the firmware from the official site and install it through Settings → Updating the system → Three points. → Select a firmware file. Counterfeiting usually blocks this process.

5. Visual and tactile signs: what should alert

Xiaomi fakes often give you build quality. Take your phone in your hand and notice:

• 🔧 Clearances between the case and screen: in the original models, they are minimal (less than 0.1 mm). Clones have visible slits, especially around the buttons.
• 🎨 Paint quality: the Mi or Redmi logo on the back should not be erased by rubbing the nails.
• 🔊 Speakers and microphones: the original Xiaomi has a clear separation of microphone holes (usually 2-3 pieces.
• 📱 Screen: Check the angles of the display for "yellow spots" (typical for cheap ones) OLED-They're fake panels, and they're original. AMOLED-screens have a uniform illumination without gradient effect.

Pay special attention to the camera:

• 📸 In the original Xiaomi camera modules protrude above the body by 1-2 mm and have a metal frame. counterfeits often use plastic "dummy" without real lenses.
• 🔍 Light a flashlight into the lens: in the original you will see a glass lens, in the clone - a plastic cap.

Don’t ignore the tactile sensations:

• 🖱️ Loudness and power buttons must be clearly moved without backlash".
• ⚡ Connector. USB-C (Or Micro-USB, which is actually magnetized to the cable, and clones use cheap, non-magnetic connectors.

6. Check through official Xiaomi services

The most reliable way to prove originality is to use official tools from Xiaomi.

1. Mi Verify Service (mi.com/global/verify):

• Enter the IMEI or serial number.
• The system will show the status of the device: Official (original), Unofficial ("gray") or Fake (forgery).

2. Mi Authenticity Check app (available on Google Play):

• Scanning. IMEI, S/N and firmware.
• Shows the device region and the status of the warranty.

Verification through Mi Account:

1. Register your device in your Mi Account.
2. Go to your personal office. → Devices.
3. The original phone will show up with full specs, and the fake will either not attach or show incorrect data.

If the device does not pass any of the checks, but looks like the original - most likely, it is a "gray" device (brought from China without official localization) or a replica with a fake one. IMEI.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi grays (such as the Chinese version of the Mi 11 Ultra) may not be tested on the Mi Verify, but they may be original (MIUI China, but the phone is stable – it’s not a fake, but a device for the domestic market.

7. Performance Test: How clones give themselves away in benchmarks

Fake Xiaomis are often equipped with weak processors (MediaTek Helio) A22 Instead of the claimed Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which is easy to calculate through performance tests:

• 📊 AnTuTu Benchmark: the original Xiaomi 13 Pro is gaining ~1,200,000 points. Clone on Helio. G85 show ~200 000.
• 🔋 CPU Throttling Test: Checks processor stability: original Snapdragon chips keep the frequency without drawdowns, clones "brake" in 5-10 minutes.
• 📱 GFXBench: Testing graphics. Fakes with Mali-G52 Adreno 740 will show 3-5 times worse results.

Notice the heat:

• The original Xiaomi warms moderately even under load (up to 45 maximum).°C).
• Clones on cheap processors overheat to 60°C and higher, resulting in trottling (automatic performance decline).

Also check the amount of memory:

• B Settings → The memory of the original Xiaomi 12T Pro will show ~240 GB of 256 GB (part occupied by the system).
• Counterfeiting is often “cheated” with memory: instead of 128 GB, for example, 64 GB is actually real, and the rest is junk files.

For accurate diagnosis, use the command:

adb shell cat /proc/cpuinfo

It's going to show you a real CPU. Compare it to the official specifications of the model on Xiaomi's website.

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If the test performance is more than 30 percent lower than the test, and the processor doesn't match the model, you're 100 percent fake, and even the gray devices are pretty close to the original.

Frequent questions about Xiaomi verification