How to check the originality of Xiaomi: a detailed guide with photos and instructions

Counterpoint Research reports that up to 15% of the devices sold under the brand in unofficial stores are counterfeit, and counterfeiters have learned to copy not only budget models, but also flagships like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi. K70 Externally, such devices may look identical to the original, but in terms of build quality, performance and security, they are inferior to even the cheapest official devices.

The problem is compounded by the fact that counterfeits are often sold with fake documentation, imitation of branded packaging, and even Mi or Mi logos. POCO. In this article, we will break down the unique verification methods that work in 2026, from visual inspection to hidden service commands and official Xiaomi databases, learn how to distinguish the original even without a check and a box, and what signs are guaranteed to give fake.

1. Packaging and completeness check: 7 parts that give out a fake

Xiaomi's original packaging is not just a box, it's a complex, multi-layered product with anti-counterfeiting, and counterfeiters often miss little things that are only noticeable when you look closely.

• 📦 Print quality: On the original box, the Mi or Xiaomi logo is clear, without blurred edges, and the font is uniform. Counterfeiting often has dull colors or misaligned inscriptions (especially on the box seams).
• 🔍 Hologram: The back of the box should be 3D-If you tilt the box, it will show hidden symbols (for example, the Mi logo or the word "Original.
• 📏 Barcode and serial number: The bottom of the box is marked with a barcode and 20-significant S/N (The serial number can be checked on the website. mi.com/global/verify. If the site makes a mistake, you are a fake.

Now, let's get to the trim. The original Xiaomi always comes with:

• ⚡ Charger: The power supply must have a Mi logo, model (e.g., a model, MDY-12-EU) And the output voltage is the same as the smartphone model, and fakes are often equipped with universal chargers without markings.
• 🎧 USB-Type-C Cable: The original cable has thickened connectors with the Mi logo and markings 5A (Fake cables are thinner and often do not support fast charging.
• 📄 Documentation: The box must contain: warranty card (with the stamp of the official dealer), a brief guide in several languages (including Russian) and a sheet with information about certification (for example, CE or FCC).

⚠️ Note: If the package includes a check in Chinese without translations or a warranty card without a stamp, it is 100% fake. Official Xiaomi dealers in Russia and the CIS always provide localized documents.

2. Visual inspection of the device: what should alert

Even if the packaging looks perfect, the device itself can produce a fake.

Shell and assembly:

• 🔧 Gaps and backlashes: Take the device in your hands and slightly press the screen around the edges. the original Xiaomi have uniform gaps of no more than 0.1 mm. Counterfeit often shows a backlash between the screen and the frame, and buttons (volume, power) fall through or creak.
• 🎨 Paint quality: Original devices are matte or glossy (depending on the model), without dashing. Counterfeits often have an uneven color, especially at the junctions of antenna lines (for example, the Redmi Note 12).
• 🔍 Logo: On the back, the Mi or Xiaomi logo should be engraved with a laser, not pasted.Swipe your nail - you won't feel the bulge on the original.

Screen and cameras:

• 📱 OLED vs LCD: Most of Xiaomi’s flagships (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) fitted AMOLED-screen-support HDR10+. Fakes are often cheap. LCD-And you can see the matrix with the wrong angles. To check, look at the screen at the 45 angle.° — If the colors are distorted, it is fake.
• 📸 Camera module: The original devices don't protrude too much and have a symmetrical arrangement. POCO F5 The three cameras are arranged in a triangle with equal spaces. For fakes, often one of the cameras is displaced or there is no infrared sensor.

Connectors and buttons:

• 🔌 Port USB-Type-C: Put the cable in and swing it to the sides. In the original devices, the connector is rigidly fixed, without backlash. For fakes, it often hangs or has an asymmetrical hole.
• 🔊 Speakers and microphones: Xiaomi speakers are symmetrical (for example, the Redmi Note 13 Pro)+ — You can check them by calling the device, and the sound should be clear, without wheezing. Counterfeits often have a muted sound or a crackle.

Verification by serial number and IMEI: formalism

The most reliable way to verify authenticity is to use unique device identifiers: IMEI, S/N (serial number) and MAC-You can find them:

• 📱 On the box (sticker on the bottom).
• 📄 In the settings of the device: Settings → The phone. → General information.
• 🔢 Under the battery (for devices with removable battery).
• 📞 Dial on the keyboard *#06# - will be displayed IMEI.

Now we're checking this data:

1. Xiaomi official website: Go to the mi.com/global/verify. Enter. S/N or IMEI (If the device is original, the site will show the model, production date and warranty status.
2. IMEI.info: Open imei.info. Enter IMEI Check if the model and brand match what's on the box.

⚠️ Attention: If during inspection IMEI And on imei.info, the Brand is not Xiaomi, but Samsung or Unknown, which is a fake, and it's often blocked by carriers.

Software Verification Methods: Hidden Menus and Tests

Even if the device looks like the original, the stuffing may be very different. To test the hardware, use these methods:

1. Service menu (Engineering Mode):

• 📱 Enter the dialer code: ##4636##.
• 🔧 Go to the Hardware info tab.
• 📊 Check the settings: Model number - should match the name on the box. Android version - the original Xiaomi work on the phone. MIUI (for example, MIUI Fakes often have “naked” Android or custom firmware. Processor – the original devices have a real chipset (for example, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), rather than an abstract one. MT67XX.

Performance test:

• 📊 Install Geekbench 6 and run the test.
• 📈 Compare the results with the references for your model at geekbench.com.
• ⚠️ If the indicators are lower by 30% or more, it is a fake with a weak processor.

Verification of sensors:

• 🧲 Install the Sensor Test application.
• 📱 Run a test of all sensors. The original Xiaomis have: Accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, proximity and illumination sensor, infrared port (most models have).
• ❌ If at least one sensor is missing from the list, it is a fake.

Firmware check:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.
• 📥 Press 10 times on the version MIUI — The Additional Features menu will open.
• 🔍 Select Developer Options and check the item MIUI Optimization. In the original firmware, it's enabled by default.

💡

If there is no item in the developer settings "MIUI Optimization" or the device does not respond to the code ##4636##, this is a sure sign of custom firmware installed on a fake.

5. Verification through official Xiaomi apps

Xiaomi has developed several authentication tools that work even without registering a Mi Account:

Appendix "Mi Verify":

• 📱 Download the Mi Verify app (available only for Android).
• 🔍 Scan it. QR-box code or enter S/N.
• ✅ If the device is original, a green tick and model data will appear.

The "Mi Cloud" service:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in (or create an account).
• 🔗 Tie the device through Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
• 📱 If the device is not tethered or if it gives an error "Device not supported" - it is a fake.

3. Checking through "Mi Home":

• 🏠 Install the Mi Home app.
• 🔍 Try adding the device through Add the device → Others.
• ❌ If the application does not find the device or gives an error, it is a fake.

💡

Xiaomi’s official apps (Mi Verify, Mi Cloud, Mi Home) are the only reliable way to authenticate without the risk of getting scammed. Never enter device data on third-party sites!

6. Check Xiaomi smart devices (watches, bracelets, routers)

Counterfeiting is not only found among smartphones, but also among Xiaomi’s smart devices: Mi Band watches, Redmi Watch bracelets, Mi Router routers and even electric toothbrushes.

Smart watches and bracelets (Mi Band 8, Redmi Watch 3)

Routers (Mi Router) 4A, Redmi Router AX6):

Electronics (Mi Electric Scooter, Mi Robot Vacuum)

⚠️ Note: Fake Xiaomi smart devices often have security vulnerabilities, such as fake routers that can intercept traffic and fake wristbands that can send data to third-party servers.

7.Where to buy Xiaomi, so as not to run into a fake

Even if you know all the features of the original device, it is better to buy the equipment from proven places.

Official shops:

• 🏬 Mi Store - Xiaomi branded stores in the shopping center. Addresses can be found on the official website.
• 🌍 Official website — mi.com/ru. Original devices with Russian guarantee are guaranteed here.

Authorized dealers:

• 🛒 Svyaznoy, M.Video, Eldorado – these networks work directly with Xiaomi and provide an official guarantee.
• 📦 Wildberries and Ozon – only for sellers marked “Official Partner Xiaomi".

Chinese shops (with caution!):

• 🇨🇳 AliExpress – buy only from official stores: Mi Global Store Xiaomi Official Store
• 📦 JD.com is the Chinese equivalent of Amazon, where original devices are sold, but delivery can take up to 30 days.

Blacklist: Where to Buy Xiaomi

• 🚫 Social media (VK, Telegram, Instagram – 90% of the offers here are scams.
• 🚫 Avito, Yula – even if the seller shows “checks”, they can be fake.
• 🚫 Unknown online stores with suspiciously low prices (for example, "Xiaomi for 5000 rubles.").

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Before buying on the marketplace, check the reviews about the seller. Original Xiaomi devices can not cost less than on the official website, more than on the official website. 10-15%.

8 What to do if you have already bought a fake

If after checking it turned out that your device is fake, act on this algorithm:

1. Gather evidence:

• 📸 Take a picture of the device, packaging and checks.
• 📝 Write it down. IMEI, S/N seller's data.
• 📥 Save the screens of correspondence (if you bought online).

2. Contact the seller:

• 📞 Require a refund or replace the device with the original.
• 📄 Refer to the Law "On Protection of Consumer Rights" (Article 18 - the right to return poor-quality goods).
• ⏳ Refund period – 14 days from the date of purchase (even if the device was in use).

3. If the seller refuses:

• 📝 Write a claim in free form and send a registered letter (with a notice of delivery).
• 🏛 File a complaint: to Rospotrebnadzor (via the website zpp.rospotrebnadzor.ru), to the marketplace (if you bought on Wildberries, Ozon, etc.), to the police (if the seller refused to return the money).

If the device is dangerous:

• ⚡ Fake chargers and batteries can explode.Don't use them!
• 📵 Fake smartphones often have security vulnerabilities (e.g., preinstalled viruses).
• ♻️ Dispose of fake through special electronics reception points (do not throw it into ordinary garbage!).

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to reflash a fake device! this could cause a breakdown or lockdown IMEI. Contact the experts if you want to return the device to life".

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi vetting