How to check the new Xiaomi smartphone for authenticity: a complete guide with photos and videos

Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a risk of running into a fake, especially if you order the gadget through marketplaces or unofficial sellers. According to Mi Community Russia, up to 15% of devices sold outside branded stores are counterfeit or “gray” resellers with modified software. MIUI, complication.

In this article, we will discuss 7 reliable ways to distinguish the original Xiaomi from a clone, from visual inspection of the box to deep inspection through service utilities. You will learn what parts of the package are never forged by fake manufacturers, how to decrypt IMEI and why checking through Mi Account does not always give 100% result.

1. Packaging check: 5 parts that can not be faked

The box is the first and most obvious sign of the original. Counterfeit packages often differ in print quality, fonts or materials.

• 📦 Mi-logo hologram: On the original box, it changes color when tilted (rainbow effect). For fakes, either the hologram is missing, or it's a regular sticker without a transfusion.
• 🔍 Serial number on the sticker: Must match the number under the battery and in the phone settings (Settings) → The phone. → General information) Fakes are often in discrepancies.
• 🖨️ Print quality: The text on the original box is clear, without blurring. Mi Sans font (brand font Xiaomi) - fakes often use Arial or Helvetica.
• 📏 Cardboard size and density: The original box is dense (it doesn't bend when pressed), with perfectly flat slices. Counterfeiting is often thinner and has uneven edges.
• 🔖 Sticker with IMEI: It should be printed, not pasted on top, and the original ones have laser codes and they don't erase when they're rubbed.

⚠️ Warning: Some vendors paste stickers from the original boxes to fake ones. IMEI with what's on the phone!

2. Visual examination of the phone: what should alert

Even if the box looks perfect, the phone itself could be a fake.

• 📱 Mi logo: Original devices have it engraved or laser-painted (not a sticker!) and fakes often use paint that wears off over time.
• 🔧 Gaps and build: Xiaomi has all buttons and connectors symmetrical, no backlashes. Counterfeits often have uneven gaps between the screen and the body.
• 🎨 Color of the case: Original models have a uniform hue. Clones often have transitions of paint or different tones at the junctions of parts.
• 🔊 Speakers and microphones: Original holes always have a clear separation, and on fakes they can be randomly positioned or filled with paint.

💡 Secret test: Hold your phone to bright light. The original Xiaomi has a uniformly lit screen, no dark spots on the edges. Counterfeits often have uneven backlights or yellow corners.

3.IMEI Verification: How to Decrypt and Where to Check

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique phone identifier, which the original Xiaomi starts with 86 (China code) or 35 (International Standard), and counterfeits often have codes starting with 00 or 99.

Where to watch IMEI:

1. On the sticker under the battery (if removable).
2. In settings: Settings → About the phone → General information → IMEI.
3. Dial on the keyboard *#06# - a window with IMEI will appear.

How to verify authenticity by IMEI:

1. Go to the official Mi Verification website.
2. Enter IMEI and CAPTCHA.
3. If the phone is original, the system will show the model and the date of production, and the forgery will have an Invalid IMEI error.

⚠️ Note: Some scammers are replacing IMEI If you have any doubts, check the phone through Mi Account (more on this below).

4.A check with Mi Account: Why it doesn't always work

Xiaomi's official way of checking is by linking the phone to a Mi Account, but there are some nuances to this method:

• ✅ Pros: If the phone is successfully linked to the account, it is almost a guarantee of the original.
• ❌ Cons: Some fakes mimic the binding process, showing a false success notice.

How to check:

1. Register your Mi Account at account.xiaomi.com.
2. In your phone go to Settings → Accounts → Add an account → Mi Account.
3. Enter the data and try to link the device.

If a device is successfully linked, check the list of devices in your account on the site. the original will display the model and IMEI. The fake may have an error or a non-existent model.

5. Check firmware and hidden menus

Fakes often mimic MIUI, but bugs are flashed in detail.

• 📱 Version. MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. The original version must match the latest official (check on the Xiaomi website).
• 🔧 Hidden Engineering Menu: Dial ##4636##. The original will have a menu with battery and network information. The fake has an error or an empty screen.
• 🔒 bootloader status: Enter fastboot oem device-info in the command line (you need an unlocked bootloader). The original will have Device unlocked: false.

💡 Useful tip: Install the official Mi Remote app from Google Play. on fakes it will either not install or will work with errors.

💡

If you have OEM Unlocking in your phone's settings in the Developer section, it's an indirect sign of the original. Counterfeiting doesn't have that option.

6. Verification through service centers and online services

If you are still in doubt, use these methods:

• 🏢 Official Service Centers: Xiaomi provides free authentication.Look for the nearest service center on the support website.
• 🌍 Online Services: In addition to Mi Verification, you can use IMEI.info or SNDeeP to verify the serial number.
• 📦 Check from the store: If you bought in the official store, check the check by order number on the Mi Store website.

⚠️ Note: Some service centers may refuse to verify if the phone is not purchased in Russia, in which case, request a certificate of authenticity from the seller.

7 What to do if you have purchased a fake

If the test showed that your Xiaomi is a fake, then follow this algorithm:

1. Gather proof: Take a picture of the box, IMEI stickers, check (if any).
2. Contact the seller: Write a claim demanding the return of money or replacement of goods.
3. File a complaint with the marketplace: If you bought on Wildberries, Ozon or AliExpress, open a dispute through support.
4. Contact Rospotrebnadzor: If the seller refuses to return the money, write a complaint on the website of the agency.

Important: Xiaomi branded fakes are not only worse in quality, but also dangerous – they can contain data theft malware or uncertified batteries prone to fire.

💡

If the seller refuses to return the money, collect the maximum amount of evidence (photos, videos, correspondence) and go to court. According to statistics, 80% of claims for refunds for forgeries are satisfied in favor of the buyer.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi vetting