How to check the new Xiaomi smartphone when buying: 15 steps from the expert

Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is a responsible step, especially if we are talking about flagship models like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Black Shark 6 Pro gaming devices. Even in official stores, you come across devices with factory defects, and in markets and small salons, the risk of running into a used phone under the guise of a new or gray import increases significantly. This article will help avoid typical mistakes: from checking packaging to testing iron and software.

We collected 15 critical tests that take no more than 20 minutes, but are guaranteed to save you nerves and money, and focused on hidden defects that only show up after 1-2 weeks of use (for example, yellow pixels on the pixels). AMOLED-screens or module problems NFC). All instructions are relevant for models 2022-2026, including the line of Redmi Note 13, POCO F6 and Xiaomi Civi 4.

If you're buying a phone with your hands, go straight to the used device section. For new devices, we start with the packaging.

1. Packaging check: 5 signs of forgery

Xiaomi's box is the first indicator of originality. Counterfeit packages often copy the design, but they give off as trifles.

• 📦 Box material: original, thick, matte-coated cardboard, barbed-free, often glossy or rough-coated.
• 🖨️ Logo print: real Mi or Redmi packages are clear, no paint blurring. Swipe your finger, the relief should be felt.
• 🔖 Barcodes and stickers: at the bottom of the box should be IMEI, serial number and hologram (for flagships). IMEI It should not be removed with a light nail.
• 📏 Box sizes: Compare the official photos on Xiaomi's website. Fakes are often thinner or already.
• 🔍 Package: the box must have documentation in Chinese/English, paper clip for the tray SIM, branded cable (new models — USB-C). Charging in the kit is not in most models after 2022.

⚠️ Note: If the box says "Global Version", but the seller claims that it is "European version for Russia" - you have a gray import "RU" or "EEA" (for EAEU countries).

Verification IMEI: How to identify a substitution or clone

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity is a unique phone identifier, and its replacement is a frequent sign of a recovered or cloned device:

1. Convert. IMEI on the box and on the phone: Dial on the phone keyboard *#06#, the 15-digit code will appear. Compare it to the number on the box sticker and under the battery (if removable).
2. Check it out. IMEI In the database: Go to imei.info or SND Deep Info. Enter. IMEI — The system will show the model, year of release and status (e.g., "Clean" or "Blacklisted").

Make sure the originality of the firmware

• Go to the Settings → About the phone → MIUI version.
• If the firmware version ends with "CN" (Chinese), and the seller claims that this is a global version — you have a re-interrupted machine.

⚠️ Attention: If IMEI The box and the phone don't match, but the seller says "just the sticker was wrong" is 100% cheating. IMEI It must match in documents and on the device.

3. Iron testing: screen, cameras, speakers

Even a new phone can have hidden defects that show up after a week of use.

📱 Screen.

• 🔍 Dead pixels: Run a monochromatic video (black, red, green) on YouTube. Look at the screen -- the light dots are broken pixels.
• 🎨 Color rendering: c Settings → Screen. → Choose "Saturated" and "Standard" colors".
• 🔄 Update frequency: C Settings → Screen. → Update frequency check the available values (flagships - 120 Hz, public sector - 90 Hz). Switch modes - the screen should not twitch.

📸 Cameras

• 🔎 Focus: Take a picture of the text from a distance of 20 cm. All letters should be clear, without blurring at the edges.
• 🌈 Color distortion: take a picture of the sky or green foliage. The photo should not be purple or green "lights".
• 🎥 Stabilization: record a walking video. The picture should swim smoothly, without any sudden jumps.

🔊 Speakers and microphones

• 🎵 Stereo sound: turn on the music and alternately close the top/bottom speaker.
• 🎤 Microphone: record a voice message on Telegram. Your voice should be clear, without wheezing or echoing.

⚠️ Warning: If the camera is tested in the corner of the screen and the message "Camera is off. Reboot the device" appears, it is a sign of a hardware defect in the module. Warranty repair will take 2-3 weeks.

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To test your screen for broken pixels, use the Screen Test (Android) app, which tests gradients, color transitions, and touch response.

4. Software diagnostics: firmware, sensors, sensors

Incorrect firmware or sensor failures may indicate a phone recovered from repair or an unofficial firmware.

📱 Firmware and version MIUI

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.
• 📅 Check the build date against the latest updates on the official website. If the difference is more than 2 months, the firmware is outdated.
• 🔍 Check for root rights: install the Root Checker app. If you have access, the phone is hacked.

📡 Sensors.

Run the Sensor Test app and check:

• 🧭 Gyroscope/accelerometer: tilt the phone – the hands should move smoothly.
• 🧲 Magnetic sensor (compass): Hold the magnet - the arrow must respond.
• 💡 Approximation sensor: during the call, the screen should go out when lifted to the ear.

🔋 Battery

• ⚡ B Settings → Battery → Check the battery status for "Capacity." The new phone should have 100% (or 99% error).
• 📊 Install AccuBattery and watch Battery Health, below 95% is a sign of a used battery.

5. Network test: 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi and GPS

Communication problems don't come up immediately, but they can make the phone useless.

📶 Mobile network

• 📶 Put it in. SIM-map and check the network indicator. 13T, Redmi K70) must have 5G (if the operator supports).
• 📞 Call another phone – the sound should be clear, without interference.
• 📶 Switch between 4G/3G/2G In Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network type: Switching must occur without rebooting.

📶 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

• 📶 Connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi (if the router supports) and the speed should be at least 80% of the maximum for your tariff.
• 🎧 Connect wireless headphones – the sound should not be interrupted.
• 📱 Transfer the file over Bluetooth to another phone, transfer speed at least 2 MB/s.

📍 GPS

• 🗺️ Enable geolocation and open Google Maps. Your location should be determined in 5-10 seconds.
• 🚗 If you are in a car, check the operation of the navigator (for example, Yandex.Navigator".

⚠️ Note: If the phone is not caught 5G, Although the model supports it, for example, POCO F5 Pro, check the firmware region. Chinese versions (CN) They are often not supported by European frequencies. 5G.

6.Build quality: gaps, buttons, body

Cheap materials and assembly curve – the scourge of budget Redmi and POCO. Look at this:

• 🔧 Clearances between the body and the screen: swipe the nail at the junction. If you feel a protrusion or gap greater than 0.5 mm, it is a marriage.
• 🔘 Power and volume buttons: press 10 times in a row. The move should be smooth, no creaking. If the button "fails" - the mechanism is damaged.
• 📱 Bending the case: put the phone down on a flat surface. If it sways, the board inside is curved (a common problem with the Redmi Note 12).
• 🔌 Connector. USB-C: insert / remove the cable 5 times. Luft or "chattanka" is unacceptable.

⚠️ Warning: If there are traces of sticker on the back cover (such as uneven seams around the camera), the phone has been taken apart.

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Even micro-cracks on the case (invisible to the eye) can cause moisture to enter and corrosion of the board. Use a magnifying glass or flashlight at an angle for inspection.

7. Features of checking used Xiaomi

Buying a phone from hand is a lottery, but even if the seller claims that the device is "almost new," check:

🔋 Battery status

• ⚡ B Settings → Battery → Battery status, see Capacity. If it's under 85%, the battery needs to be replaced.
• 📊 In AccuBattery, check battery health. A value below 80% is critical.

🛠️ Renovation marks.

• 🔧 Put a flashlight on the joints of the body, and if you see any scratches from the screwdriver, the phone was opened.
• 📱 Check it out. IMEI into SND Deep Info. If the "Repaired" status is restored after a breakdown.

📱 Programmatic “crutches"

• 🔄 Install. CPU-Z If the processor or memory doesn't match, the phone is re-labeled (e.g. Redmi Note 11 is given as Note 11 Pro).
• 🔧 Check for custom recavérie (TWRP). Hold the volume.+ And power when the phone is off, and if you have a non-standard menu, the firmware is changed.

⚠️ Note: If the seller refuses to show IMEI Mi Account repair history is a reason to drop the deal, and 90 percent of the time, it means the phone is blacklisted or stolen.

8 Final pre-payment checks

Before you transfer money, do these things:

1. Check completeness: Box, documentation, cable (if provided), paper clip for SIM. Flagships (Xiaomi 13, Mix Fold 3) should be included in the kit branded charging.
2. Make a reset to factory settings: Go to Settings → The phone. → Reset settings. Once reset, the phone should boot up without errors. If you see "Mi Account locked," the device is tied to someone else's account.

Check the warranty.

• Enter Mi Verify's website IMEI serial number.
• The warranty must be active and the date of purchase must be the same.

⚠️ Warning: If a seller asks for payment before checking the phone (e.g., “translation first, I’ll show you later”) is a scam.In 2023, cases of sellers blocking Mi Account after payment and demanding a surcharge for “unblocking” increased".

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Never agree to a "TeamViewer check" or remote connection. Fraudsters can install malware or lock your phone.

Frequent questions

• Launch Geekbench 6.
• Compare the results with the database at geekbench.com.
• If the difference is more than 20%, the processor is not original.

⚠️ Fake processors are often found in "gray" POCO Redmi purchased on AliExpress or from unofficial sellers.