How to check the authenticity of headphones Xiaomi: a complete guide with photos and expert advice

Are you going to buy Xiaomi headphones and want to be sure that you get an original product, not a cheap fake? You are not alone: according to statistics, up to 30% of Xiaomi headphones in the secondary market are fakes that not only sound worse, but can be dangerous to health. In this article, we will discuss 7 reliable ways to check that will help distinguish real Mi True Wireless Earbuds, Redmi Buds or Xiaomi AirDots from copies, even if you buy them from hands or on the marketplace.

Fakes often pose as trivialities, such as sloppy packaging, lack of branded stickers, or strange behavior when connecting, but there are deeper signs, from checking the serial number to analyzing the sound and the microphone, and we have collected unique data on authenticity markers that you won’t find in standard reviews, including screenshots of official Xiaomi services and examples of labels of original models.

Importantly, even if the headphones look perfect, they don't guarantee their authenticity. Counterfeit manufacturers are constantly improving their copies, so you need to check them in a complex way, according to several criteria at once. Let's start with the most obvious, but often ignored, step: packaging.

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

The packaging of Xiaomi’s original headphones is not just a box, but a thoughtful element of the brand. Fakes often save on little things that are conspicuous only when you look closely.

• 📦 Print quality: The original box has clear text and logos, no blurred edges or shifted colors, and counterfeits are often made with pale shades or uneven fonts.
• 🔍 Hologram: New models (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro) have a proprietary hologram with a transfusion effect, which is difficult to fake, as you turn the boxes from different angles should be visible 3D-effects.
• 🏷️ Serial number sticker: on the original it is smooth, with a clear font and often with QR-For fakes, the sticker may move away, have uneven edges or unreadable code.
• 📏 Box sizes: compare dimensions to official photos on Xiaomi's website. Counterfeiting sometimes makes boxes thinner or narrower to save on materials.
• 🔊 Security tape: original headphones are always sealed in transparent film with the Mi or Redmi logo, and if it's not there or it's torn, it's a reason to be wary.

Pay special attention to the barcode on the package, it can be checked through special services (for example, Barcode LT), the original code must correspond to the country of origin (usually China) and the model of the headphones, if the service gives an error or the data do not match, you have a fake.

⚠️ Warning: Some vendors re-paint serial number stickers from the original boxes to fake ones. Always check the number on the box and on the headphones themselves (more on this in the next section).

2.Serial number: how to check through the official services of Xiaomi

The serial number (S/N) is the main authentication identifier, and it's on the box, on the sticker inside the charge case cover, and sometimes on the headphones themselves.

1. Find the number on the box (usually on a white barcode sticker) and on the case (under the lid).
2. Go to the official verification site: For global versions: mi.com/global/verify For Chinese versions: order.mi.com/site/product/check (translator required)

Enter the serial number.

If the site is incorrectly named, or if the data doesn’t match the model on the box, the headphones are fake. Please note that some new models (such as Xiaomi Buds 5) may not be displayed in the database temporarily.

An important nuance: the serial numbers on the left and right earphones must match the number on the case. If any number is different, it is a fake. Also note the date of production (if indicated): if the headphones are released before the official announcement of the model, this is a clear sign of fake.

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If the serial number is erased or not readable, try to wipe the sticker with alcohol - sometimes the paint is blurred from the sweat fat tracks, and there is a clear text under it.

3.External inspection: 8 signs of the original headphones Xiaomi

Even if the package and serial number look suspicious, the appearance of the headphones can give off a fake.

• 🎨 The color and texture of plastic: the original headphones have a matte finish without smudges.Fakes are often shiny or have uneven coloration.
• 🔗 Magnets in case: In the original case, the headphones are fixed clearly, with a characteristic click. Counterfeiting can have weak magnets or no magnets.
• 🔌 Type-C connector: In the original cases, it's in the center, without backlash, and in fake cases, the connector is often shifted or wobbly.
• 💡 Charging indicator: In the original cases, the LED flashes smoothly, without twitching.
• 📏 Headphone Weight: Original Xiaomi AirDots Weigh ~4.1g and counterfeits are often heavier due to cheap materials.
• 🔊 Dynamic grid: original, it's small and uniform. Fake cells are larger or warped.
• 📱 Touch buttons: on original headphones, they respond to touch rather than press.Fakes often have physical buttons.
• 🔋 Charging contacts: In the original cases, they are gilded and shiny. Fake contacts are dull or corrosion-covered.

Special attention is paid to the joints and joints of the case. the original Xiaomi headphones are assembled on high-precision equipment, so the gaps between parts of the case are minimal (less than 0.1 mm).

4. Check through the Mi Home app: step-by-step instructions

The official Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Wear for new models) is one of the most reliable ways to check it out.

If the app doesn’t find headphones or identifies them as Unknown devices, it’s a fake. Also look at the firmware version: the original headphones have current updates, and fakes often run on outdated (or no upgrade at all).

In the Mi Home app, check the following parameters:

• The device model (must match the box).
• Serial number (must match the number on the case).
• The firmware version (the originals it is updated through the application).
• Charge level (for counterfeits, it often shows incorrect values, such as 101% or negative numbers).

⚠️ Warning: Some fakes mimic Mi Home but don't support all features. For example, there may be no equalizer settings or transparency mode. Always test all available options.

5. Sound and microphone test: how to hear the difference

Sound is what you buy headphones for, and here the fakes are losing out on all fronts.

1. Bass test: Play a track with deep bass (like "Seven Nation Army" - The White Stripes) The original headphones convey the bass clearly, without "swalling"; fakes often wheez or distort the sound.
2. High frequency test: listen to a track with bright high notes (like "Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen) The original sound is crystal, without whistles. Fakes can "cut" ears at high frequencies.
3. Microphone test: record your voice on a voice recorder through headphones. Original microphones transmit voice naturally, without noise. Fakes often add background noise or distort the timbre.
4. Noise reduction test (for models with ANC): in the original Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, noise cancellation works smoothly, without the effect of "stuck" ears.

For objective evaluation, use YouTube audio tests (see "headphone test frequencies" if you want to check it out). Xiaomi's original headphones should clearly reproduce frequencies between 20 Hz and 20 kHz without distortion. Counterfeiting often swallows extreme ranges.

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If the headphones pretend to be a model with support for aptX or LDAC codecs, but in the Bluetooth settings of the phone these codecs are not displayed - you are a fake.

6. Checking the complete set: what should be in the box

The original Xiaomi headphones always come with a full suite of accessories. Counterfeiting often saves on trifles. Here's what should be in the box (as in the Redmi Buds 4 Active):

Note the quality of the printing of the documentation. The original instructions are printed on thick paper with clear illustrations. Counterfeiting often uses cheap paper with blurred pictures or typos in the text (for example, instead of "Xiaomi" it can be written "Xiaom").

Also check the spare slacks: in the original they are packed in a separate bag with the Mi or Redmi logo. counterfeit slacks often lie in placer or packed in ordinary cellophane.

7 Where to buy so as not to run into a fake: a safe purchase checklist

Even though you know all the signs of authenticity, you still have the risk of buying fakes if you choose an unreliable seller. Here are 5 safe buying rules:

• 🛒 Official stores: Mi Store, Xiaomi Shop on marketplaces, authorized resellers (list on the official website).
• 🌍 Global versions: Buy Global models (e.g. Redmi Buds 4 Active Global) Chinese versions may not support Russian in the app.
• 💳 Payment by fact: when buying from hand insist to meet at the official service center Xiaomi for check before payment.
• 📄 Check and warranty: Original headphones are always sold with a warranty card (even on marketplaces.
• 🔍 Reviews about the seller: on the marketplaces, check the rating and reviews (especially negative ones - they often write about fakes).

Avoid buying from sellers with wording like:

• Original 1:1 (it's always a fake)
• "No box, but new" (probably stolen or fake)
• “Price below market by 30-50%” (original headphones Xiaomi rarely sell at a discount of more than 20%).

⚠️ Attention: On AliExpress and similar sites, the original Xiaomi headphones are sold only in official stores (Mi Global Store, Xiaomi Official Store.

FAQ: Frequent questions about checking Xiaomi headphones