Xiaomi AirDots 2: How to distinguish the original from the fake – a complete guide with photos and videos

Why is it so important to authenticate Xiaomi AirDots 2?

Xiaomi AirDots 2 wireless headphones (also known as Redmi AirDots 2) remain among the most popular budget headphones. TWS-Their success has led to hundreds of copies, from low-quality fakes to clones with almost identical packaging, and Counterpoint Research estimates that up to 30 percent of Xiaomi headphones sold on marketplaces may be counterfeit. The difference in price between the original and the fake sometimes reaches 50-70%, but the difference in quality is huge.

Fake AirDots 2s not only sound worse (distorted high frequencies, lack of bass) but also are dangerous to health. Cheap copies often use low-quality batteries that are prone to bloating or even fire. In addition, counterfeit headphones do not support the original proprietary features: automatic connection to the Mi Home, firmware updates and synchronization with other Xiaomi devices. In this article, we will examine all the ways of authentication, from visual inspection to testing through official software.

The problem of counterfeiting for buyers on AliExpress, Wildberries and Ozon is especially acute, where sellers often disguise copies as the original. Even in official Xiaomi stores, “gray” deliveries are found – so verification is necessary anyway.

1. Packaging check: 5 key differences of the original

Packaging is the first and most obvious sign of counterfeiting. Copy manufacturers rarely pay attention to the little things, so just look at the box carefully. The original Xiaomi AirDots 2 comes in a dense white box with a matte coating and a clear print.

• 📦 Mi logo: Originally, it's bulging, glossy, and on fakes, it's often flat or blurry.

Notice the film on the box. The original one has a glossy, perforated film for easy opening, and the fakes are often sealed with regular tape or low-quality film that breaks when you try to remove it.

2.External inspection of headphones: details that give off a fake

Even if the package looks perfect, check out the headphones themselves.The original AirDots 2 has a few unique features:

• 🎧 Body: Matte plastic with a slight roughness. Counterfeiting is often glossy or too smooth.
• 🔴 Charge indicator: In the original, it flashes only red (when discharged) and white (when connected.
• 🕳️ Microphone hole: The original has it right in the middle of the top of the headphone, often misaligned or missing on the fakes.
• 🔋 Charging contacts: Must be gilded, without traces of oxidation.

Pay special attention to the weight of the headphones. The original AirDots 2 weighs exactly 4.1 grams each. Counterfeiting is usually heavier (5-6 grams) because of cheap materials. You can weigh on a kitchen scale or in a jewelry store.

Another reliable sign is the magnets in the case, and the original headphones are attracted to each other when you hold them close, and the fakes are either not magnetized, or the attraction is very weak.

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

The most reliable way to verify authenticity is to connect the headphones to the official Mi Home app. The original AirDots 2 is automatically detected by the system, and the fakes are either not connected or displayed as "Unknown Device."

Here's how to do it:

1. Download Mi Home from Google Play or App Store.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account.
3. Open the Device tab → Add the device.
4. Select Audio Category and find Redmi AirDots 2.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to connect.

If the headphones are original, the app will show:

• 📊 The level of charge of each headphone and case.
• 🔄 Firmware version (e.g, V4.7.1).
• 🎛️ Gesture settings (double touch, hold).

If you see a message saying “Device not supported” instead, or headphones connect like normal Bluetooth headsets (without additional features), you’re 100% fake.

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Even if the headphones are connected to the phone as a Bluetooth device, it does not guarantee originality.

4. Sound and microphone testing: what should alert

Sound is what headphones buy for, and the difference between the original and the fake is the most noticeable. The original AirDots 2 features 7.2mm speakers with SBC and AAC codecs, which delivers a balanced sound with clear high and deep basses, while counterfeits are usually equipped with cheap 6mm speakers that deliver “empty” sound without details.

Here's how to check the sound:

• 🎵 Play a bass track (e.g., "Seven Nation Army" - The White Stripes) in the original, the bass feels physically, it's "booming" or missing in a fake.
• 🎶 Listen to vocals (e.g. "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen) the original voice sounds natural, the copy sounds like "barrel».
• 🔊 Check the maximum volume. The original plays loudly without distortion, the fake starts to "hritter" at 70-80% volume.

The original AirDots 2 uses cVc 8.0 to suppress noise, so your voice will be clear even in a noisy place.

1. Call a friend or record a voice message.
2. Compare the recording from the phone microphone and headphones.
3. If you hear noises, hissing or echoes in the headphones, it is a fake.

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To objectively check the sound, use YouTube audio tests, such as the 20Hz to 20kHz test. The original AirDots 2 should reproduce the range from 50Hz to 16kHz without distortion.

5. Check firmware and serial number

Each original Xiaomi AirDots 2 has a unique serial number that can be checked through official services.

• 📦 Back of the package (barcoded).
• 📋 A Guarantee Card (if any).
• 🔧 In the Mi Home settings (section About the device).

Check of serial number:

1. Go to mi.com/verify.
2. Enter the serial number and code from the picture.
3. If the system gives an error or the number has already been activated, you have a fake.

You can also check the firmware version. Original headphones have firmware at least V4.7.1. For fakes, versions often start with V1.x.x or no software information at all.

• Through Mi Home (Device About section).
• Through the nRF Connect app (available on Google Play).

6. Comparison with other Xiaomi models: Difference table

Often, scammers pass off other Xiaomi models as AirDots 2, such as selling Redmi AirDots 3 or AirDots Pro 2 under the guise of a second version.

Notice the charging case. The original AirDots 2 has:

• 🔌 USB-Type-C connector (fakes often with Micro-USB).
• 🔋 Charge indicator of 4 white dots.
• 🧲 Magnetic cover that closes tightly.

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

Even if you know all the signs of the original, you still have the risk of buying a fake, so you can minimize it.

• 🏪 Official Xiaomi stores: mi.com, branded offline stores.
• 🛒 Authorized resellers: Svyaznoy, M.Video, Eldorado (check the availability of the certificate).

Avoid shopping:

• ❌ Street vendors or markets.
• ❌ In groups Vkontakte or Telegram at a “share” price.
• ❌ On Avito or Yula without checking the goods before payment.

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Before buying on AliExpress, check the reviews with photos and videos. The original AirDots 2 should be packed in a branded hologram box. Ask the seller to send a photo of the package before shipping.

⚠️ Note: If the price of Xiaomi AirDots 2 is below 1,500 rubles (2026), it is almost guaranteed a fake. the original in Russia costs from 1,800 to 2,500 rubles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)