How to Check Xiaomi Smart Watch for Originality: A Complete Guide to 2026

Fake Xiaomi smart watches flooded the market: according to AliExpress and Wildberries, 40% Mi Band and Xiaomi Watch are fakes, and it's not just budget models like Mi Band that are faked. 7, But also flagships like Xiaomi Watch S3 watch 2 Externally, copies are almost indistinguishable: the same boxes, logos, even firmware MIUI For the Watch can be installed, but inside, cheap sensors, battery power. 2-3 day instead of the promised 12, and the risk of battery explosion when charging.

We tested 15 validation methods and selected the 7 most reliable ones that work for all Xiaomi models (including the Redmi Watch 4 and Xiaomi Smart Band 8), no “look at the quality of plastic” – only specific markers that can not be forged without access to factory data.

Spoiler: The fastest way to detect a fake is to scan QR-The code is on the box through the official Mi Fitness app, but the scammers have learned to forge it, so you'll have to combine the methods.

1. Packaging check: 5 details that fakes don't copy

The box is the first to give away a fake, but not the one in the online store (it's easy to replace), but the real packaging in your hands. The original Xiaomi watch comes in boxes with unique protections that are difficult to replicate:

🔹 The holographic sticker on the box seam, which the original doesn't detach without damage, but when you try to unstick, it leaves the inscription. VOID or OPEN. Fakes have either no sticker or peel off entirely.

🔹 The serial number on the box and the device must match. On the original packaging, it's laser-painted (not printed!) and visible at an angle. Counterfeiting uses a regular typography, the numbers are erased by rubbing.

🔹 The barcode is at the bottom of the box, and if you scan it through the Barcode Scanner app, you have to open a page with the model on the official Xiaomi website.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters often sell watches in printed boxes from other devices (e.g., Mi Band 6 instead of Watch). S2). Always check the model on the box with what is written in the settings of the watch (Settings) → The phone).

Table: Comparison of original and counterfeit packages

Scanning QR-← Why this method doesn’t always work

The most common advice is to scan. QR-The code on the box or back of the watch is via the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit), in theory, if the watch is original, the system will show the model and suggest that the device be tethered:

✅ It works for new models (Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Smart Band 8) released after 2022. QR-Codes linked to Xiaomi database.

❌ Doesn't work for:

1. Older models (Mi Band 5 and earlier) QR-codes are not verified by the server.
2. Watches purchased informally (for example, on AliExpress from dealers) – the code can be “clean” or broken.
3. High-level fakes – scammers are cloning QR-codes from the original boxes.

🔍 How to scan correctly:

1. Install the latest version of Mi Fitness (you can download here).
2. Open the application, click Profile → Add the device → Scanner. QR.
3. Point the camera at the code on the box or back of the watch.
4. If the name of the model appears, it is a good sign, but not a 100% guarantee.

Yeah, I bought a fake by mistake.|No, but I'm afraid to.|Checked before buying and avoided|I don't know how to tell them apart.-->

⚠️ Warning: Some fakes mimic the scanning process - after reading QR-The code opens a fake anchor window. URL In the address bar: the original Mi Fitness app will redirect you to the mi.com or xiaomi.com domain.

3. Checking the serial number through the official service

Each Xiaomi device has a unique serial number (S/N), This method works for all models, including the Redmi Watch. 3 Active and Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro.

📌 Where to find the serial number:

• 📦 On a box (usually on a barcode sticker).
• ⚙️ In the settings of the clock: Settings → The phone. → Serial number.
• 🔋 On the back of the device (under the sensor or on the charging contact).

🔎 How to check:

1. Go to mi.com/global/verify.
2. Enter the serial number (no spaces!).
3. Enter the code from the picture (capcha).
4. If the watch is original, the system will show the model and the date of production.

Important: If the serial number has been checked before, the system may give an error "Device already bound." This is normal - it means that the watch has already been activated by another user (for example, if you bought a used device), but if the number is not found at all, it is 100% fake.

Find it. S/N box and clock settings|Verify the numbers – they must match|Check the number on the site mi.com/verify|Make sure the model matches yours.|Check the date of production (should not be older) 2 years)-->

⚠️ Warning: Scammers sometimes fake serial numbers using generators. If the number has been checked but the watch is suspicious (e.g., quickly discharged or not synchronized with the app), use additional methods from this article.

4. firmware and software analysis: what gives a fake

Even if the packaging and serial number are perfect, the fake can be given out by firmware. Xiaomi's original watch runs on a branded shell. MIUI For Watch, and fakes - on a simplified version or custom builds.

🔍 How to check firmware:

• 📱 Open on the clock Settings → The phone. → POS version.
• 🔍 The original firmware should contain: Model name (e.g. Xiaomi Watch) S3). Version MIUI (for example, MIUI Watch 2.1.123). Assembly date (not older) 1-2 years).
• 🚫 Fakes often have: Type version V1.0.0 or Generic 2023. Misprints in the model name (e.g., Xiaom Watch). MIUI.

🛠 Additional tests:

• 🔄 Try updating your firmware through Mi Fitness. The original watch will get an update, the fake watch won't (or it will crash out).
• 🎵 Play music in the clock. The original supports AAC and MP3, Fakes are only of low quality AMR.
• 📡 Check the work. GPS. The original Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro GPS signal 5-10 seconds, fakes, minutes. 5 or not at all.

💡

If the watch has a "Factory Mode" or "Engineer Menu" option in its settings, it's almost certainly a fake. Xiaomi's original devices hide the engineering menu from users.

⚠️ Attention: Some fakes install "licensed" firmware on top of their software. In this case, everything looks original, but the sensors are not working correctly (for example, the pulse shows 200 beats per minute at rest). → Sensors and compare readings with a medical pulsemeter.

5 Physical markers: What can't be faked

Even the best quality copies can’t replicate some of the physical features of the original Xiaomi watch.

🔹 The original watch weighs strictly by specification (e.g. Xiaomi Watch). S2 — 37 (d) Unstraped. Counterfeiting is usually easier on the 5-10 d because of cheap materials. Weigh the clock on the kitchen scale.

🔹 The original uses the material:

• 🛡️ Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro: stainless steel with sapphire glass.
• 📏 Redmi Watch 3: Polycarbonate with matte texture.
• 💎 Xiaomi Smart Band 8: glossy plastic with a metal insert.

Fakes are made from cheap plastic that smells like chemistry and scratches its nail.

🔹 The original contacts:

• 🔌 They are gold or silver (not rusting).
• 📏 Symmetrically arranged with a gap of 0.5 mm.
• 🔋 When connecting the charge, a light click (magnetic fastening) is issued).

Fake contacts often turn black after a week of use.

🔹 The original Xiaomi straps have:

• 🏷️ Mi logo on the buckle (engraved, not sticker).
• 🧵 Careful seams without sticking threads.
• 🔍 Microtext XIAOMI on the inside (see under the magnifying glass).

💡

If the watch is magnetic to the refrigerator, it is a fake. Xiaomi’s original devices do not contain ferromagnetic materials in the case (except charging contacts).

6.Sensor test: how fakes trick users

Fake watches often mimic the sensors, showing random values, and can be checked using simple tests:

🩺 Pulse sensor:

• 🫀 Take your pulse on the original watch and the suspicious watch at the same time.
• 🩹 Press the sensor with your finger (on the back) and the original will show an error or "---", counterfeiting will continue to give out numbers.

🏃 Stepper:

• 👟 Come on. 10 The original will count. 9-11, fake — 15-20 or 5-7.
• 🚗 Drive 5 minutes. Original will record 0 steps, fake hundreds.

🌡️ Thermometer (if any):

• ☕ Put the watch to the hot cup. The original shows the temperature rise over the course of the day. 10-20 Forgery, either instantaneously or unresponsively.

📍 GPS:

• 🗺️ Enable route recording in Mi Fitness. The original draws a smooth line, the fake zigzags or dots in random places.

⚠️ Warning: Some fakes use AliExpress sensors that show plausible values first 2-3 Check the watch not only immediately after purchase, but also after a week of use.

7. Verification through third-party applications

If you have already bought a watch and doubt its originality, analysis through specialized utilities will help, they scan the hardware of the device and compare it with the database of Xiaomi.

📱 Verification annexes:

• 🔍 Mi Check (available on Google Play) - scans IMEI and the serial number, showing the status of the device.
• 🛠 CPU-Z (wear OS) — The original watch has Qualcomm or Dialog chips, fakes have Mediatek or nameless Chinese watches.
• 📊 Wear OS Toolbox – checks the firmware version and compatibility with Google services (original Xiaomi Watch on Wear) OS Support Google Play Support).

📌 Instructions for using Mi Check:

1. Download and install Mi Check.
2. Connect the watch to your phone via Bluetooth.
3. Open the app, select Scan Device.
4. If the watch is original, a green tick will appear and the inscription Genuine Xiaomi Device.
5. If fake is a red cross and a Counterfeit Detected warning.

⚠️ Note: Some fakes block access to system information, and applications like this CPU-Z They can't read the data, and in this case, the watch is not exactly original.

Checklist: Quick check before buying

If you buy a Xiaomi watch from hand or in an unofficial store, use this checklist to avoid counterfeiting:

Compare the model on the box and in the settings of the clock|Check the holographic sticker on the box (must break)|Scan. QR-code through Mi Fitness|Check the serial number for mi.com/verify|Weigh the clock – the weight must match the official data|View the firmware version (must contain "MIUI")|Check if the watch is magnetic to metal (original – no)|Run the sensor test (pulse, pedometer)|Make sure there is a warranty card in the package-->

If one item fails to pass the check, refuse to buy, even if the seller claims that "it's just another batch" or "special version for China."

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Xiaomi Watch