How to check Xiaomi smartphone for originality when buying: the full guide 2026

Buying a Xiaomi smartphone in the secondary market or in unofficial stores always carries the risk of running into a fake. According to Counterpoint Research, up to 15% of the brand’s devices in some regions are counterfeit, from rough copies to cross-stitched “gray” devices.

In this article, we will discuss 10 From visual inspection of the box to in-depth diagnostics through the engineering menu, you will learn which parts of the package are never forged by copy manufacturers, how to recognize "Chinese assembly for the domestic market" (which is not intended for Europe), and why checking the product is not forged. IMEI The official website doesn't always give you the exact result, POCO and flagships Xiaomi 13/14, most often counterfeit.

1.Packaging Check: 7 Signs of the Original Xiaomi Box

The first thing that catches your eye is the box. Counterfeit manufacturers rarely pay attention to the little things, so Xiaomi's original packaging has a few unique features:

• 📦 Mipos free logo: Mi or Xiaomi should be clearly marked, without blurred edges. Counterfeiting often has font errors (e.g., "Xlaoml").
• 🔍 Hologram with transfusion effect: The sticker on the top of the box when the angle of view changes should show a rainbow effect.
• 📏 Exact sizes and weights: Original boxes are strictly defined in size. 12 Pro+ it 165×85×35 The weight of the empty package is not less than 120 s.
• 🖼️ Photo of the device without distortion: On the front side should be a high-quality photo of the smartphone without artifacts. counterfeits often use stretched or blurred images.

Note the serial number on the sticker (usually at the bottom of the box) that must match the number on the phone itself (under the battery or in the slot for the device). SIM-maps) and in settings (Settings) → The phone. → If the numbers don't match, you're 100% fake.

Another nuance is the trim, and the original box always has:

• ⚡ Charger with the Mi logo (for the European version - with the marking) CE)
• 📶 USB-Type-C cable (at least 1 m long, barbed-free swab)
• 📄 Warranty card (for official dealers) or instruction in Chinese/English
• 🔑 Paperclip for extraction SIM-Lot (in the latest models it was replaced by a plastic tool)

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If the seller refuses to show the box before payment, this is a reason to be wary, even in cases of "package damaged during transportation", you can ask for a photo of the serial number at the bottom of the box.

2. Visual examination of the phone: details that can not be faked

So, to the device itself, fakes often give away little things that customers don't pay attention to.

• 🔧 Build quality: The original Xiaomi doesn't have backlashes between the body and the screen.Swipe your nail around the junction - if you feel a gap or creak, it's a fake.
• 🎨 Color and texture of the case: Flagships (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra) have a matte back panel with micro-engraved coating.
• 🔍 Logo on the back: On the original devices, the Mi or Redmi logo is laser-engraved and not erased. For fakes, it is often pasted or painted (you can check by scratching your nail).
• 📱 Screen and oleophobic coating: On the original displays, water is collected in droplets rather than spreading.Do the test: drop water on the screen off - if the liquid has spread evenly, it is a fake.

Pay attention to the connectors and buttons:

• 🔌 The USB-Type-C port should be symmetrical, without backlash. Counterfeiters often use a Micro-USB disguised as Type-C.
• 🔊 Speakers: In the original Xiaomi grid speakers metal, copies – plastic with large holes.
• 📶 Antenna lines: The back panel should not have intermittent lines or traces of glue. For fakes, they are often curved.

Critical: Counterfeiters often lack an infrared port (if claimed in the model) or light sensor, which can be checked in the engineering menu (#4636##) or using the app. AIDA64.

3. IMEI and serial number check: official Xiaomi services

The most reliable way is to check through official Xiaomi databases.

1. Find it. IMEI Phone: On the box (barcode sticker) Under the battery (if removable) In settings: Settings → The phone. → General information → IMEI *#06# (a window with a window will appear) IMEI)

mi.com/global/verify

order.mi.com

IMEI

S/N

What do the results of the inspection mean:

Some vendors fake stickers with IMEI, So check the number that appears on the phone (*#06#) instead of the box.

4.Diagnostics through engineering menu and hidden codes

Even if the packaging and appearance are not suspicious, the counterfeit can be detected through service menus.

• 📱 Check the display: Enter ##289## → The screen will be tested, and the original devices will display all colors without artifacts.
• 🔋 Battery test: Code ##4636## → Go to the Battery information tab. Counterfeiting often has the capacity to 10-20% higher-than-real.
• 📡 Check the communication module: In the same menu (#4636##) select Usage statistics. the original Xiaomi will indicate support for all declared frequencies (for example, Band 20 for Europe).
• 🔊 Speaker test: Code ##586## → Check the sound at maximum volume. Copies often have a low-level speaker wheezing.

Pay special attention to the engineering menu (##3644633## or ##4636###) and check:

• 📋 Firmware version: Must conform to the model (e.g, MIUI Global 14.0.5 for Redmi Note 12).
• 🔧 Sensors: All sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer, compass) must display data without failure.
• 📡 IMEI: The Device information should match what is on the box.

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If there are no sections in the engineering menu RF Band (communication frequencies) or Sensor Test (sensor test), you have a fake or re-stitched device.

For a deep diagnosis, use the application AIDA64 (It's available on Google Play:

• 🔧 Section System → MIUI Version (must be the official firmware).
• 📱 Display section (resolution, pixel density, screen technology).
• 🔋 Battery section (capacity, technology, manufacturer).

5. Firmware check: how to distinguish the official MIUI fake

Fakes are often given out by firmware. MIUI There are several unique features:

• 🌍 Interface language: All European languages, including Russian, are available in the global version. ROM) Russian absent.
• 🔄 Updates by air (OTA): Go to Settings. → The phone. → System Update: Original devices have the ability to check for updates.
• 🔒 Mi Account Link: When you first turn on, the original Xiaomi requires you to link to your Mi Account (if the phone is new.
• 🛡️ Google Services: Original firmware preinstalled Google Play Market, YouTube, Gmail, none in Chinese (only Mi App Store).

How to check the firmware version:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Compare this with the official data at miuidownload.com.
3. If the firmware version is not in the list or has a postfix _CN (China), this is the gray apparatus.

Warning: Some sellers install custom firmware imitating fakes MIUI. To check it out:

1. Install. AIDA64 And look at the System section. → Build Number.
2. If it says something like generic or unknown, it's fake.
3. The original firmware will be something like ingres_global (For the Redmi Note 11).

6. Check of components: battery, camera, processor

Counterfeiting often saves on stuffing. Here's how to check the key components:

• 🔋 Battery: In AIDA64 Check out the Battery section → The originals are Good. The capacity must match the declared (for example, 5000 mAh for the Redmi Note 12 Pro).+). Manufacturer: ATL (Amperex Technology Limited or SDI (Samsung).
• 📷 Camera: Take a photo at maximum resolution and zoom in. The fakes will show artifacts or noise. Check for all declared modules (wide-angle, macro, telephoto). AIDA64 Check out the Camera section – all sensors should be displayed.
• 🖥️ Processor: B AIDA64 check the section CPU. The model must match the official data. Run the AnTuTu Benchmark test. The results must be at least 80% of the reference for your model.

Pay special attention to the fingerprint scanner, which the original Xiaomi has fast and smooth operation, and fakes often have:

• 👆 The scanner is not where it should be (for example, on the back instead of the side panel).
• 🐢 Long time to recognize the fingerprint (more than 1 second).
• ❌ Does not work in wet conditions (original Xiaomi scanners are waterproof).

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To test the camera for authenticity, take a picture of a text document in low light. Xiaomi's original modules will keep the text clear, and fakes will blur.

Verification of documentation and guarantees

Official Xiaomi dealers always provide a full set of documents.

• 📄 Warranty stamp with the stamp of the store and the date of sale. for Russia and Europe, the warranty is 12 months, for China - 7 days (if not official import).
• 🏷️ Check or consignment note showing the model, IMEI Without a check, the guarantee is invalid.
• 📋 Instructions in the language of the country of sale (for global versions) In Chinese devices, instructions are only in Chinese.

How to verify the authenticity of the warranty card:

1. On the website mi.com/global/service/warranty enter the serial number.
2. If the system gives an error or the data does not match, the guarantee is fake.
3. Official dealers (for example, Svyaznoy, M. Video) warranty card is registered in the Xiaomi database automatically.

Attention! ⚠️ If the seller claims that the warranty is “international” or operates “in the territory of the EAEU”, but there is no check from the official dealer – this is a fraud.

It is also worth checking the country of origin:

• 🇨🇳 Made in China – Most of Xiaomi’s original products are made in China.
• 🇮🇳 Made in India – Some of the models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) assemble.
• ❌ If you specify Made in Vietnam or Made in Indonesia is a fake (Xiaomi does not have factories in these countries).

8.Where and how to buy Xiaomi without the risk of running into a fake

Even if you know all the signs of the original, it is better to minimize the risks when buying.

• 🏬 Official dealers: M.Video, Svyaznoy, Citilink (Russia) MediaMarkt, Amazon (Europe) Mi Store (branded Xiaomi stores)
• 🌍 Official website: mi.com/global (Global versions) mi.com (China, requires VPN)
• 🛒 Proven marketplaces: Wildberries, Ozon (only official sellers with a rating of 4.9)+) AliExpress (only Mi Global Store or Xiaomi Official Store)

What can't be done:

• ❌ Buy from street vendors or in transit.
• ❌ Take the device "without a box but cheaper".
• ❌ Paying the deposit before a full phone check.
• ❌ Take the seller's word for it ("I checked it myself, everything original").

If you buy from hand, you must:

1. Meet in daylight (to check the screen and body).
2. Ask for the original box and documents.
3. Check the IMEI and serial number on site.
4. Test all functions (camera, scanner, speakers, sensors).

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The safest way to buy is an official Xiaomi store or an authorized dealer, even if the price is there. 10-15% above, you get a warranty, original firmware and support for updates.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s originality check