Buying a new or used Xiaomi smartphone is always a lottery if you don’t know what to look at first.The market is saturated with both outright fakes and refurbished devices that disguise themselves as new ones, which is why properly checking Xiaomi before buying becomes a critical step in saving you money and nerves.
Many customers are limited to just external inspection and on-boarding, which is a gross mistake. Modern technology requires a deeper diagnosis of software and hardware components. In this article, we will discuss all the stages of testing in detail so that you can confidently choose a quality gadget.
Don't just rely on the seller's assurances or the beautiful packaging. Often, it's when you unpack or first turn on that you uncover hidden defects that you can't see on a cursory glance. Let's move on to the specific steps to help you avoid buying a "cat in a bag."
Visual inspection of the body and configuration
The first thing that catches your eye is the look of the device, and even if the smartphone is sold as a "bad-ass" device, a close look will reveal signs of exploitation. Notice the joints between the frame and the body: they should be smooth, without gaps and glue, which may indicate poor repair or autopsy.
Look at the screws near the charging socket, and if the splints are slicked or damaged, it means that the phone has been opened, which can be a sign of a battery replacement or, worse, of recovery from moisture.
⚠️ Warning: If you see traces of liquid or whitish plaque on the tray of the device, immediately refuse to buy.This is a sure sign that the smartphone has sunk and corrosion could already destroy the board.
The kit also plays a role: Original USB cables and power supplies have quality plastic, clear labeling and no backlash in connectors. Cheap counterparts often give themselves off as loose build and lack of a manufacturer logo.
Check for protective films. New devices are perfectly flat, bubble-free, and if the film is curved or dust is visible, it may indicate pre-marketing of the used device.
Authentication through IMEI and MIUI
One of the most reliable ways to distinguish the original from the fake is to check the unique IMEI identifier, which must match the box, the warranty card and the settings of the smartphone itself, and can be found by typing *#06# on the call keyboard.
Enter the resulting code on the manufacturer's official website or in specialized verification services. The system will show the device model, color and activation date. If the site says "device not found" or shows a model different from yours, you have a replica in front of you.
Special attention should be paid to the interface MIUI or HyperOS. Forgeries often use older versions of Android, just "stretching" on them the shell. Check the smoothness of animations and the availability of standard applications from Google and Xiaomi. The absence of a GetApps store or the inability to log into the Mi Account is an alarm.
What is a Mi Account and why is it needed?
Also check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone. bootloader status should be “Locked” for global versions. Unlocked Bootloader is often found on devices that have been repaired or re-imbursed to bypass regional restrictions.
Screen and matrix diagnostics
The screen is the most expensive and fragile element of a smartphone. Checking the display of Xiaomi should be done at maximum brightness, turn the white picture on the full screen and carefully examine the surface for "broken" pixels that look like black or colored dots.
An important parameter for AMOLED-You can check the lights for burnout, open up the white image and see if it has any residual traces of icons or keyboards, and check the uniformity of the backlights, so when it's low, there shouldn't be too much light at the edges or corners.
- 👆 Touchscreen: Move the icon around the screen, and if it fails or stops responding in some area, the matrix is defective.
- 🌈 Color rendering: Include multicolored images to make sure there are no pink or yellow spots.
- 🔆 Autobrightness: Check the light sensor by covering the top of the screen with your hand – the brightness should change.
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Use the engineering menu for a deep check. Dial ##6484## and select Display for a detailed color and touch test.
Notice the frame around the matrix. In the original Xiaomi devices, it's minimal and symmetrical on all sides. Counterfeiters often have thickenings or chins at the bottom of the screen that give a cheap copy.
Testing of cameras and communication modules
The camera is one of the great trump cards of Xiaomi smartphones. When checking, open the standard app and take a few pictures in good light and in the dark. Pay attention to the speed of focus: in the originals it happens instantly, in fakes it happens with a delay.
Check all the lenses if there are multiple lenses. Switch to wide-angle camera and macro mode. If one of the modules doesn't work or gives a blurry image, it may have been replaced with a non-original one.
⚠️ Warning: If the sound is recorded with wheezing or crackling when shooting video, this may indicate problems with the microphone or poor-quality body assembly.
Communication modules are checked by installation SIM-Make sure the phone sees the network. 4G/LTE, a in the settings Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks show the right type of network. Also check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth by connecting to available devices.
☑️ Checking communications and cameras
Don't forget to check the fingerprint scanner and face unlock function. These functions should work quickly and without failure. If the scanner in the screen or on the power button reacts with a delay, it may be that the module has been replaced or damaged.
Analysis of battery status and charging
Battery condition is a critical parameter, especially when buying a used device. In the battery settings, you can often see approximate wear, but more accurate data is provided by the engineering menu or third-party utilities.
Connect the original charger and cable. The smartphone should display the status of "Fast Charge" or "Turbo Charge." If charging is slow or interrupted, the problem may be in the USB Type-C connector or power controller.
| Parameter | Norma. | An alarm signal. |
|---|---|---|
| Charging time. | Up to 90% for 40-60 minutes | Charging longer than 2 hours. |
| Heating. | Warm hull | Severe heat in the camera area |
| Discharge at rest | 1-2% overnight | More than 5-7% overnight |
| Recharge cycles | Less than 300-500. | More than 800 cycles |
Pay attention to the way your smartphone is under load, run a heavy app or game, and if the device is rapidly discharged or turned off at 15-20% charge, the battery needs to be replaced.
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The battery's health directly affects the performance of the processor, and when the battery wears too much, the system can artificially slow down the phone.
Performance and memory check
The stated specifications in the settings are easy to forge software. To find out the real configuration, use applications like CPU-Z or AIDA64. They will show the real number of cores, the frequency of the processor and the type of RAM.
Check the storage capacity. If you have 256 GB in the settings and only 50 GB available, it means that the memory has been overstuffed ("bloated") software, and the actual volume of such devices usually does not exceed 16-32 GB.
- 🚀 Benchmarky: Run the test in AnTuTu or Geekbench. Compare the result to the benchmarks for your model on the Internet.
- 💾 Record speed: Copy a large file (video) 4K) A low speed may indicate a cheap memory.
- ❄️ Overheating test: After 10 minutes of active operation, the phone should not burn your hands.
RAM is checked through the menu of running applications. Open 10-15 heavy programs. If they fly out immediately, the amount of RAM is smaller than the stated amount or it is faulty.
Why is there less memory than claimed?
Final Sound and Speaker Check
The sound quality is often overlooked, but it's what makes the multimedia experience feel like. Turn on the music at maximum volume. The sound should be clean, without wheezing, rattling, and distortion, even at low frequencies.
Check the speaker with a test call, the interviewer should hear you clearly, and you should hear him without interference, and also test the vibrator motor: it should be palpable, but not buzz like an old alarm clock.
In the engineering menu (#6484##), select Receiver or Speaker for automatic audio testing to help identify silent defects that are not audible in normal use.