How to Check Xiaomi for Originality: The Complete 2026 Guide

Buying Xiaomi equipment in the secondary market or in unofficial stores always carries the risk of running into a fake. According to official statistics, up to 15% of the brand’s gadgets in the CIS markets are counterfeit or “gray” devices with modified firmware, and scammers have learned to fake not only budget models, but also flagships like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi K70 Pro.

The problem is that the exterior copies are often indistinguishable from the original: the same logos, boxes, even holograms, but inside are cheap components, simplified boards, and sometimes malware. This article will help you figure out how to test Xiaomi for originality before and after buying, using official brand tools, hidden menus and physical markers. We have compiled current methods from 2026, including those that work even for devices without a box.

1. Packaging and package check: 5 details that scammers miss

The first step is to inspect the box. Xiaomi's fake packaging usually copies the design but makes mistakes in the details. The original boxes are made of dense cardboard with matte lamination, and the seams are glued neatly, without sticking out threads.

• 📦 Serial number on the sticker: must match the number under the battery and in the phone settings.
• 🔍 Hologram of safety: on the original it is multidimensional (when you turn it changes color and pattern), and on the copy - flat or even a sticker.
• 📄 Documentation: the complete set must be a warranty book with the stamp of the official dealer (for Russia - LLC "Ksiomi Rus").
• 🔌 Charger: the original power supply indicates the exact voltage (e.g, 5V/3A or 9V/2A) and the Mi logo with laser engraving.
• 🎧 Headphones/case: In budget models (such as the Redmi Note 12), headphones come in a separate bag with the logo, rather than just being thrown into a box.

Pay special attention to the typeface on the box. The original inscriptions are clearly printed, without blurring, and the colors of the logos correspond to the corporate palette (for example, orange for Redmi, blue for Redmi). POCO). Forgeries are often found typos in the names of models or incorrect designations of standards (for example, Wi-Fi). 6E instead of Wi-Fi 6).

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters sometimes use original boxes from other Xiaomi models.Always check the serial number on the box with the number in the phone (Settings) → The phone. → General information).

2. Secret codes and engineering menu: how to check the "stuffing" of the phone

Even if the packaging is perfect, it doesn't guarantee the originality of the device. Counterfeiting is often assembled using cheap MediaTek processors and then stitched with modified MIUIs. To check for hardware, use these commands:

• 📱 Verification IMEI: Type *#06#, and you should display a unique 15-digit code, check it with the number under the battery and on the box.
• 🔧 Engineering menu: dial ##4636## → Select Phone Information. The original devices will indicate Hardware: qcom (for Qualcomm) or mtk (for MediaTek), but without errors in the names.
• 🔍 Display test: code ##225## triggers screen checks for broken pixels and color rendering.
• 📡 Testing antennas: enter ##4636## → "Network information.The original Xiaomi shows all supported ranges (e.g., the ranges, LTE Band 1/3/5/7/8/20 European versions).

If you enter the code and you see a message saying "Server communication is not established" or the menu does not open, this is a sure sign of a fake or overstuffed device. It is also worth checking the temperature of the processor in the engineering menu: original Xiaomi smartphones rarely heat above 45 ° C under normal load, while copies often overheat.

3. IMEI check through official Xiaomi and GSMA databases

The unique IMEI is the main identifier of the device, which can be checked through official services to verify its originality.

1. Find your device’s IMEI (via *#06# or in Settings → About Phone).
2. Go to IMEI.info or the official Xiaomi checkout page.
3. Enter the IMEI in the verification field. The original device will show the model, production date and status (Official).
4. Check the data against the box, and discrepancies in model or date are a sign of forgery.

You can also use the GSMA (International IMEI Base) service, enter the code into the form on the site - if the device is original, the system will show the brand (Xiaomi), model and country of origin. Counterfeit products often display Unknown or another brand (for example, BBK, which indicates a copy based on Oppo/Realme).

⚠️ Attention: If IMEI It starts with 000000 or consists of repeating numbers, which is 100% fake, and check if the device is blacklisted (for example, through a computer or a computer). SND Stolen or locked phones are often resold as new.

Firmware and MIUI Analysis: Signs of “Gray” and Overstitched Devices

One of the most common types of deception is selling over-stitched phones, where fraudsters take cheap models (like the Redmi 9A) and install flagship firmware (like the Xiaomi 13T) on them to sell for more.

• 📲 Version. MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. The original firmware must match the model (e.g, MIUI 14.0.5.0.TMBCNXM If the version doesn't match the official list, it's a fake.
• 🔑 Unlocking status of the loader: in Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Unlock status must be locked. If unlocked, the device will be reflashed.
• 🛡️ Certificate verification: C Settings → Password and security → The original devices have the signature of Xiaomi Inc. On fakes, this section is often empty.
• 🔄 Updates by air (OTA): Try to update your phone through Settings → System update: Original devices receive updates automatically, and forgeries give an error: "Can't connect to the server".

A critical sign of counterfeiting: if the phone’s settings do not have a “Mi Account” section or you can not log into a Xiaomi account, it is guaranteed not the original device. It is also worth checking the work of proprietary features such as Game Turbo, Second Space or Mi Share – they are either missing or malfunctioning on copies.

5. Physical inspection: what is hidden under the lid and screen

If you have the ability to disassemble the device (or the seller agrees to do so), check the internal components. The original Xiaomis have clear markers:

• 🔋 Battery: the original battery contains the serial number, date of production and logo Xiaomi/ATL (Counterfeit batteries often use batteries without markings or with typos.
• 🖥️ Material boards: the motherboard of the original devices has an engraving with the model (for example, M2301KPN4G For the Redmi Note 12 Pro+). On copies of the board often without marking or with stickers.
• 📶 Antenna modules: In original smartphones, antennas are closed with metal screens with the Xiaomi logo. fakes save on this by leaving boards open.
• 🔌 Connectors: Check the charging and speaker sockets, and in the original devices, they're sealed neatly, without any soldering or glue.

Special attention is paid to cameras. Counterfeiting often uses cheaper modules with lower resolution, for example, instead of the 200 MP (as in Xiaomi 13 Ultra), you can have a 12 MP sensor with software upscale, and you can check this through applications like CPU-Z or AIDA64, which show real-world camera performance.

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If the seller refuses to show the insides of the phone, offer to check it through an X-ray at the service center.The original devices have a unique layout of the boards, which can not be faked without a complete redesign of the design.

6. Verification through Mi Account and official Xiaomi services

The most reliable way to confirm originality is to link the device to an official Mi Account.

1. Create an account at account.xiaomi.com (if not).
2. Sign in to your phone account via Settings → Accounts → Mi Account.
3. Go to your personal account and find the Devices section, and the original phone will show up with the model, IMEI and Connected status.
4. Try Find Device or Mi Cloud, which don't work for fakes.

If the phone is not tied to your account or the wrong model is displayed in your personal account, it is a fake, and you can also use the official Xiaomi verification service, where you can find out the status of the device by IMEI or serial number.

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Even if the phone is externally identical to the original, but does not tie to the Mi Account - it is a guaranteed fake or "gray" import with modified firmware.

7. Check smart devices Xiaomi: bracelets, watches, routers

Not only are smartphones faked, but other Xiaomi gadgets, such as the Mi Band, Mi Watch or Mi Router routers, are also faked.

For smart devices, Mi Home/Mi Fitness is also relevant: original gadgets connect seamlessly, and fakes are either not an app or are defined as Unknown devices, especially sensors (Mi Sensor) and lamps (Yeelight), which are often forged.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi vetting