How to distinguish the original Xiaomi smartphone from a fake: a complete check before buying

Why testing Xiaomi’s originality isn’t paranoia, it’s a necessity

Buying Xiaomi at a below-market price is a dream for many, but the risk of getting a fake is higher than ever. According to Customs Union, more than 12,000 fake Xiaomi smartphones were confiscated in the CIS in 2023, a 38% increase from the year before, and not only cheap copies from underground workshops, but also “gray” devices with swapped components: No-Name batteries, screens with broken pixels or processors that heat up to 70°C after 10 minutes of play.

Counterfeiting masquerades as flagship models – Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or POCO F6 Pro, but most often fake budget series: Redmi A3, POCO M6 Xiaomi Civi 4: Fraudsters play psychology: Why pay $30,000 ₽ For the original, if you can buy the same smartphone for 18 000 ₽?» Except the same one turns out to be a Chinese hardware assembly full of viruses, and in this article, 7 working ways to check that will help you avoid cheating even when you buy it from hand.

It's important to understand that fake Xiaomis not only work worse, they're dangerous. In 2023, Kaspersky's lab discovered Triada, a trojan in the firmware of fake Xiaomis that steals bank card data through the use of a computer. SMS-And some Redmi 12s used lithium-ion batteries without a charge controller, which spontaneously ignite when connected to fast charging.

1. IMEI verification: the main identifier of the original

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 15-digit code for your smartphone, and Xiaomi has it in three places: on the box, under the battery (if removable), and in the firmware. If at least one source doesn't match the IMEI, you're 100% fake.

How to check:

• 📦 On the box: IMEI It's on a barcode sticker (usually on the side or bottom.
• 📱 In Settings: Go to Settings → The phone. → General information → IMEI.
• 🔢 Through USSD-Code: type *#06# and appear on the screen IMEI (two IMEI, If the phone supports two SIM-map).
• 🌐 On Xiaomi's website, type in IMEI The original will show the model, the date of production and the status of the warranty.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters have learned to fake IMEI If the code on the box and the phone matches, but Xiaomi gives an error on the site, it is a fake with a stitched» IMEI. Also check if it is starting. IMEI c 0000 or repeating digits (e.g. 1111222233444) is a sure sign of forgery.

Check the code on the box and in the phone | Check through *#06#| Enter IMEI on Xiaomi| Make sure the model on the site matches the real | Check if IMEI starts with zero

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2. Box analysis and configuration: parts that can not be faked

Xiaomi’s original packaging has more than 10 security features that are hard to replicate in the home-made way.

🔍 Lifehack: The original Xiaomi boxes for the CIS market have a sticker with the sign “EAS” (Eurasian Union) – this is a small logo in the form of the letter “E” in a circle. If it is not – the phone was imported informally (there may be problems with the warranty).

Yes, it was original | Yes, but I got a fake | No, I always take it from official stores | I plan to buy it for the first time.

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3.External examination of the phone: 5 signs of forgery

Even if the IMEI and the box look perfect, look at the device itself.

• 📏 Uneven gaps: between the screen and the body of the original gap does not exceed 0.1 mm. Fakes can be up to 0.5 mm, and sometimes the screen even “plays” when pressed.
• 🎨 Paint quality: the original Xiaomi have a matte or glossy finish without stains.Fakes often shine like plastic or are covered with "bubbles" of varnish.
• 🔊 Speakers and microphones: the original has two symmetrical speakers (for stereo sound) and two microphones (one on top, one on the bottom.
• 🔋 Charging connector: new Xiaomi models have a USB-Type-C connector with a metal frame. Counterfeit saves on this – the connector can be plastic or even Micro-USB (even if the box indicates Type-C).
• 📷 Camera: The original Redmi Note 13 Pro+ Xiaomi 14 The camera lenses do not stand for the body more than on the 1 Fake cameras often stick out on 2-3 mm.

⚠️ One of the most common scams is fake POCO F5 or Redmi K70, where AMOLED-screens are set to cheap IPS. Check it out: Look at the screen at an angle of 45.°. If the colors are severely distorted (become pale or inverted) IPS, not AMOLED.

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If the seller refuses to show the phone in daylight or at an angle, it is a reason to be wary. AMOLED-Xiaomi screens are not afraid of sunshine and keep luscious colors in any lighting.

4. Firmware and software check: how to calculate the "left" system

The firmware is the brain of a smartphone, and fakes always give themselves away. The original Xiaomi runs on MIUI (or HyperOS for new models), and fakes often use:

• 🤖 Cut-down versions of Android without a branded shell.
• 📱 Firmware from other brands (such as Samsung One) UI ColorOS with Xiaomi logo on top).
• 💻 Castomic assemblies with viruses (for example, firmware) MTK For the MediaTek processors, where instead of MIUI A launcher from a third-party developer is installed).

How to check firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About → MIUI version. The original will have the current version (e.g. MIUI Global 14.0.5 or HyperOS 1.0.3.0).
2. Run Settings → Apps → All apps and find System Apps. The original has more than 50, the fake has less than 30.
3. Try updating your firmware through Settings → System Update. If you get an error or offer to download a file from a questionable site, it is a fake.

🔍 Secret Test: Type the word "hidden" into your settings search. The original Xiaomi will have a Hidden Settings menu (like display or sensor tests.

5. Iron test: how to check components indiscriminately

Fakes are often equipped with cheap analogues of processors, memory or batteries, and you can check the "stuffing" without opening the case:

• 📊 Processor: Install the application CPU-Z And compare the chip model to the official specs, like if the vendor claims it's Xiaomi. 13T Dimensity 8200-Ultra, CPU-Z mapped G99 — It's a trick.
• 🔋 Battery: Enter the code ##4636## in the engineering menu, select Battery Information. The original has the same capacity (e.g., 5,000 mAh), a fake can be 3,000-4000 mAh.
• 📱 RAM: B CPU-Z Check the "Memory" section if the Redmi Note 13 Pro must have 8GB LPDDR5, a is displayed 4 GB LPDDR4X — it's a fake.
• 🎮 Performance: Run the test in AnTuTu Benchmark. Compare the result with reference values for the model (e.g, POCO F5 shoulder ~500,000 points. If the difference is greater than 30 percent, the iron is not original.

⚠️ Attention: One of the most dangerous deceptions is a fake for Xiaomi with a Snapdragon processor, where MediaTek Helio is actually installed with a stitched Qualcomm logo. CPU-Z or AIDA64 — In the phone settings, the chip will be listed as Snapdragon.

6. Check through official Xiaomi services

If you buy a phone from an official Xiaomi store or an authorized seller (for example, Svyaznoy, M. Video, Wildberries marked "Original"), the risk of running into a fake is minimal.

• 🌍 Official website: mi.com/global/verify — enter IMEI serial number.
• 📱 Mi Verify app: Download it from Google Play and scan it QR-box-code.
• 📞 Xiaomi Hotline: Call the Number 8 800 775-66-64 (for Russia and name IMEI — The operator will confirm the originality.

🔍 If the phone is already activated, but the Xiaomi site shows the status “Not found”, this may mean:

• The device is not official (brought by the "gray" way).
• IMEI is forged (found in clones of Redmi 12 or POCO M6).
• The phone is stolen (IMEI blocked by the operator).

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If a seller refuses to provide an IMEI for verification or asks for money "for originality verification" - it is 100% a scammer. the original Xiaomi is checked for free through official channels.

7.Where to Buy Xiaomi Safe: Checklist of Reliable Sources

Even if you're armed with all the knowledge, you'd better start by choosing safe sites.

💡 Advice: If you buy on the marketplace, pay attention to:

• 🏷️ Availability of the mark "Original product" or "Producer's warranty».
• 📦 Photos of real goods (not stock pictures from the Internet).
• ⭐ Seller rating (should be at least 4.8 with the number of reviews) > 100).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s originality check