Why is it important to check your Xiaomi TVs for originality?
Xiaomi TVs have gained popularity thanks to a combination of high technology and affordable prices. However, growing demand is fueling a wave of fakes, from low-quality copies to re-labeled devices from other brands. According to Roskoshestvo, up to 12% of Mi TVs in the Russian market in 2023 were counterfeit.
Buyers who choose to use online marketplaces (Wildberries, Ozon, AliExpress) or handheld are especially at risk. Fraudsters often pass off the Xiaomi Mi TV 4A/4S/5A to cross-stitched TVs from unknown Chinese manufacturers using the original packaging. In this article, 7 proven verification methods to help avoid fraud.
Importantly, even if the seller provided all the documents, this is not a guarantee of originality, for example, in 2022 in Moscow a batch of fake Mi TV Q1E with fake warranty coupons was discovered, so the check should be carried out regardless of the source of purchase.
Verification of packaging and configuration
Xiaomi's original box is the first indicator of authenticity. Counterfeiting often saves on packaging materials, so pay attention to:
- 📦 Print quality: on the original box, the Mi logo is clear, blurry, and fonts are not "stepped" (artifacts of raster), counterfeits are often sinned with pale colors and inaccurate color reproduction.
- 🔍 Serial number on the box and TV: must match the number on the sticker on the back of the TV. On fakes, these numbers often don't match or the sticker easily unstick.
- 📄 Documentation: the kit must be an instruction in Russian (for official deliveries to Russia), a warranty card with the dealer's seal and a check indicating the model.
- 🔌 Cables and remote: Xiaomi's original remote has a matte coating, and the cables are branded with a logo.
Compare the packaging to official photos on mi.com.For example, the Mi TV Q2 55 box has a black-and-orange design with a holographic sticker, and fakes often copy only the color scheme, ignoring the details.
Example of the original and fake Xiaomi box
The picture on the left is the original Mi TV A2 43 box with a clear seal and a holographic sticker, a fake with a blurred logo and no security features, and note the font in the serial number: the original one is flat, the fake one has serrated.
⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters sometimes use original boxes from other Xiaomi models (such as the Mi Box box for the TV).Always check the model on the box with the model on the back of the TV.
2. Verification of the serial number (IMEI/SN)
The serial number (SN) is the main identifier of the original device, and on Xiaomi TVs it is indicated:
- On the sticker on the back panel (under the counter or at the bottom of the case).
- In the TV menu: Settings → About TV → Status.
- On the box (should match the TV number!).
To verify the authenticity:
- Copy the serial number from the TV.
- Go to the official checkout site mi.com/global/verify.
- Enter the number in the Serial Number field and press Verify.
The system will show the device model, the date of production and warranty status. If you have an Invalid Serial Number error or the model doesn't match, you're looking at a fake. For example, the serial number of the original Mi TV P1 65" starts with L3211, and forgeries, there are often random combinations like XM98765.
☑️ Checking the serial number
0
Copy SN from a sticker on TV|Contrast SN on the box and in the menu|Check SN on mi.com|Confirm that the model matches
⚠️ Warning: Some fakes mimic Xiaomi's verification site by showing false data.Always make sure the site address starts with https://www.mi.com And it has a green lock in the address bar.
3. Analysis of firmware and software
The original Xiaomi TVs run on the proprietary shell of MIUI TV (for models up to 2021) or Google TV (for new series, for example, Mi TV Q2). Fakes often use stripped-down versions of Android TV without Xiaomi's signature chips.
How to check firmware:
- Go to the settings → About TV → The version of the software.
- The original firmware should contain: 📱 Name of the model, for example, MIBOX4 for the Mi Box or L55M6-6ARU for Mi TV 5A). 🔄 Version MIUI TV Google TV (for example, MIUI TV 3.0.1). 📅 Date of assembly (must be no older) 1–2 years).
Settings → Updating the system
Xiaomi
On fake TVs, the following signs are often found:
- 🚫 There is no Mi Account section in the settings.
- 🚫 There are no special apps on the menu (Mi Home, Mi Remote).
- 🚫 Android version is outdated (for example, Android 7.0 on the 2022 model).
💡
If the TV asks for a password to log into the engineering menu by code ##3646633##, it is a sure sign of a fake - the original Mi TVs do not have such a menu.
4. External differences: body, ports, logo
Xiaomi’s original TVs are designed to the smallest detail, and fakes often save on materials.
| Detail | Original | Fake. |
|---|---|---|
| Mi logo | The stainless, stainless, is not stained by the stain. | A glossy or sticker, can peel off |
| Back panel. | Smooth, without gaps, with laser engraving of the serial number | Uneven stitches, serial number printed on sticker |
| HDMI/USB ports | Symmetrically located, with branded | They can be crooked without inscriptions. |
| Stand-up | Metal or durable plastic, with angle adjustment | Plastics that are flimsy, without the ability to adjust |
Pay special attention to the connectors: on the original models of the Mi TV 5 Pro and the newer HDMI 2.1 ports have a gold color of contacts, and for fakes – a regular silver. Also check for Optical Audio Out (optical output), it is often absent in copies.
If the TV is positioned as QLED (Like Mi. TV Q1E), But there's no characteristic metal grille on the back to cool the matrix, which is a fake. QLED-The models have active cooling due to high brightness.
Verification through official annexes
Xiaomi has developed several tools for verifying the technology, the most reliable ones:
- 📱 Mi Home: Install Mi Home from Google Play or App Store. Sign up for Mi Account (required!). Connect your TV to the same Wi-Fi network as your smartphone. → Television.
If the TV is original, it will show up in the list of available devices, forgeries are not detected or an error is given to Unsupported device.
Xiaomi Cloud
Go to i.mi.com, log in and check the list of attached devices.The original TV will show up with the correct model and serial number.
Important: Some fakes simulate a connection to the Mi Home, but they don't sync the data to the cloud. To check this, try changing the settings of the TV through the app (for example, brightness). If the changes don't apply, the device is unoriginal.
⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters may offer to “activate” the TV through third-party programs like Mi PC Never install software from unverified sources – this can lead to data theft or locking the device.
6.Imaging and sound quality test
Xiaomi's original TVs come with Samsung or LG Display matrices, and fakes come with cheap, low-color panels.
- 🎨 Color Test: Enable Settings Mode → Picture → Image mode → Movies and watch videos with rich colors (for example, a test clip) 4K HDR). The fakes will show: Blurred boundaries between colors (e.g. red and green blend), unnatural skin tones (faces appear yellowish or greenish).
- 🔊 Sound test: Include a track with deep bass (like a speaker test). original Mi TV They have distinct low frequencies thanks to built-in subwoofers (in the Q-series models), and fakes give off a "blowing" or distorted sound.
- 📏 Broken pixel test: Run a matrix test app (e.g. Dead Pixel Test). original TVs should not have broken pixels in the first 6 months of use.
For models with Dolby Vision support (e.g. Mi) TV Q2) Check if the Dolby logo is in the image settings menu. Fakes often mimic this mode, but when you turn on HDR-The content of the picture remains dull.
💡
If the TV is positioned as 4K, but in the settings the maximum resolution is 1920×1080, it is a complete fake. The original Mi TV supports 3840×2160 even in budget series.
7.A check at the official dealer
If you still doubt it, the most reliable way is to contact an authorized service center Xiaomi.
- Xiaomi Service Russia (official website: mi.com/ru/service).
- Service centers of partners: Eldorado, M. Video, Svyaznoy (check the availability of a license for repairing Xiaomi).