Owning a smartphone from a popular Chinese manufacturer often puts users in the face of the question of identifying a particular device. Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO ranges of hundreds of models that can be almost indistinguishable from each other, but have radically different internal content. Understanding how to know which Xiaomi is in your hands is necessary not only when buying accessories, but also to find the right drivers, firmware or estimate the cost of a gadget in the secondary market.
To make matters worse, the marketing names that appear on store windows are often different from the technical codes used in system files and flashing. For example, the popular Redmi Note 10 Pro in the global version and the Chinese counterpart can have different code names, which is critical when choosing software. A mistake in determining a model can lead to an incompatible MIUI or HyperOS build, which repairs the device with a brick.
In this article, we will discuss all available methods for accurately identifying your smartphone. We will look at both software methods through the settings menu, and deeper methods using engineering codes and verifying the unique IMEI identifier.
Verification of information in system settings
The most obvious and accessible way to learn a device model is to look at the operating system settings menu. However, the MIUI and HyperOS interfaces have their own features, and model information can be hidden behind additional clicks. The standard path is usually to open the Settings app, scroll down the list and select About, and that's where the basic system information is displayed.
At the top of the screen, you'll see a large smartphone image and a marketing name, like "Xiaomi 13T" or "Redmi Note 12." However, for a technically literate user, another line that is often hidden by default is more important. To see it, you need to find a line with the model name (for example, "23049PCD8G") and quickly click on it several times in a row, this action activates a hidden menu or simply displays the full technical name that is used in the system logs.
Notice the difference between "Device Name" and "Model." The device name is how other gadgets see the phone when connected to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and the user can change it to any other, like "Vasi's phone." The model is a factory alphanumeric code that can't be changed, and that's the key to finding firmware and parts.
Why is the marketing name different from the model code?
Marketing name (e.g. Redmi Note 12) 4G) Created by the marketing department for convenience of sales, 22101316UG) — This is a technical identifier that encrypts the region of release, the type of communication and the hardware version. The sequence of letters at the end of the code often indicates the region: G - Global, I - India, C - China.> It's also important to check the firmware version that appears in the same menu. MIUI The HyperOS version not only tells you the build number, but also the type of version installed (CN, Global, EEA, RU). This is critical, as the firmware for the Chinese region (CN) It's going to be different from global (Global) by having Google services and language support. If you only see Chinese and English, you probably have a Chinese version of the device. Use of the engineering menu and USSD-If access to the settings menu is limited or the device is not working properly, special service codes come to the rescue. CIT (Customer Integration Test, which is designed for factory hardware testing. To get into it, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##64663#. Once you enter the last star, the menu will open automatically, without having to press the call button. Inside the engineering menu CIT This is a detailed table of all the components of the device, and you can see not only the model, but also the driver versions, the status of the sensors, the battery and the screen. Find Version or Hardware Info, where the exact code of the model will be specified, which coincides with the technical name in the settings. This method works even on a locked screen if you have access to an emergency call. 📱 Basic information: displays a codename for the project, such as "diting" or "fuxi", which is used by firmware developers. 🔋 Battery status: shows real capacity, number of charge cycles and temperature, which is useful in assessing wear. 📶 Network modules: displays IMEI each SIM-maps MAC-address Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module. 🖥️ Display: Specifies the matrix manufacturer (Samsung, TCL, Huaxing, which is important for understanding screen quality. ⚠️ Warning: Be very careful when you're on the engineering menu, don't change the settings marked "Factory" or "Test" or run tests that you're not sure how to do. Some tests (such as a vibration test or a screen test) can drain the battery or put a strain on the components. Another useful code for quick check-up — *#06#. It displays basic identification data: IMEI, serial number (S/N) and, in some cases, model code. The serial number is especially important because it is often used to check the date of activation of the device and the remainder of the warranty on the official website. Write this data down or take a screenshot for safety. Packaging and documentation analysis When the smartphone is turned off, broken or simply unavailable, the only source of truth is the original packaging. The box from Xiaomi contains a sticker with a technical specification that never lies, unlike the dealers in the secondary market. This one on the sticker, which is usually located on the first line of the code, and the code from the first line of the code, which is the white one, which is usually on the first line of the code, and the product, which is written on the first line of the label. The P/N (Part Number) number that helps identify the region of issue is usually listed next to the P/N (Part Number), and the IMEI and S/N (serial number) numbers are necessarily present here, and the matching of these numbers with those on the case (if any) and in the system ensures that the box is native. Particular attention should be paid to the marking of the region. Boxes for different markets may have different logos and inscriptions. For example, versions for India often have the "Made in India" logo and specific BIS certification marks. European versions are marked with the CE. Chinese version (" China Version") may not have a logo on the Android code ("Specified as a box, where these devices are used in Google). 22101320G) Sticker on the box, under the battery (rarely), in settings S/N Serial number, unique for each instance Sticker on the box, in the menu "About the phone" IMEI International Mobile Equipment Identifier Sticker, under SIM-squat (engraved), in the system P/N Partion number, indicates production version of the Sticker on the box If the box is lost, inspect the smartphone itself. On some models (especially older or versions for certain markets), model information can be printed in fine print on the back cover. SIM-maps often engraved IMEI. Although this does not always correspond to the model directly, the first 8 figure IMEI (TAC-code) can be accurately defined model of the device through online databases. ☑️ Box authenticationTicker not overgluedFrints clear and even Codes on the box match the codes in the menuAvailability of holograms (for some regions)Quality of cardboard without defects: 0 / 5 Online check-up IMEI The most reliable way to find out not only the model, but also the history of the device is to check the manufacturer's database or global databases. IMEI. Unique fifteen-digit code IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity is assigned to each communication module during production, and knowing it gives you a comprehensive information about what the factory designed the device to be, and Xiaomi's official website provides a service to verify warranty and authenticity status. Go to the service page, enter the code IMEI or S/N The system will give the exact model name, warranty expiration date and activation status. If the system writes "Invalid" IMEI" Or it gives you a different model than the one in the settings, either a fake or a machine with a modified software part (a Chinese person being re-flashed to the global), and there are third-party resources, like imei.info or sndeep.info, that aggregate data from carriers and manufacturers. They let you know: 🌍 Region of release: country for which the device was originally intended. 📅 Production Date: When the gadget came off the conveyor. 🛠️ Repair status: was the device listed in the official service. 🚫 Locks: Is the phone blacklisted (relevant in the US and Europe). ⚠️ Note: Be careful when entering IMEI Use only proven resources or the official website of the manufacturer. IMEI — It's the key to your device, and theoretically, cloning it could create network access problems. A special case is the devices purchased on Chinese marketplaces (AliExpress, JD) It's labeled "Global Version." Often, vendors refashion Chinese versions (CN) Global, changing the language package. IMEI In this case, it will show that the device was originally Chinese. That doesn't mean the phone is bad, but you should know that the official phone is Chinese. OTA-updates may come with a delay or not at all, and there may be problems with the operation of banking applications (NFC Definition of the model through a computer and ADB For advanced users who plan to unlock the bootloader or install custom firmware, the most accurate method is to connect to a computer. ADB (Android Debug Bridge allows you to access system properties of the device that are hidden from the average user. This method is indispensable when the phone screen is broken, but the touchscreen is partially working, or when the device is stuck on the logo. To start, you need to turn on the debugging mode via USB. Go to Settings → About the phone and press 7 times in a row on the MIUI version until the message “You became a developer” appears. Then in advanced settings, activate the debugging switch over USB. Connect the phone to the PC with a cable and install the Xiaomi USB Driver drivers. Open the command line on the computer and enter the following command to get the full information about the model: adproprop this technically return the code. To get a codename that is used on developer forums (e.g., 4PDA or XDA), use the command: adb shell getprop ro.product.device You can also get a list of all device properties by the adb shell getprop command, but the output will be very voluminous. Look for lines starting with ro.product. Computer diagnostics allows you to see even those parameters that are hidden in the damaged system, which makes this method the "last hope" for identification. Visual differences and design features Sometimes software methods are not available, and Xiaomi often uses the same design for different models, for the first time, for example, the "Readmi camera layouts can tell me a lot of the first generation". An important marker is the presence or absence of a 3.5 mm mini-Jack connector. flagship Xiaomi models (Mi series and series) have been deprived of this connector for several years, while budget Redmi and the other models are not. POCO M-series often retain it. Also note the material of the case: glass and metal are typical of older models, plastic is for public sector employees, although modern technology allows you to make plastic indistinguishable from glass. SIM-In old models and some public sector tray combined (SIM + SIM + microSD, in the newer ones – hybrid (SIM + SIM or SIM + microSD), and flagships often only use two SIM-The shape of the paper clip to extract the tray can also tell you the class of the device, although this is a rare sign. 🔌 Charging port: availability USB 2.0 (the plate inside is symmetrical; or USB 3.0/3.1 (often blue, faster data transfers are characteristic of flagships. 📸 Flash: The location of the LED flash relative to the camera lenses is unique for each model. 🔊 Speakers: The presence of a second conversational speaker (stereo sound) usually indicates a middle- or high-end model. 👆 Fingerprint scanner: Built into the on button (side) or is on the back; in some models it is subscreen (optical or ultrasonic). ⚠️ Warning: Don't rely solely on the look and feel of a used device. Cases for popular models like the Redmi Note are cheap, and unscrupulous sellers can move internals from a cheap phone to a flagship. Always check. IMEI System characteristics. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) How to distinguish the global version of Xiaomi from the Chinese? Global version (Global) has the letter G at the end of the model code (for example,...G), supports many languages (including Russian) out of the box, has pre-installed Google services and a wide range of frequencies. LTE (Band 20) Chinese version (CN) It has a C code, often does not have a Band 20 (important for the 4G In Europe and Russia, you may not have Russian on the menu and require manual installation of Google services. What to do if the model in the settings does not match the box? The discrepancy of the model in the program menu and on the box is a worrying sign. This could mean that the phone has been repaired with a replacement motherboard, or (more often) it is a re-imbroidered Chinese version that is sold as a global one. IMEI Xiaomi's official website. Can you find out the model of the phone if it doesn't turn on. Look at the sticker on the original box, check the engraving on the tray SIM-map (IMEI) or go to the menu. CIT (If the screen responds to touch, using code ##64663##, the model is often shown in small print on the back of the device. Why do you need a codename for a device? The code name (e.g., "vayu", "alioth", "fuxi") is the internal identifier used by firmware developers. It is necessary to find the right drivers, cores (kernels), recovery (TWRP) custom ROM Marketing titles are too long and change frequently, and the code name remains the same for the entire hardware line. IMEI, if the sticker is worn? If the case sticker is erased, the IMEI can be found in the phone menu (typing *#06#), in the Google account (Security section -> Your devices), in the purchase receipt or in the personal account of your mobile operator where this number was registered.