Buying the original Xiaomi smartphone is a challenge today, with counterfeits littered with fakes that are almost indistinguishable from real devices. According to Counterpoint Research, up to 15% of Xiaomi smartphones in Russia and the CIS are counterfeit or “gray” deliveries with modified firmware, and scammers manage to copy not only budget models like the Redmi Note 12, but also the flagships of the Xiaomi 14 series.
The problem is that counterfeits often sell at prices that are only 10-20% lower than the original — and customers are snooping on the “beneficial offer.” Meanwhile, such a device can be not only substandard, but also dangerous, from lack of certification to explosive batteries. In this article, 7 proven ways to distinguish the original Xiaomi from a clone, including hidden tags that only service centers know.
1. IMEI verification: the main identifier of the original
Code. IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity is a unique 15-digit number that is assigned to your smartphone in the factory, and the original Xiaomi devices have it registered in three places: on the box, under the battery (or on the tray). SIM-and in the firmware, if at least one of the sources IMEI It doesn’t match up, you’re 100% fake.
How to check:
- 📱 On the phone: dial *#06# - a window will appear with IMEI. Compare it to the code on the box and under the battery.
- 🔍 On Xiaomi’s website: go to the official checkout page and type in IMEI. The system will show the model, date of production and status of the guarantee.
- 🛠️ Using Engineering Mode: Enter ##4636##, select Phone Information and check IMEI there.
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If the IMEI on the box is rubbed or overstuffed, it's a sure sign of a fake.The original Xiaomi boxes have laminated stickers that can't be neatly removed.
⚠️ The scammers have learned to fake even IMEI! If the code matches all sources, but the phone behaves suspiciously (for example, does not update or warms), check it through the service. SND Deep Info will show the real model of the board.
2. Packaging analysis: 5 parts that you can't copy
The box of the original Xiaomi is a standalone piece of art with a lot of security features, often with poor print, crooked seams, or no holographic stickers, and note these points:
| Sign. | Original | Fake. |
|---|---|---|
| Box material | Dense cardboard with matte lamination, does not bend. | Thin cardboard, can shine through |
| Barcode | Clear, with microtext (numbers are visible when magnified) | Blurred, no microtext |
| Hologram | 3D-effect, changes color when tilted, with the Mi logo | Flat sticker or missing |
| Serial number. | Sticker with QR-code that leads to the Xiaomi website | A simple sticker or number is painted |
| Complementation | Cable, power supply and documentation in branded packaging | Cheap cable without logo, instructions on bad paper |
🔎 Secret test: Hold the box to a bright light.The original Xiaomi packaging has watermarks with the brand logo that are visible to the light.
External inspection: what gives the clone in 30 seconds
Even if the packaging is perfect, the smartphone itself can produce a fake at first sight.
- 📏 Thickness and weight: The original Xiaomis have strict standards. e.g. Redmi Note 13 Pro+ flat-weight 204.5 Fakes are often easier to counterfeit. 10-20 d because of cheap materials.
- 🔍 Camera: The original camera lenses do not protrude beyond the body by more than 1 mm. Clones often have lenses sticking out or no infrared sensor.
- 🎨 Body color: Xiaomi's original colors (like Midnight Black or Ice Blue) have depth and shimmering.
- 🔊 Speakers: The original has two speakers (upper and lower) with clear stereo sound. Clones often have a single speaker or hoarse sound.
⚠️ Warning: Scammers have learned to copy even the branded texture of the Xiaomi body (for example, matte glass from Xiaomi) 13T). But they never copy microscopic logos under the top camera - consider them under a magnifying glass!
☑️ Quick look checks
4. Firmware and software check: what the system hides
The most reliable way to find a fake is to look at the software part. Xiaomi's original smartphones run on MIUI with a digital signature that cannot be forged.
- MIUI version: Go to Settings → About the phone. The original firmware is MIUI 14.0.5.0.TMCRUXM (where TM is the model code, RU is the region). Clones often have Android Go or custom firmware with errors.
- Service codes: Type ##225##, the calibration menu should open. For fakes, this code doesn't work.
- Official apps: The original has Mi Store, Mi Community, Mi Remote preinstalled, and fakes often have Chinese apps or viruses.
🛠️ Advanced Test: Install the App AIDA64 And check the Android section. The original Xiaomi will have Xiaomi in the Brand field, and the Model will have the exact name (e.g., the exact name, 2304FPN6CG For the Redmi Note 12 Pro+). Clones often write Generic or the name of another model.
What to do if the firmware is fake?
5 Hidden Labels: What Only Service Centers Know
Xiaomi has a few hidden tags that even experienced users don’t know about, and they are only checked in official service centers, but you can do it yourself:
- 🔑 Code under the battery: Under the battery (or on the tray) SIM-cards) have a 20-digit code starting with SN:. The first 6 digits are the date of production (year/week, SN: 2335... represents the 35th week of 2023.
- 📡 RF-Label: The motherboard of the original devices has a small sticker with the inscription RF Exposure and QR-The clones don't have it.
- 🔋 Battery marking: The original Xiaomi battery has a holographic sticker with the Mi logo and code matching the original IMEI. Fakes have a simple sticker or none at all.
⚠️ Warning: If you're disassembling a phone to check tags, do it carefully! Breaking the seals on the battery or case can deprive you of warranty.
6. Check through official Xiaomi services
Xiaomi provides several official ways to verify originality, and here are the most reliable ones:
- Check.mi.com: Go to check.mi.com, enter IMEI, serial number or code from the box, and the system will show the model, date of manufacture and warranty status.
- Mi Check app: Download Mi Check from Google Play. QR-box code or enter IMEI. The app will show if the original device.
- Supported Chat: Write to Xiaomi’s official chat (on the site or in Mi Community) and send IMEI photos from the box and phone.
📌 Important: If your website or app does not recognize your IMEI, It doesn't always mean that the phone is fake, it's probably a "gray" import from another region, in which case, check the device through imei.info, and the service will show the real model.
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Even if all the checks are passed, but the price of the phone is suspiciously low (30 percent or more below the market) - this is a reason to doubt the originality. Xiaomi rarely makes discounts more than 20 percent even at sales.
7. Checking in the service center: when nothing helps
If you have checked all of the above, but there are doubts, contact the official Xiaomi service center. They have access to the company's database and can:
- 🔧 Check the serial number in a closed system.
- 🔍 Examine the device for hidden tags.
- 📱 Switching the phone to the official MIUI (if possible).
💡 Tip: Before you go to the service center, back up your data. When checking the originality, specialists can reset the phone to the factory settings.
⚠️ Attention: Don't go to informal workshops! Fraudsters can "confirm" the originality of the fake for a monetary reward.A list of official Xiaomi service centers can be found on the website mi.com/global/service.