Buying Xiaomi at the price of the original is a nightmare for every buyer. According to Statista 2023, up to 15% of the brand’s smartphones in the secondary market are fake, and in some regions this figure is as high as 30%. Counterfeiting not only works worse, but can also threaten security, from exploding batteries to data leaks through spyware.
We tested 12 Xiaomi originality testing methods (including rare ways for the 2026 Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and POCO F6 models) and only selected those that work 100%. In this article, step-by-step instructions with photos, video examples and comparison tables to help avoid cheating even when buying from hand.
1.IMEI verification: the main marker of the original
Each Xiaomi smartphone has a unique IMEI, a 15-digit code that is verified through official databases. Counterfeiting often uses fake or duplicated IMEIs, which is easy to spot.
How to check:
- 📱 Dial on the phone keyboard *#06# - will appear on the screen IMEI (or two codes for devices with two SIM-map).
- 🌐 Enter the code on the IMEI.info website or the official Xiaomi Verify service.
- 🔍 Verify the data: model, year of issue and country of manufacture must match the information on the box.
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If IMEI starts with 86, it's the Chinese version (it may not support Google Services), and the original global models start with 35 or 36.
⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters sometimes stitch fakes with "clean" ones" IMEI If the data on the site match, but the phone behaves suspiciously (for example, quickly discharges or warms), use additional verification methods.
2.External signs: what gives a fake at first sight
Xiaomi’s original smartphones have clear build standards that are hard for artisanal manufacturers to replicate.
- 🔧 Mi logo: Originally, it's convex, with clear edges and metallic luster. On fakes, it's often flat, blurry or painted.
- 📦 Packaging: The box must be made of dense cardboard with a laminated surface, the seams are glued neatly. At the bottom is a hologram with a serial number (it can be checked on the Xiaomi website).
- 🔌 Charging port: The original Redmi Note 12 and later uses a port USB-C Fakes often save money by installing cheap connectors.
📸 Compare the camera: The original Xiaomi 14 Ultra or POCO X6 The camera's Pro module protrudes smoothly, without gaps, and the glass above the lenses is sapphire (not scratched with a key.
3. Software Verification: MIUI and Hidden Menus
The MIUI's signature shell is a key feature of the original, and fakes often use custom firmware or outdated versions of Android.
How to check the software:
- Go to Settings → About Phone. The original must have the MIUI Global version (e.g. MIUI 14.0.5 Global).
- Check for Google Services: If there is no Play Market or Google Play Protect, it is 100% fake or grey import.
- Enter the code ##4636## → select Phone Information. The original Baseband version will have Qualcomm or MediaTek (depending on the processor).
⚠️ Note: Some fakes are imitating MIUI, But with translation errors or broken features, like fake Redmis, often don't have Game Turbo mode or doesn't work. IR-blaster (infrared port).
☑️ Verification MIUI authentically
Serial number and hologram: how to check them correctly
Each original Xiaomi has two serial numbers: on the box and under the battery (or on the slot). SIM-They must match the cards.
Where to look:
- 📦 On the box: under the barcode or on the side sticker. SN:.
- 📱 On the phone: in Settings → The phone. → General information or under the cover (for models with removable battery).
- 🔍 On a hologram: the sticker on the box or phone should change color when tilted (the effect of the kinegram).
Check the serial number on the official website: https://new.c.mi.com/global/verify. If the site produces an Invalid S/N error, you are a fake.
| Sign. | Original | Fake. |
|---|---|---|
| Serial number. | It matches on the box and on the phone. | Not matched or absent |
| Hologram | Changes color, with microtext. | Ordinary sticker or missing |
| Barcode | Clear, scanned. | Blurred, not scanned. |
| Complementation | Cable, charging, paperclip for SIM | No elements or low quality elements |
5 Performance Test: How a fake gives itself away in a job
Even if the phone looks like the original, the stuffing often leaves much to be desired.
- 🎮 Install Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile at maximum settings. Original Xiaomi with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro) hold 60 FPS The fakes start to slow down or overheat.
- 📸 Camera: Take a photo in Night Mode. Fakes often don't have noise processing, and the pictures are blurred.
- 🔋 Battery: Run the test in the AccuBattery app. Original batteries show capacity ±5% of the claimed (for example, 4900-5100 mAh for Redmi Note 12 Pro)+). Counterfeit products often have a capacity 20-30% lower.
⚠️ Note: Some fakes are equipped with weak processors (for example, Helio). G35 Instead of Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2), but they're specificating the original chips. CPU-Z — The data must be consistent with the official model specifications.
How to check the processor without applications?
6. Check through official Xiaomi services
Xiaomi provides several authentication tools:
- Verification site: https://new.c.mi.com/global/verify – enter IMEI or serial number.
- Mi Verify app: Download it from Play Market and scan it QR-box-code.
- Supported Chat: Write to the official chat with an IMEI photo and serial number, and the answer comes within 24 hours.
📌 Important: If the seller refuses to provide IMEI To check or ask for money for "official examination" is 100% fraud.
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The only reliable way to check is by combining IMEI, serial number and visual inspection. One method may not detect a fake!
7.Where to buy Xiaomi, so as not to run into a fake
Even in official stores, there are cases of deception, but the risks are minimal.
- 🏬 Official stores: Mi Store, Xiaomi Shop in your country. check the list on the Xiaomi website.
- 🛒 Authorized resellers: Amazon (seller "Xiaomi Official"), AliExpress (shop "Mi Global Store"), Wildberries or Ozon marked "Original".
- 🤝 Secondary Market: Checked Only IMEI Use platforms with buyer protection (Avito Protection, Yula Garant).
💰 Price: If a smartphone sells 30 to 50 percent cheaper than the market average, that’s a reason to be wary. For example, the Xiaomi 14 can’t cost 25 000 ₽ in 2026 (the real price is from 60 000) ₽).
8 What to do if you have already bought a fake
If the test showed that your Xiaomi is fake, act on the algorithm:
- Collect evidence: Photo of IMEI, serial number, check, correspondence with the seller.
- Please request a refund of the money, referring to Art. 18 of the Law "On Protection of Consumer Rights" (if the purchase was in Russia).
- Write a complaint: Wildberries/Ozon – through the form “Return the goods”, Avito/Yula – in support of the platform demanding the blocking of the fraudster, to Rospotrebnadzor – if the seller refuses to return the money.
Check for viruses:
Malwarebytes
⚠️ Note: Do not try to re-fake the original MIUI — It could permanently knock the phone out, and it's better to sell it as a Chinese replica (indicating all the flaws) and return some of the money.
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If the fake is externally identical to the original, it can be used as a “spare” phone, but in no case enter the details of bank cards or social media accounts into it.