How to distinguish the original Xiaomi smartphone from a fake: the full guide 2026

Why Xiaomi Authentication Is a Critical Step Before Buying

Xiaomi has been leading the smartphone market for many years thanks to a combination of advanced technology and affordable prices. However, this popularity has the opposite side: fakes under the Mi, Redmi and POCO brand are increasingly common, and their quality is growing every year. While in 2018-2020 copies were given low-quality materials and gross firmware errors, today fraudsters clone even flagship models like Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi K70 Pro to the smallest detail.

According to analysts, up to 15-20% of Xiaomi smartphones in the secondary market (Avito, Yula, OLX) and up to 5-8 percent in informal online stores are fake or “gray” devices with swapped components, while the risks of buying a counterfeit gadget go beyond losing money: non-original batteries can explode, and fake software often contains spyware. In this article, we will analyze 7 reliable methods of verification that work for all models of 2020-2026, including budget Redmi Note and premium Xiaomi MIX.

Important: Even if the seller presents a check or a warranty card, it does not guarantee authenticity, fraudsters have learned to forge documents, so the verification must be carried out regardless of the source of purchase, whether it is a formal store, a marketplace or a hand.

1. IMEI verification: the main authentication identifier

The International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) is a unique 15-digit code that is assigned to every smartphone in the factory. Xiaomi has it in three places: on the box, under the battery (for models with a removable lid), and in the system settings. If even one of the IMEIs does not match, you have 100% fake.

How to check:

• 📱 On the phone: enter the code *#06# in the phone application - the screen will appear IMEI (two IMEI dual-SIM models).
• 📦 On the box: find a sticker with a barcode — IMEI subscript "IMEI1: XXXXXXXXXXXXX".
• 🔧 In Settings: Go to Settings → The phone. → General information → Status IMEI.

After receiving the IMEI, check it through the official services:

1. Official website of Mi Verify (works for models 2021-2026).
2. IMEI.info service will show the model, year of release and the country of manufacture.
3. The database of stolen GSMA phones (if the device is blacklisted, it could be reflashed).

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If you type *#06# in the phone shows IMEI in the format "000000000000000000" or gives an error - it is a complete fake. The original Xiaomi always displays the correct code.

⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters have learned to fake IMEI If all three codes match, but the phone is suspicious (e.g., not updated), go to the following check methods.

Packaging and configuration analysis: 10 signs of counterfeiting

Xiaomi packaging is a separate item of attention when inspected, and the original boxes are made of thick, matte-coated cardboard, have clear seams and special protective holograms.

Pay special attention to the power supply. Xiaomi's original chargers have:

• 🔌 The labeling of "Made in China" (not "Made in China") PRS"!).
• 📏 Exact dimensions: 43×43×25 mm 18W, 50×50×28 mm 33W/67W.
• 🔍 Laser engraving of serial number (not a sticker!).

3. Firmware and system menu check: hidden tags of the original

The firmware is the most vulnerable place for counterfeits, and even if the phone looks like Xiaomi, it often gives out counterfeit software. MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Compare the build number with the official data on the MIUI Downloads website.
3. Note the build date – it should be no older than 1-2 months for new models.

Check out the hidden engineering menus:

• 🔧 Type ##4636## in the phone app, and the Testing menu should open, either not available in fakes or in Chinese.
• 📡 Type ##225## and the calibration menu will open. The original Xiaomi has a "Hardware info" tab with detailed information about the hardware.

Another reliable way is to check through Fastboot:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Down + Power before the Fastboot logo appears.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command: fastboot getvar product The original Xiaomi will return the model in product: [model] format (e.g. product: umi for Mi 11).

4.External inspection: details that give out a fake

Even the best-quality Xiaomi copies are different from the original. Take a magnifier or a macro shot on another phone and check:

• 📱 Mi logo: Originally, it's convex, with clear edges. Counterfeiting often has a flat or blurred logo.
• 🔍 Camera: The original Redmi Note 12 and newer cameras have sapphire glass with a bluish tint.
• 🎨 Color of the case: Original colors (like "Midnight Black" or "Moonlight White") have depth and shimmering. Fakes look flat.
• 🔧 Fixed screws: In the original Xiaomi used screws with a five-pointed star (Torx) T3). In fakes - cross or flat.

Pay special attention to the display:

• Check the refresh rate in Settings → Display → Update Frequency. The original POCO F5 or Redmi K60 should have 120Hz (fakes often have 60Hz).
• Run a pixel-beat test. AMOLED-Xiaomi screens don’t have broken pixels from the factory.

5. Check through official Xiaomi services

Xiaomi provides several authentication tools, but they don't work for all regions. Here are the ones for 2026:

1. Mi Verify (global): Link. Enter IMEI or serial number. Works for phones sold through official channels (Mi Store, authorized resellers).
2. Mi Account: If the phone is new, try linking it to your Mi Account. Counterfeiting often gives you a “Device not supported” error.
3. Service center: On the Mi Service website you can find the nearest center and request a serial number check.

Importantly, Xiaomi services don’t always recognize “gray” phones (brought from China unofficially), but they will definitely detect gross fakes.

• 📦 "Grey import – phone from China not intended for your region.
• 🔄 Re-stitched machine - original iron with fake software.
• 🔧 Made from original spare parts (so-called Frankensteins").

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If the phone doesn't pass the Mi Verify test, but the IMEI matches the box and the settings, it could be a "grey" import, which is devoid of global warranty, but often works stably.

6. Performance and iron testing

Counterfeit products are often equipped with weak iron, which does not pull the declared characteristics.

1. AnTuTu Benchmark: Run the test. Compare the result to the official model data on AnTuTu. A difference of more than 15% is a sign of fake.
2. CPU Throttling Test: Check if performance is reduced when heated. The original Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (in Xiaomi 13T Pro) keeps the frequency stable, and in fakes it sags by 30-50%.
3. AIDA64: Check the processor model, the amount of RAM and the type of memory. Fakes often say MT67xx instead of Snapdragon or Dimensity.

Also note:

• 🔋 Charging time: Original Xiaomi with support 120W HyperCharge (like Redmi Note 12 Turbo) charge to 100% in 19 to 25 minutes.Fakes rarely show speeds higher 18W.
• 📡 Wi-Fi speed: Use Speedtest next to router: Original Xiaomi with Wi-Fi 6 shows 800+ Mbit / s, fakes - no more than 300 Mbit / s.

⚠️ Attention: Some fakes mimic high benchmark performance by cheating software. Always combine tests with validation. IMEI and externally.

7. Check through the store: how not to run into a fake when buying

If you are not buying Xiaomi from an official store, follow these rules:

• 🛒 Check the reputation of the seller: On marketplaces (Wildberries, Ozon) see reviews from the last month.
• 📄 Require documents: The original phone must have a warranty card with the stamp of the official dealer and a check indicating the model.
• 🎥 Record the unpacking: Ask the seller to shoot a video with IMEI, It's a serial number and an external inspection, and it'll help you get your money back if you find a fake.
• 💳 Use secure payment methods: Avoid card transfers – better pay through secure systems (Yandex.Money, PayPal).

If you buy by hand:

• Meet in a crowded place (for example, in the communication salon).
• Check your phone before transferring money.
• Use the Avito Secure Deal or similar services.

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If the seller refuses to provide IMEI before the purchase or rushes to pay, this is a sure sign of fraud.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi vetting