How to Calculate the Genuine Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Verifying Devices

Are you going to buy a smartphone, a smartwatch or a Xiaomi router, but you doubt the authenticity of the device? According to official statistics, up to 15% of the brand’s equipment in the secondary market are counterfeit. Counterfeit not only work worse, but can pose a security threat from data leaks to battery fire. In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods of verification, including hidden MIUI functions, firmware analysis and online Xiaomi services, which only experienced users know about.

It's important to understand that fraudsters are constantly improving fakes. While the fake Redmi or POCO used to produce poor builds and logos with typos, today copies may not look different from the original. However, even the most advanced replicas leave digital traces, which we will learn to identify. The methods in this article work for all Xiaomi devices released after 2018 (earlier models are checked using a simplified scheme).

1. Checking serial number and IMEI through official services

The most reliable way to calculate the original Xiaomi is to match the serial number (S/N) and IMEI with the manufacturer’s database, which is unique to each device and duplicated in three places: on the box, under the battery (for removable batteries), and in the system settings. Fraudsters often fake stickers on the package, but forget to sew fake IMEIs into the system.

To check:

1. Find IMEI on the box or in the Settings menu → About the phone → General information.
2. Go to the official site of the check (works for all regions).
3. Enter IMEI or S/N in the field and click Submit.

⚠️ Note: If the site shows an Invalid error IMEI or the data doesn't match the data on the box -- you're 100 percent fake. IMEI The box and the phone settings matched to the last character. The original Xiaomi devices never have a single character. IMEI, starting with 0000 or 1111.

Packaging analysis: 5 signs of counterfeiting

The packaging of Xiaomi's original devices has more than 20 security elements, but we'll highlight the key ones that can be checked without special equipment.Swindlers pay attention to the appearance of the box, but often miss details:

• 📦 Barcode: On the original packaging, it is clearly printed and scanned by any application (e.g. Barcode Scanner) and for counterfeits, the barcode is often blurred or leads to a non-existent page.
• 🖼️ Hologram: The sticker with the Mi logo on the original changes color when tilted (effect) 3D-Kinegram). Fake holograms are static or absent.
• 🔍 Serial number: There should be a laser at the bottom of the box S/N (It's not a sticker! You can feel it with your finger -- fakes just have it printed.
• 📄 Documentation: The original box always has a booklet in the language of the country of sale (Russian instruction for Russia.
• 🔋 Charger: Original Xiaomi power supplies are labeled MDY-XX-XX (where XX — numbers) and weight of at least 40 grams, forgery is easier and unmarked.

⚠️ Warning: Some sellers replace the original packaging with a fake one after opening. Always require a photo of the inside of the box (there should be a seal with a serial number) and check it against the data in the device settings.

3. Check firmware and hidden menus

Even if the device looks like the original Xiaomi, it can be calculated from firmware. Counterfeiting often runs on customized versions of Android with a shell that mimics MIUI.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Click 7 times on the string with the firmware version to activate the developer mode.
3. Go back to Settings → More → For developers and find the Mi Unlock Status item.

The original devices will have Connected or Unlocked status here (if the bootloader is unlocked). For fakes, this item either does not exist or shows Unknown.

• 📱 Device model: C Settings → The phone. → The model should be the exact name (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro).+ 5G, not Note12 Pro).
• 🔧 System kernel: In the same menu, find the kernel version. In the originals, it starts with 4.19.XX or 5.10.XX (new-model).
• 🔒 bootloader: Enter the command in the terminal: fastboot oem device-info The original answer will be Device unlocked: false (if not unlocked).

⚠️ Warning: Some fakes even mimic hidden menus. If you have any doubts, install the official Mi app PC Suite and try to plug in the device. Original smartphones are automatically detected, fake ones are not.

4. Online services for deep verification

If manual methods don't give you a definitive answer, use specialized services that analyze IMEI, firmware data, and even hardware specifications.

For maximum accuracy, use a combination of services. For example, first check the IMEI on IMEI.info, then check the model on Mi Verify, and finally install the CPU-Z to make sure the hardware matches the original. If any service shows a discrepancy, the device is fake.

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If a seller refuses to provide an IMEI or serial number before buying, that's a cause for suspicion.The original Xiaomi devices always have open information to check.

5. Physical differences: what is hidden under the body

Externally, fakes may look identical to the original, but on closer inspection, differences are found:

• 📱 Screen: Original AMOLED-Xiaomi displays have the function Always On Display (represents the time when the screen is off.
• 🔊 Speakers: Original smartphones have stereo speakers (sound from the bottom and top.
• 📷 Camera: The original devices have an inscription AI Camera or Leica (for flagships) is made with laser engraving, fakes have a sticker.
• 🔋 Battery: Original batteries are labeled BYD or ATL Counterfeit products often don't have any markings at all.

To check the camera, take a test photo in the format RAW (available in Pro-Mode original devices) and analyze EXIF-Fakes often don't have Xiaomi tags in metadata.

6. Verification through Mi Account and Cloud Services

All original Xiaomi devices are linked to the Mi Account, which allows you to check their history.

1. Register your account on the official website.
2. Sign in on the verified device via Settings → Accounts → Mi Account.
3. Go to Mi Cloud and find the Devices section.

This will show:

• 📅 Date of first activation (forgeries often missing or current date given).
• 🌍 Country of sale (must coincide with the region of purchase).
• 🔄 Update history (the originals have a record of firmware, the fakes do not).

⚠️ Warning: If your device is already linked to another account, try resetting it to factory settings (Settings) → Additionally. → The original Xiaomi, after reset, will offer to enter the data of the previous account or create a new one. The fakes will either be reset without question or require a non-existent password.

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If the device is not tied to a Mi Account or displayed in the Mi Cloud, it is a guaranteed fake. The original Xiaomi is always synced to the cloud.

7. Verification through engineering menu and equipment tests

For power users, the original Xiaomi devices have unique engineering menus and response to test commands.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. Select Phone Information.

The original devices are displayed here:

• 📡 Full network information (including Band and SIM Status).
• 🔋 Battery data (temperature, voltage, battery health).
• 📱 Sensor information (gyroscope, accelerometer, compass).

For a deep hardware check, install the AIDA64 app and compare the specifications with the official model data on Xiaomi’s website.

• 🔧 Processor: The original Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) core frequency must match the official specifications.
• 📷 Camera: The resolution of the main module must match the stated (for example, 200 MP for Redmi Note 12 Pro)+).
• 🔌 Charging: Maximum charging power (in the original Xiaomi it always corresponds to the passport, for example, 120W flagship).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi vetting