Xiaomi Mi TVs TV 4A/4S diagonally 104 see (model index) 10400) They are among the most popular on the market due to the ratio of price and quality, but their demand has generated a wave of fakes - from rough copies with low-quality matrix to "gray" devices with re-flashed software. 15% Xiaomi TVs sold through marketplaces have signs of counterfeit products. 5 minutes to identify the counterfeit before the purchase or return the money if the fraud has already been committed.
We analyzed 27 fake models (including clones under the MiTV, XiaoMi, Redmi brands). TV) And we put together a checklist of 12 key differences that you can't fake without the factory equipment:
- 🔍 Visual markers (box, logos, fonts) – what to check in the store;
- 🛠️ Technical tests (firmware, iron, sound) - how to detect a fake after unpacking;
- 📄 Documentary Evidence – Where to Look for Serial Numbers and How to Verify Them;
- 🚨 List of fraudulent schemes – what tricks are used by sellers.
And you'll pay special attention to the firmware and hardware sections, which are where 90 percent of fakes are found, which are indistinguishable from the original, and if you buy a TV with your hands, skip the visual check and go straight to the technical tests.
1.Packaging: 7 parts that are the worst forged
The box is the first and most reliable indicator of counterfeiting. Copymakers save on everything from cardboard quality to print accuracy. TV 4A/4S 10400 has:
- 📦 Matte cardboard with a light texture (fakes glossy or rough);
- 🖨️ Clear fonts without blurring (copies of the letter “Xiaomi” often merge);
- 🔖 Hologram with transfusion effect (on fakes - a regular sticker);
- 📏 Exact dimensions: 1240×780×160 mm (deviation) ±5 mm).
Notice the article and the serial number on the box.
- 🔢 Laser printed (not thermal printed!);
- 📌 Coincides with the number on the TV sticker and in the documents;
- 🔍 You can check on the official Xiaomi website (fakes give the error "Invalid" SN»).
The critical point is that if the box is sealed in a tape with the Xiaomi logo, it's 100% fake. The original TVs are packed without any extra film!
⚠️ Warning: Fraudsters often use real boxes from the original TVs, but put a copy inside!
2.External inspection: 5 details that give out a copy
Even if the box is perfect, look at the TV itself.
| Detail | Original | Fake. |
|---|---|---|
| Mi logo | Metallic, magnetically fastened | Plastic, glued. |
| Control buttons | 3 buttons (power, volume, channels) with tactile response | 2-4 buttons, "soft" or "spoken" |
| Stand-up | Metal, weight ~1.2 kg, 4 screw attachment | Plastic/aluminum, weight <0.8 kilogram, 2 screw |
| HDMI ports | 3 ports (1)×ARC), gold-plated | 2 ports, no ARC, junction |
Pay special attention to the back.
- 🖼️ The serial number sticker has a hologram and QR-code (leads to mi.com page);
- 🔧 Screws with a cross-shaped slime (for fakes - flat or "stars»);
- 📡 Wi-Fi antenna built into the case (copies - external, on the wire).
Weight test: the original Xiaomi 10400 weighs 12.5–13.2 kg (without a stand) and is usually 1.5–2 kg lighter due to the cheap matrix and body.
☑️ Checklist of external inspection
3. Firmware and software: how to identify a “overstitched” fake
The most dangerous fakes are those that are seemingly indistinguishable from the original, but have a swapped firmware.
- 📱 Version. MIUI TV: squirrel MIUI TV 3.0+ (checked in the settings → Fakes often run on Android TV 9.0 without shell;
- 🔄 Updates: The original is updated through Settings → Update system: Fakes give out an error or offer to download APK;
- 🎮 Remote: The original remote connects via Bluetooth (the menu shows as "Mi Remote.
Critical Test: Go to Settings → Resetting and remediation → Reset to factory. Original resets in 2-3 minutes:
- 🐢 Hangs in the discharge phase;
- 🔄 Reboots to “recovery mode” (recavery);
- 🚫 It's a mistake, no command».
If you have already bought a TV, check it out. IMEI (Wi-Fi-based):
- Go to Settings. → On TV. → Status;
- Find the Wi-Fi string MAC Bluetooth MAC;
- Check the address on the site mi.com/verify.
⚠️ Note: Some fakes mimic the interface MIUI TV, but have translation errors (e.g., "Settings" instead of "Settings" or "Exit" instead of "Switch off!
How to check the firmware through ADB
4.Iron: Tests that won't pass forgery
Even if the firmware looks original, the hardware will give you a copy.
📺 Matrix test
- 🔴 Color rendering: turn on Lagom test image LCD. The original shows smooth gradients. The fake is stripes or broken pixels;
- 🔍 Permission: The original has a valid permit 1920×1080 (Full HD). Fakes often pose as fakes. 4K, but when checking through the settings → The display shows 1366×768;
- 🔄 Update frequency: original supports 60Hz. Fakes 50Hz or less (checked in Settings) → Display. → Additionally).
🔊 Sound test
The original Xiaomi 10400 stereodynamic 2×10W Dolby Audio-enabled fakes:
- 🎵 Have a monophonic sound (check the balance in the settings);
- 🔇 The maximum volume is distorted ("hreezing»);
- 🎶 Do not support Dolby (no corresponding item in the sound settings).
🔌 Port test
Connect devices to all ports:
- 📺 HDMI: The original HDMI 2.0 (4K@60Hz). Fakes -- just fakes. HDMI 1.4 (maximum 4K@30Hz or 1080p@60Hz);
- 🖥️ USB: original USB 2.0 (transmission rate) ~35 MB/s) Counterfeiting is often equipped USB 1.1 (~1.5 Mb/s);
- 🌐 Ethernet: Original supports 100 Mbps. Fakes – 10 Mbps or no port at all.
Hidden test: connect to the TV flash drive with a file 4K_HDR.mp4 (downloadable 💡
If the TV has not passed at least one of the hardware tests, it is a fake, even if it looks identical to the original.
5 Documents and serial numbers: how to check legality
The original Xiaomi 10400 comes with a complete set of documents:
- 📄 Warranty card with the stamp of the official dealer (checked on the website Xiaomi Russia);
- 📋 User manual in Russian (fakes often come with a Chinese translation);
- 🏷️ Serial number sticker on the box and TV (must match!).
How to check the serial number (SN):
- Find it. SN on the box and sticker of the TV (format: LX123456789AB);
- Go to the mi.com/verify;
- Enter. SN The original will show the model and the date of production.
Attention to the guarantee:
- 🛡️ The original has a 12-month guarantee (for Russia) or 24-month guarantee (for the EU);
- 🚫 Counterfeiting often comes with a 3-6 month store warranty;
- 🔍 Check the dealer’s seal in the warranty card – it must be embossed (convex).
⚠️ Note: If the seller refuses to provide documents "before payment" or says that "the warranty is issued later" - you are a fraudster. Official Xiaomi dealers always issue documents when buying.
6. Common cheating patterns and how to avoid them
Scammers use several proven schemes to sell a fake:
| Scheme. | Signs. | How to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| "Gray" imports | TV from China without Russification, warranty and certification | Require a certificate of conformity (must be in the documents) |
| "B/U in perfect condition" | The fake is the original with “minimum use” | Check the serial number on the Xiaomi website – it will show the activation date |
| "Official Dealer" | The seller poses as a partner of Xiaomi, but does not have a license | Check the dealer in the list of official partners |
| "Sale" | Price 30-50% below market (e.g. 18,000) ₽ 28,000 ₽) | Compare prices on Yandex.Market - the original can not cost less than the average price |
Top.-3 «Red flags when buying:
- 🚩 The seller asks for payment in cash or by transfer to the card;
- 🚩 There is no check or cash register (even when buying from hand, the seller is obliged to issue a check under 54-FZ);
- 🚩 TV "brought from abroad" without paying fees (this is illegal and means no guarantee).
If you have already bought a fake:
- Take a picture of the TV, box and documents;
- Write a claim to the seller (the sample can be downloaded here);
- If the seller refuses to return the money - file a complaint with Rospotrebnadzor or the marketplace.
💡
If the seller removed the product from the marketplace after the purchase, it is a sign of fraud.
7 What to do if you bought a fake: 3 legal ways to get your money back
If you are a victim of fraud, follow the algorithm:
📝 Method 1: Return under the Consumer Protection Act»
According to Art. 18 of the Russian Federation law, you have the right to return the goods of inadequate quality within 14 days (even if the warranty does not apply).
- Write a claim in 2 copies (give one to the seller, on the second let put a note of receipt);
- Specify the claim: 📌 Date and place of purchase; 💰 Amount of transaction; 🔍 Defects identified (with reference to this article); 📄 Requires to return money or exchange for the original.
Please include a photo/video of defects.
🛒 Method 2: Return via Marketplace
If you bought it on Wildberries, Ozon or AliExpress:
- Open the dispute in your personal account;
- Select the reason “The product does not match the description”;
- Attach the photo: 📦 Boxes and documents; 📺 Serial number; 🖥️ Screen with firmware errors (if any).
Please note in the comment: “The product is a fake under the Xiaomi brand, as confirmed by [list the signs].”
Marketplaces usually take the buyer’s side and return money within 3-7 days.
⚖️ Method 3: Complaint to Rospotrebnadzor or the court
If the seller refuses to return the money:
- File a complaint on the website of Rospotrebnadzor;
- Put it in: 📄 Copy of the claim; 💳 Check or bill statement; 📸 Photo/video forgery.
If the amount is disputed (>100 000 ₽), File a lawsuit in court (the state fee does not need to be paid).
⚠️ Note: If the seller threatens or refuses to communicate - record the conversation on a recorder (in Russia it is legal, Art. 9 of the Federal Law "On Personal Data.