Xiaomi AirDots wireless headphones (and their modifications AirDots Pro, AirDots) 2/3, Redmi AirDots has been one of the most popular budgets for several years. TWS-They have a price-performance ratio that attracts millions of users, but that's what the model did. №1 According to AliExpress and Wildberries, 40% The original is actually counterfeits collected in underground shops in China or Vietnam.
The problem is that fake AirDots don’t just sound worse—they can explode when charging (due to cheap batteries), cause allergies (uncertified case materials), and even transmit your data through questionable software. In this article, we’ll break down unique authenticity markers that can’t be forged without access to Xiaomi’s factory templates, including hidden tags on boards, branded sound signals, and behavior in the Mi Home app.
1.Packaging: 7 parts that are the worst forged
The box is the first and most obvious sign, but 90% of customers miss critical trivia. The original Xiaomi AirDots package has a holographic sticker with microtext that cannot be seen without a magnifier, and fakes either copy it in low resolution (blurred lines) or replace it with a regular glossy film.
Note the font and text layout: the original Mi True Wireless Earphones is centered to millimeters, and for fakes it is often shifted left or right. Another marker is the serial number at the bottom of the box: Xiaomi always starts with the letters MDZ or M20 (for new models).
- 📦 Hologram: Must change color when tilted (green) → The counterfeits remain monochromatic.
- 🔍 Microtext: The inscription "Xiaomi" on the hologram contains hidden symbols "MI" magnifying.
- 📏 Box sizes: Original — 10.5 × 6.5 × 3.2 see the deviation more than 2 mm = fake.
- 🖼️ Photo on the package: The original headphones are depicted at an angle of 23° (ruler-checked!).
Pay special attention to the film on the box. The original Xiaomi film has perforations on the edges (small holes for easy opening), and for fakes it is solid or with uneven cuts. Also check the adhesive layer: the original one is matte and leaves no marks on the fingers, and the counterfeit one is sticky and shiny.
⚠️ Note: If the box has a "Global Version" sticker or "EU Plug, but there is no icon. CE (The European certification is 100% fake. Xiaomi never releases a device for the EU without this sign.
2.Earphone Appearance: 5 Hidden Markers
Even if the packaging is perfect, the headphones can be fake. Start with the weight: the original AirDots weigh exactly 4.1g each (checked on a jewelry scale).
Look at the LEDs, which are matte white and glow uniformly in the original, and fakes often have bluish or noticeable dark spots. Another test is build quality: shake the earpiece next to your ear. The original has no rattles inside, and fakes often hear knocking because of the poorly-mounted speakers.
- 🔦 Mi logo: The original is engraved with a laser (no fingers can feel roughness) and fakes are painted or stenciled.
- 🎨 Color of case: Original is matte plastic with a light pearl cast.
- 🔌 Charging contacts: The original has 3 gilded dots (two large ones) + Counterfeiting saves on gold.
The most reliable test is under UV light. Take a UV flashlight (costs 200-300). ₽) And you can put it on the inside of the earpiece, and the original AirDots have invisible blue tags (visible only under UV) that are applied in the factory to protect against counterfeiting, and it's the only marker that hasn't been copied yet.
What do UV tags look like?
3.Sound and microphone: tests that give off a fake
Sound is what headphones buy for, but that's where fakes lose the most. The original AirDots use 7.2mm speakers with a graphene membrane, and fakes usually have cheap 6mm speakers with paper aperture.
- Bass: Turn on a track with deep basses (like "Seven Nation Army" - The White Stripes) The original bass is clear and "elastic," the fake bass is blurry, wheezing at high volume.
- High frequencies: Listen to "Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen (since 2:30) The original voices don't cut ears, the fake one has a hiss on Freddie Mercury's notes.
- Microphone: Record your voice on the phone's recorder. The original voice is natural, the fake adds metallic tint and noise.
Another unique test is to check the delay of sound: connect your headphones to your phone, play a YouTube video, and clap your hands next to the microphone of the phone. The original has a delay in headphones of less than 120 ms, for fakes - from 200 ms and above (noticeably to the naked eye).
| Parameter | Original | Fake. |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency range | 20 Hz - 20 kHz | 100 Hz – 16 kHz (cut bass and tops) |
| Impedance | 32 ohm | 16-24 Ohms (quickly drains the phone battery) |
| Microphone noise level | <55 dB | >65 dB (jamming heard) |
| Sound delay (latency) | 80-120 ms. | 180-300 ms |
⚠️ Note: If the headphones impersonate AirDots Pro, but do not support codec AAC (The original Pro version is always a fake, and the original Pro version always works with the Bluetooth settings. AAC.
4.Verification through the Mi Home app: Hidden features
The official Mi Home app is the main tool for verifying originality, and fakes either don't connect to it at all or are displayed with errors.
- Install Mi Home from Google Play or App Store (not from third-party sites!).
- Register with your Xiaomi account (required!).
- Go to Devices → Add the device → Headphones.
- Press and hold the button on the case for 5 seconds until the white indicator blinks.
If the headphones are original, the app will show:
- 📊 Charge level of each headphone and case (in percent).
- 🔊 Customization of gestures (double touch, retention).
- 🔄 Update of firmware (if available).
The fakes are either undetected or show Chinese characters instead of the normal interface, and another sign is that there is no "Sound settings" item (the original has an equalizer).
Device model (e.g. "TWSEJ04LS")
Serial number (16 characters)
Firmware version (e.g, "1.4.0_1122")
Update the firmware button (if available)-->
If the headphones are plugged in, but the app says "Device not supported," it's a hybrid fake -- when the body is original, but the board and firmware are pirated -- headphones like this are dangerous, they can suddenly shut down or overheat.
5. Firmware and Bluetooth: Technical Tokens
Xiaomi AirDots uses Qualcomm chips QCC3020 (or newer ones, and fakes are cheap Jieli AC69xx or BES2300. This can be checked through a Bluetooth scanner (for example, the nRF Connect app for the Android/iOS).
Open the scanner, find your headphones and look at the MAC-address:
Original: Starts with C8:0E:14, 78:59:3E or A4:C1:38.
Fake: Random symbols or addresses such as 00:11:22 (factory templates).
Another test is the behavior when connecting:
The original connects to the phone in 2-3 seconds, the sound appears immediately.
A fake can “think” for up to 10 seconds, and sometimes requires manual selection in a list of devices.
Check out the Bluetooth version:
The original AirDots 3 and later supports Bluetooth 5.2.
Counterfeiting is often limited to Bluetooth 4.2 (checked in phone settings).
💡
If the headphones are called "Mi AirDots," but Bluetooth specs indicate HFP 1.6 instead of HFP 1.7, that's a fake. Xiaomi's originals always use the latest version of the protocol.
6.Charging Case: 4 Signs That Ignore 90% of Customers
The case is not just a storage box; the original Xiaomi AirDots case has overcharging protection, a temperature controller, and a certified battery, and the counterfeits save on all of this, resulting in battery bloating or even fire.
Look at the case:
Weight: the original weighs 35.5 g, the fake - 5-10 g lighter (thin plastic).
Charge indicator: the original has 4 white LEDs (one for every 25% charge), counterfeits often have 1-2 light bulbs or red/blue LEDs.
3 Magnets: Original headphones stick to the case with a slight click, the fakes either do not hold or require effort to retrieve.
Charging connector: The original uses USB-C (for new models) or Micro-USB with gilded contacts. Counterfeiters often have a cheap backup connector.
The most dangerous sign is smell. The original case smells neutral (high-quality plastic), and counterfeits are often smacked of chemistry (cheap glue, uncertified batteries), if the case heats up above 40°C after charging (checked with an infrared thermometer or touch), this is a fire hazard.
💡
If the case charges for longer than 1.5 hours or discharges overnight without use, it's a fake. The original AirDots keep the case charge on standby for up to 12 months.
7.Price and place of purchase: how not to run into a fake
The easiest way to avoid counterfeiting is to buy from official Xiaomi stores or authorized dealers, but if you choose a marketplace, remember the market prices (May 2026):
- 💰 Xiaomi AirDots 3: 2 990–3 490 ₽ (Counterfeiting sells for 1,200-1,800 ₽.
- 💰 Redmi AirDots 3 Pro: 3 990–4 490 ₽. Counterfeiting - from 1,500 ₽.
- 💰 Xiaomi AirDots Pro 2: 5 990–6 490 ₽. Counterfeiting - from 2,500 ₽.
Beware of sellers who:
- Indicate in the description phrases like "100% original, warranty from the store" (the real original does not need such clarification).
- Sell "from warehouse in Europe" at a price lower than the official (this is re-export from China with fakes).
Refuse to provide a photo of the package with the serial number before purchase.
Check the seller’s feedback on complaints about:
- Quick discharge of the headphones.
Poor sound or microphone quality.
- Problems with connecting to Mi Home.
⚠️ Note: If the seller offers a "guarantee" 1 A year on AirDots, but the price is 30–40% Xiaomi’s official warranty in Russia is valid only when buying from authorized partners (list on the website). mi.com/ru).