Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 2: Original and Fake, How to Distinguish

The budget electronics market is full of copies, and Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 2 was no exception. TWS-Headphones are often faked due to high demand and affordable prices, which creates confusion for buyers. Finding a quality copy becomes more difficult, as the visual similarity of the replicas with the original reaches 90%.

In this article, we will take a look at all the nuances that will help you avoid buying a low-quality product, you will learn where to look for secret codes, how to check the sound and why the weight of the device matters.

Counterfeit products are often sold as the European version or Global, although the original is the same for all markets, and it is better to do a self-check before paying, rather than relying on the seller's assurances, and save you nerves and time to return the goods.

Visual analysis of packaging and configuration

The first thing that catches your eye is the quality of the print. The original always has clear, bright colors and flat fonts without lubrication. On the box of fakes, there are often grammatical errors or blurry images that give off poor print quality.

Notice the serial number sticker, which should be glued flat, without air bubbles, and the code itself can be read easily by the scanner, and in cheap copies, the sticker can be crooked or missing, which is an alarm.

⚠️ If the box says "Redmi AirDots 2 Global Version", know - there is no official global version, this is a marketing ploy of scammers to justify the high price.

The original is strictly regulated: the charging case, the headphones themselves, the Micro-USB cable and a couple of additional earpieces. The absence of instructions in several languages or the presence of only a Chinese booklet may indicate that you are in front of a parallel import or replica assembled in a homemade environment.

The quality of the case plastic also plays a role: The original is pleasant to the touch, matte, no barbs at the joints. Cheap copies often have a glossy shine, creak when compressed or smell of cheap plastic. The case cover should open with a nice click of a magnet, not dangling.

Physical and marking checks

On the original Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 2, the "MI" logo is well-marked and does not erase with your finger. On fakes, the logo can be pasted over plastic or made in violation of proportions.

It is important to check the markings on the inside of the headphones, which should include model number, voltage and other technical information in small but clear font, often missing in copies or in large, rough font that is easily lubricated.

  • πŸ” Check the microphone and proximity sensor holes – they should be flat and have no protruding wires.
  • πŸ” Evaluate the quality of the assembly of plastic joints - there should be no gaps or glue.
  • πŸ” Weigh the device – the original has a specific weight specified in the specification, and counterfeiting is often easier due to the use of cheap materials.

The Micro-USB connector on the original case sits tightly, with no backlashes. The charge indicator inside the case should burn smoothly, without flickering. If the LED flashes different colors randomly when charging, that's a reason to question the authenticity of the electronics inside.

Compatibility and work with the Mi Fit application

The most reliable software way to verify is to connect to the ecosystem’s official apps, and the original headphones are correctly displayed in the Mi Fit (or Zepp Life) and Xiaomi Earbuds app, and fakes are either not detected at all or show a generic name without detailed information.

When connected to a smartphone, the original shows the charge of each headphone separately in a special widget or pop-up window (on MIUI). Copies often show only total charge or do not display battery level in the Android interface at all.

πŸ“Š Where do you most often buy electronics?
Official store
Marketplaces (Ozon/WB)
AliExpress
With hands/Avito

The pairing process in the original is fast, within 2-3 seconds of being removed from the case. If the headphones are looking for each other for a long time or constantly losing connection, this is a signature Bluetooth module in a fake. Connection stability is a key indicator of quality.

⚠️ Warning: If the app requests strange permissions or requires personal data to connect headphones, immediately stop the process – the original software does not do so.

Sound, microphone and assistant activation

Sound quality is where fakes fail most often: The original Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 2 supports the SBC and AAC codec, delivering clean high and acceptable basses. Copies often sound flat, with distortions at high volume or a "cardboard" hue.

Check the microphone as you speak. The original noise reduction system cuts out background noise, the fakes will hear all the sounds around you, and your voice can sound like a barrel, which is a critical parameter for a budget model.

β˜‘οΈ Audio performance check

Done: 0 / 4

An important feature is support for voice assistants. The original headphones correctly transmit an activation command (Google Assistant or Siri) to a smartphone. In replicas, this feature often does not work at all or activates chaotically when you touch the sensor.

The latency in games and videos is also different, and the original minimizes the desynchronization, whereas in fakes, you might notice that the actors' lips move before the sound is coming, and for movie viewing, this can be a crucial factor.

Table of comparative characteristics

For convenience, we'll organize the main differences in the table, and this data will help you navigate quickly when you choose, and remember that having at least two of the characteristics in the "Fake" column has a 99% probability of indicating a non-original product.

CharacteristicsOriginal XiaomiFake (Copy)
Application Mi FitDetects, shows the chargeDoes not see or show error
Sound qualityClean, there's bass, no wheezing.Flat, distortion on volume
Case materialsMatte plastic, no backlashes.Gloss, creaking, smell of plastic
Weight of the deviceComplies with the specification (~35g)Often easier.

Weight is an objective physical parameter that's hard to fake without changing the design. If you have access to the exact weights, compare it to the official data, and even a difference of 5-10 grams indicates that you're using other batteries or plastic.

Why is weight so important?
Original headphones use lithium-polymer batteries of a certain density, and counterfeits often put old or cheap batteries that weigh less, but also serve many times less, quickly degrading.

Serial number and code verification

On the back of the package or on the case (under the lid) is a unique serial number, which can be checked on the official website of Xiaomi in the authentication section, enter the CAPTCHA code and number, the system will answer whether the device is registered.

But the scammers have learned to copy valid codes from the original batches, so if a site says it's "verified for the first time" it's a good sign, and if the code has been checked thousands of times or not found, it's fake.

πŸ’‘

Take a picture of the box and serial number before you buy it from the store, which will help prove the product is not compatible if you open the house and find a fake.

There is also a method of checking through the Android engineering menu, but it doesn’t work on all smartphones. Type in the ##6484## command (if supported) and try to find the device in the list of Bluetooth devices with a detailed description of the firmware version.

Don't trust me. QR-The official check is only on the mi.com domain or through authorized applications. Any third-party landing pages are designed to put the buyer's vigilance to sleep.

Frequent Questions and Challenges (FAQ)

Can I reflash a fake Redmi AirDots 2?
No, it's impossible. Inside the fakes are completely different chips and boards that are incompatible with Xiaomi software, and trying to get the firmware out of the way could permanently bring the device down.
Why isn’t the original connected to Mi Fit?
Make sure you use the right app (Zepp Life/Mi Fit) and give all the necessary permissions (geolocation, Bluetooth) sometimes helps to reset your headphones with a button clamping for 20 seconds.
Is there a difference in sound between the CN and Global versions?
The headphones are physically the same, the only difference is the instruction box and the sound profile of the original is always the same, regardless of the region of delivery.
How to reset headphones to factory settings?
Put the headphones in the case, open the lid and press the buttons on both headphones for 20 seconds until the indicator flashes red 3 times.

πŸ’‘

The main criterion for authenticity is a comprehensive verification: application, sound, materials and weight. One parameter may coincide by chance, but all together give an accurate result.

In conclusion, buying Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 2 requires careful attention, the market is saturated with quality replicas that are almost indistinguishable on the surface, and use these verification methods to become the owner of a truly high-quality sound.