Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: how to distinguish a fake from the original

The smartphone market is full of devices that are almost indistinguishable from the originals, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X has become one of the most popular models for cloning by fraudsters. The high popularity of this gadget has led to the fact that unscrupulous sellers actively sell copies, posing as original products of Xiaomi. The buyer often faces a situation when an attractive price hides low-quality components and stripped down functionality.

Distinguishing a quality replica from the original is becoming increasingly difficult as copy manufacturers have learned to reproduce even logos and packaging with high accuracy. However, there are technical nuances that cannot be faked without significantly increasing the cost of production. In this article, we will discuss in detail the software and hardware verification methods that will help you avoid buying a low-quality device.

Ignoring the rules of verification can lead to the purchase of a smartphone with a fake memory, poor screen and unstable system. you need to know what parameters to pay attention to first when inspecting the device. Only a comprehensive approach will allow you to reliably determine the authenticity of your Redmi Note 4X.

Visual analysis of the shell and packaging

The first thing that catches your eye when you look at the device is the build quality and materials. The original Redmi Note 4X has an all-metal body with carefully designed antenna inserts that don't stand out from the background. Fakes often show gaps between the frame and the screen, as well as unevenly glued protective glass.

Notice the Mi logo on the back: it's laser-engraved or embossed, and doesn't wear off over time. Copies often use regular paint, which can start to chip or wear off after a few weeks of active use.

⚠️ WARNING: If the logo on the back lid looks like a sticker or has uneven edges, this is a sure sign of a fake.

The packaging of the original smartphone also carries important information: the box must be made of dense cardboard with a clear, bright print and correctly written specifications. At the bottom of the box, there must be a sticker with a serial number, IMEI and a barcode on which the data matches the information in the system.

The original unit usually includes a European type charger (or adapter), cable USB, clip-off SIM-In counterfeits, chargers are often lightweight, plastic quality is low and may not match the declared power.

Checking the display and matrix

The screen is one of the most expensive components of a smartphone, and it's on it that counterfeit manufacturers save the most. - Original Redmi Note 4X fitted IPS-resolution-matrix 1920×1080 pixel density 403 Copies are often equipped with cheaper ones. TN-panels that have narrow viewing angles and faded colors.

To test the screen quality, open the white image at maximum brightness. On the original matrix, the white color should be pure, without the yellowish or bluish hue typical of cheap counterparts. Also worth paying attention to the oleophobic coating: the original finger slides easily, and water droplets collect into clear spheres.

• 🔍 Check the viewing angles: on the original IPS The color does not invert when viewed from an angle.
• 🔍 Estimate the brightness margin: the original reads well in the sun, the fake often shines and dims.
• 🔍 Broken Pixel Test: Use Special Applications to Detect Defective Points.

Another important parameter is the touch layer. The original Xiaomi uses high-quality multi-touch glass that responds accurately to touch. Cheap copies can have dead zones at the edges of the screen or improperly work out multiple touches.

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Swipe your finger across the screen with the brightness turned on at a minimum. The quality matrix should not show flickering or uneven backlighting.

Processor and performance analysis

The heart of the Redmi Note 4X is Qualcomm’s 14nm Snapdragon 625 processor, an energy-efficient chip that delivers stable performance and low heat generation, and is often used to install old and cheap MediaTek processors that are passed off as Qualcomm products.

You can identify the real processor using specialized utilities such as CPU-Z or AIDA64. Launch the application and go to the Device or SoC section. The Name should indicate Snapdragon 625, and the Technology column should indicate 14 nm. If you see the MT6xxx series names, you have a fake.

Performance in synthetic tests will also tell a lot about the device.The original typed in AnTuTu roughly 80-90 Thousands of points (depending on the version of the benchmark) if your smartphone barely scores 30-40 Thousands of points, which indicates the use of obsolete iron.

⚠️ Attention: Some advanced fakes can fake data in system reports, so one test is not enough.

Heating the case while running is another indicator. Snapdragon 625 is known for its "coldness", so the strong heating of the top of the smartphone under normal load can indicate an inefficient processor in the copy.

Diagnostics of memory and storage

One of the most common ways of deception is software to increase the amount of memory displayed. Sellers can sell a device with 16 GB of internal memory, which in the system will show 64 GB. When you try to fill this amount of data older than 16 GB, the smartphone will freeze or files will be damaged.

To check the real volume, use the Fake Device Test utility or similar applications that record test files before filling the entire space, and you can connect your smartphone to your computer and try to copy a volumetric file (for example, a 20 GB movie) to it.

Memory speed also matters: Original drives allow applications and systems to load quickly. If the smartphone interface is running with noticeable delays and applications open for a long time, this may be a sign of using low-quality slow memory.

Verification through MIUI and Xiaomi services

The MIUI shell is the hallmark of Xiaomi smartphones. In the original devices, it works stably, has a full set of features and regular updates. Fakes often have a customized, stripped-down version of Android, only vaguely resembling MIUI, or an old version of the shell with bugs.

You can authenticate through the built-in Services (or Security) app. Go to the settings and find About Phone, then click on the kernel version or MIUI logo several times to go to the extended menu. There should be an Authentication button.

Xiaomi’s official website also allows you to check the device by IMEI. Find this number on the box, under the battery (if it is removable), or by dialing *#06# in the phone. Enter the code on the manufacturer’s website, and the system will confirm the existence of the device in the database.

• 📱 Check for standard Xiaomi apps (Mi Cloud, Mi Drop, Themes).
• 📱 Try to update the system: the originals get OTA-updates, fakes - no.
• 📱 Note the fonts and icons: in copies they are often of low quality.

⚠️ Note: If the smartphone offers to install system update manually APK-A file from an unknown source is an alarm. Originals are automatically updated through the settings menu.

The lack of binding to Mi Account or the inability to log in to the account can also indicate problems with the software. The original firmware has all the necessary certificates for the correct operation of Google and Xiaomi services.

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Having a working Mi Cloud and being able to log in to Mi Account is one of the most reliable software features of originality.

Testing of cameras and sensors

The cameras in the Redmi Note 4X have 13MP (main) and 5MP (front) resolutions, but resolution is not the main indicator. The original camera takes clear pictures with good color reproduction even in medium light. Counterfeiting often comes with interpolated matrices that programmatically stretch a low-quality picture.

Take some photos in good light and in low light. The original detail will be high and the noise will be minimal. Copies often "wash" the image, and focusing can be slow or wrong.

Check the sensors: proximity, light, accelerometer and gyroscope. You can use the Engineering Mode app to do this by typing the code ##6484##. The engineering menu has all the components tested, and if a test fails or is not on the menu, it's a sign of a non-original build.

Pay special attention to the fingerprint scanner, which is fast and accurate in the original, and is often missing in counterfeits, or it's very slow and buggy because it uses a cheap analog.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)