Replacing the display on Xiaomi smartphones is one of the most sought-after services in service centers. But what if after repair you doubt the quality of the installed screen? Fake or unoriginal displays can not only worsen the user experience (poor color reproduction, low brightness, sensor problems), but also cause serious malfunctions - from fast battery discharge to overheating of the device. In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to determine the originality of the Xiaomi display, including hidden menus, hardware tests and visual signs that indicate counterfeit.
It is important to understand that even experienced craftsmen sometimes install non-original parts, passing them off as branded. Xiaomi does not supply displays for free sale - all original screens go only to certified service centers. This means that any "original" bought on the market or in unofficial repairs, with a probability of 99% will be a fake or relabeled screen from another manufacturer (for example, BOE or Tianma, which supply displays for Xiaomi, but in non-original versions).
We're not going to talk about "popular" methods like price checks or packaging -- fraudsters have long learned to fake even holograms and serial stickers. Instead, we're going to focus on the technical and software ways that will give an accurate result. Ready? Let's start with the simplest one: visual inspection.
1. Visual inspection: 5 signs of a non-original display
The first thing you can do without special tools is to look carefully at the screen under different lighting conditions, and fake displays often give themselves away at this point.
- 🔍 Color rendering and contrast: Xiaomi’s original screens (especially AMOLED) are deep black and saturated. Fakes often “wash out” colors to make them pale, or vice versa – overly bright with an unnatural blue tint.
- 💡 Lighting and uniformity: Turn on a white background (like a browser page open) and look at the screen from an angle. On a non-original display, you can see yellow spots, uneven backlights, or "clouds" in the corners.
- 📏 Gaps and alignment: The original display fits tightly into the case without gaps. If there's a gap or glue between the screen and the frame, it's a sign of replacement. Also check if the glass is projecting above the case -- that's typical of cheap replicas.
- 🖥️ Viewing angles: Tilt the phone from different angles. On the original IPS or AMOLED screen, the picture remains clear and the colors are not distorted. Counterfeits often "invert" colors or lose contrast when tilted.
- 👆 Sensitivity: Do a responsiveness test, tap quickly on different areas of the screen. Non-original displays may have dead zones or delays in touch.
Pay special attention to the oleophobic coating – the original Xiaomi screens have a smooth coating that repels fingerprints. If the screen quickly gets dirty or fingers stick to the surface, this is a sure sign of fake. Also check for 2.5D- roundings around the edges of the glass – on cheap copies they are often absent or made rough.
⚠️ Warning: Some non-original displays may not be visually different from the original ones, especially if they are quality copies from the same vendors (e.g. BOE).
Verification by serial number and display model
Each Xiaomi display has a unique serial number that can be checked through hidden menus or specialized apps, and this method works for most models, including the Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13 and others.
First, find a display model.
- Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##4636## (for newer versions, MIUI may not work).
- Go to the phone information section → Equipment information.
- Find the lines Display ID or Panel Name. Original displays are usually labeled from Samsung (e.g. S6E3FA3), BOE (NT36672C), or Tianma (TM_FT8719).
If the combination doesn’t work, use the DevCheck app (available on Google Play):
- 📱 Install and open DevCheck.
Compare the data with the official specifications for your model. For example, for the Xiaomi 12 Pro, the original display should have a resolution of 3200×1440, a frequency of 120 Hz and support for LTDPO AMOLED from Samsung. If the parameters do not match, the screen is unoriginal.
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If DevCheck displays an unknown manufacturer (like Unknown or Generic), it's 100% fake.The original displays always have a clear labeling of the panel's brand.
3. Test through Engineering Menu (CIT)
The most reliable way to check is to use the hidden CIT (Customer Inspection Test) menu, which is available on all Xiaomi smartphones, which allows you to test all components of the device, including the display, for compliance with factory standards.
To open CIT:
1. Open the phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##248## (for new models) or ##6484## (for old ones).
3. Select the "Display Test" or "Screen Test" section.In the display testing menu, pay attention to the following parameters:
| Parameter | Original screen | Unoriginal screen |
|---|---|---|
| Color tests (RGB) | Pure colors without impurities, uniform glow | Shades may mix (e.g. red with orange), uneven backlighting |
| The Moirah Test (Mura Test) | Smooth grey background without stains | Visible spots, stripes or "clouds" |
| The sensor test (Touch Test) | All touches are recorded without delay | Missed touches, dead zones |
| Brightness Test (Brightness Test) | The maximum brightness corresponds to the declared (for example, 1200 nits for Mi 11 Ultra) | Brightness below the declared, a "flicker effect" is possible |
If the Touch Test screen does not respond to touch in some areas or color test colors are distorted - this is a clear sign of a non-original display. Also pay attention to the backlight test: fakes often show "waves" or uneven glow at the edges.
⚠️ Warning: On some models (e.g., POCO F3 or Redmi Note 10 Pro), the engineering menu may be blocked, in which case use the alternative verification methods described below.
4. Verification through applications: Display Tester and AIDA64
If you don't have an engineering menu, use third-party apps, two of the most effective tools are Display Tester and AIDA64, which allow you to test the display at the hardware level.
Display Tester (available on Google Play):
- 🎨 Color tests: Checks for the correctness of the RGB display, gray gradations and color profiles. On a non-original screen, colors can be mixed or displayed with distortions.
- 🔦 Backlight test: Detects uneven backlighting, which is often found on cheap copies.
- 📊 Resolution test: Compares the actual screen resolution to the declared one. For example, if your Redmi Note 11 Pro needs to have a resolution 1080×2400 and the test shows 1080×2340, it's a fake.
AIDA64 (paid version):
- 📱 Open the app and go to the Display section.
- 🔍 Check the Display ID, Manufacturer and Technology fields. The original screens are clearly labeled, for example: Samsung AMOLED or BOE IPS.
- ⚠️ If the Manufacturer field is Unknown or Generic, the screen is definitely unoriginal.
Critical sign of counterfeiting: if AIDA64 displays a display model that doesn’t exist in the official specifications of your device (e.g., JDI NT36525B for Xiaomi Mi 9, although the original is Samsung S6E3HA8).
☑️ Checklist of verification through applications
5. Hardware inspection: multimeter and microscope
For advanced users or service center masters, there is a method of hardware verification using a multimeter and a microscope, which requires disassembling the device, so it is not recommended for self-use without experience.
What can be verified:
- 🔌 Trail resistance: The original Xiaomi display plumes have a well-defined resistance (e.g., for the Redmi Note 8 Pro, about 1.2 kOhms).
- 🔬 Board marking: Under the microscope on the original display board, you can see the manufacturer's logos (e.g., Samsung or BOE) and the serial number. On counterfeits, the markings can be erased or applied carelessly.
- 🧲 Magnetic test: The original displays use special magnetic screens to protect against interference, and if you hold a magnet to a screen and you see color distortion, that's a sign of a non-original panel.
Also, pay attention to the quality of the soldering of the plume: on the original displays, the soldering is neat, without solder leaks. Counterfeit products often have rough soldering marks or even a break in contacts.
⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly disassembling your smartphone can cause plumes to damage or detach the battery. If you're unsure of your skills, trust the pros to check.
What if the screen is original but not working properly?
6. Checking by IMEI and device history
If you bought a smartphone with your hands or after repair, check the history of the device by IMEI. This will help you to find out whether there was an official replacement of the display at the Xiaomi service center.
How to check:
- Find out your device’s IMEI by typing *#06# in the call.
- Go to IMEI.info and enter the code.
- Check the Warranty or Service History section. If the display has been officially replaced, it will be listed in the history.
You can also use the Xiaomi Cloud service:
- 📱 Go to Settings → Mi Account → Cloud → Devices.
- 🔍 Select your smartphone and check the Repair History section.
- 📝 If there is a record of the replacement display indicating the service center, the screen is original.
If the story is empty, but the device has stickers with a date of repair - this is a reason to doubt the originality of the parts. Xiaomi official service centers always contribute information about the repair to the cloud.
Comparison with official specifications
Last but not least, compare the characteristics of your display with official data from Xiaomi.
- Find your smartphone model on the official Xiaomi website.
- Go to the Specifications → Display section.
- Compare the following parameters: 📏 Screen resolution (e.g. 2400 × 1080 for POCO X4 Pro). 🔄 Frequency of renewal (60 Hz, 90 Hz, 120 Hz or 144 Hz. 🌈 Type of matrix (AMOLED, Super AMOLED, IPS LCD). 💡 Maximum brightness (e.g. 1200 thread 12T Pro).
If at least one parameter does not match, you have a non-original display. For example, if your Redmi Note 11 Pro+ should have a AMOLED- screen with a frequency of 120 Hz, and tests show a IPS with 60 Hz, this is a hundred percent fake.
Check the refresh rate carefully. Many non-original displays only support 60 Hz, even if the device box promises 120 Hz. You can check the actual frequency through the Display Info app (available on Google Play).
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Even if the screen looks visually original, always check its specifications against official data. Fakes often copy the look but cannot replicate the hardware settings.