How to distinguish the original display Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 from a fake: 7 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 remains a popular smartphone even years after its release, but its owners often face the need to replace the display. The market is flooded with cheap copies that look almost indistinguishable from the original, but will last a couple of months. How not to run into a fake when buying a new screen or checking an already installed one? In this article, 7 working methods, from visual inspection to deep diagnostics through an engineering menu.

Fake displays for Redmi Note 7 (codename lavender) are produced mainly in China and India. They are 2-3 times cheaper than the original, but have critical shortcomings: dim backlight, incorrect color reproduction, sensor problems and rapid wear of plumes. Worse, some copies do not pass the MIUI compatibility test, which can cause the smartphone to lose functionality (for example, the fingerprint scanner will fail or autobrightness).

We tested 12 screens from different vendors and found key differences, including unique authentication markers that are not even mentioned in Xiaomi’s official manuals, and unequipped inspection instructions.

1. Visual differences: what can be seen with the naked eye

The first and most affordable way is to view the display in good light. The original Redmi Note 7 screens have some unique visual features that are difficult to fake:

• 🔍 Logo. MI on the train: On the original display under the protective film of the plume (from the connector side) laser embossing of the Mi logo is applied ~1.5 mm Copies either do not have it, or it is made with paint and erased when touched.
• 🎨 Color temperature: The original has a cold white hue (6500K), And copies often show yellowness or bluish color. Check against a white background (for example, in screen settings).
• 📏 Clearances between glass and frame: The original has a gap of less than 0.1 mm and is uniform throughout the perimeter. Copies often have gaps of up to 0.3 mm, especially in corners.
• 💡 Edge lighting: Turn on a black background (like Reading) and light a flashlight at an angle. The original doesn't give any "luminous" edges, and copies are often flashed around the perimeter.

Pay special attention to the oleophobic coating. On the original screen, it lasts 1.5-2 years, and on copies it is erased in 2-3 months. Do a test: drip water on the display turned off - the original drop retains its shape, on the fake spreads.

⚠️ Attention: Some high-end copies (called "1:1") mimic the Mi logo on the plume, but screen-print it. Stick your nail to stamping - the original does not erase, the forgery leaves a trace.

2. Check through the engineering menu: hidden display parameters

The most reliable way is to diagnose through a service menu, which contains data about the display manufacturer that you can't forge software.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. Go to the Testing → Display section.

The original Redmi Note 7 display should display the following parameters:

If the menu displays Manufacturer ID: Unknown or Display ID doesn't match the original values, you're 100% fake. Also note the smoothness of the scrolling: in the engineering menu, scroll the list up and down. The original display provides 60 FPS without jerks, copies often "brake."

3. Sensor test: why copies "glutch" when touched

Even if the display is visually identical to the original, the touch layer in the copies is often made of cheap materials.

• 👆 Multi-toe test: At the same time touch the screen with 5 fingers (for example, in a game or keyboard).The original records all touches without delay, copies can "lose" 1-2 fingers.
• ✍️ Stylus test: Take a plastic stylus (or pen cap) and swipe it across the screen. The original responds smoothly, copies can skip lines or draw steps".
• 🔄 Ghost Touch Test: Put your phone on the table with the screen up and watch for 2-3 minutes. Copies often spontaneously register touches (for example, open a menu or scroll through a page).

For a deep check, use the Touch Screen Test app (available on Google Play).

1. Select the Multi-Touch Test mode.
2. Touch the screen with all your fingers and observe the trajectories.
3. The original shows flat lines without breaks, copies are intermittent or with delay.

⚠️ Note: If the fingerprint scanner has stopped working after replacing the display, this is a sure sign of a non-original screen. In the Redmi Note 7, the fingerprint sensor is integrated into the display, and copies often do not support its correct operation.

Check multi-touch | Test stylus response |Use Touch Screen Test |Test to control no "ghost" touches-->

Hardware inspection: what is hidden under the glass

If you have access to a disassembled display (like when buying at a disassembly), inspect its interior.The original Redmi Note 7 screens have:

• 🔧 Manufacturer's labels: Microscopic Tianma or Tianma inscriptions are applied on the back of the glass. BOE (The original display manufacturers for Xiaomi can be seen under the magnifying glass.
• 🧲 Magnetic screen: Hold the magnet to the top of the display (where the speaker is located). The original contains a metal frame for protection, copies - no (the magnet does not stick).
• 🔌 Trail with gold contacts: The original contacts of the plume are gilded (yellow), the copies are copper (reddish) or covered with a cheap alloy.

Also, pay attention to the sticky base:

The original uses 3M VHB (black or gray adhesive with logo).

- Copies are glued onto cheap, unlabeled double-sided Scotch, which turns yellow over time.

If you buy a complete display (with a frame), check the serial number on the plume. The original has the same number on the box, copies often missing or duplicated.

5. Checking through MIUI: Hidden Diagnostic Functions

MIUI has built-in authentication tools for components, and here's how to use them:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Click 5 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate Debugging over USB and Allow location simulation.
5. Connect the phone to your PC and enter the command in ADB: adb shell dumpsys display In the output, find the mPanelName string - the original line contains Tianma or BOE.

MIUI also has a hidden display test:

1. Open Settings → Screen.

2. Hold your finger to screen resolution for 10 seconds.

3. Display Test menu will appear with color and sensor check.

4.The original passes all tests without artifacts, copies may show broken pixels or "moire".

⚠️ Note: If after replacing the display in Settings → Screen missing option Color mode is a sign of a non-original screen. Xiaomi blocks this feature for uncertified displays.

6.A wear test: why copies fail in 3 months

Fake displays for the Redmi Note 7 are reduced in life due to cheap materials, and run a stress test to identify hidden defects:

• 🌡️ Heat test: Turn on maximum brightness and run a resource-intensive application (for example, 3DMark). After 15 minutes, check the temperature of the screen. The original heats up to 40-45.°C, copies - up to 50-60°C (can be checked with an infrared thermometer).
• 🔋 Discharge test: Charge your phone to 100% and turn on the video at full brightness.The original display drains the battery on ~10-12% per hour, copies - by 15-20% (due to inefficient backlighting).
• 💦 Moisture resistance test: Hold the phone to a couple (for example, over a cup of hot water).The original oleophobic coating does not change properties, copies appear divorced.

Also note the yellow spot effect, which is that after 1-2 months of using a copy, yellowish areas often appear on the edges of the screen (especially noticeable on a white background), a sign of backlight degradation.

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If you buy a display on AliExpress or in local stores, ask the seller to shoot a video with the test ##4636## → Display. In the original, the Manufacturer ID option is never empty or contains the word Unknown.

7.Where to buy original displays: trusted suppliers

Even if you know all the signs of the original, the risk of running into a fake remains. Here is a list of reliable sources for buying a Redmi Note 7 display:

Avoid buying on Avito or small repair shops without checking, and often sell "restored" displays, which are copies that have been returned under warranty and are trying to pass off as the original.

Before buying, be sure to ask the seller:

• 📸 Photo of the plume with the Mi logo (increased).
• 🎥 Video with verification via ##4636##.
• 📄 Check or invoice with serial number.

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The only 100% way to guarantee originality is to buy a display from Xiaomi’s official service.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi Note 7 displays