How to check the screen of Xiaomi smartphone for originality: a step-by-step guide

You bought Xiaomi from hand or in a questionable store and noticed that the screen is acting strangely? Colors are distorted, the sensor does not respond well, and the brightness leaves much to be desired? You may have been given a non-original matrix, a common problem when buying used smartphones. According to service centers, up to 30% of screen repairs at Xiaomi Redmi, POCO and Mi are performed using cheap copies that are almost indistinguishable from the original, but will last 2-3 times less.

In this article, we'll look at 7 reliable ways to test a screen for originality, from visual inspection to hidden diagnostic codes, which details give off a fake, how an IMEI test works, and why even a new screen in a box can be counterfeited, and at the end, a quick checklist for quick diagnosis and answers to frequent questions.

1. Visual inspection: 5 signs of a non-original screen

Start with an external inspection, which is the fastest way to spot a clear fake. Xiaomi's original screens have clear build standards that are hard for artisanal manufacturers to replicate.

• 🔍 The gaps between the screen and the body. The original matrix fits tightly, without gaps. If you see a lumen or the screen walks when you press it, it's 100% fake.
• 🎨 Color and lighting. Tin the phone at 45.°. The original retains a uniform brightness, and the copy often has "waves" or yellowness at the edges.
• 👆 Oleophobic coating. Swipe your finger across the screen off: the original has a subtle trace, the fake has fatty divorces.
• 📏 Glass thickness. Take the original Xiaomi for comparison (or watch YouTube reviews). Copies are often thinner or thicker by 0.1-0.3mm.
• 🔧 Fake screens are usually glued with cheap glue that turns yellow over time. 3M VHB or similar.

⚠️ Attention: Some fakes mimic the oleophobic coating with silicone film. To check, try to erase the coating with alcohol — the original one will not erase, the copy will disappear in 10-15 seconds.

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If you have a magnifier, look around the front camera. On the original Xiaomi screens, there is a microscopic engraving with the batch code (for example, DMC-X21).

2. IMEI check: Does it work for the screen?

Many users think that IMEI helps verify the originality of the screen, a myth that IMEI is tied to the motherboard, not the matrix, but there is a caveat: if the screen was changed in the official service Xiaomi, information about this can be reflected in the history of the device.

How to check:

1. Type *#06# on your phone keyboard and your IMEI will appear.
2. Go to IMEI.info and enter the code.
3. Check the Warranty Info section. If the screen has been changed officially, it will be marked "Screen Replaced" with a date.

⚠️ Warning: If the story is a screen replacement, but the seller claims that the phone has not been repaired, this is a reason to doubt the honesty. → The phone.

3. Diagnostic codes for matrix testing

Xiaomi hides special engineering menus where you can test the screen at the iron level. These codes work on most models (Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4, Mi 11/12, etc.), but may differ for older devices (until 2019).

Major teams:

• 📱 Sensor test: ##6484## (tests multi-touch and response).
• 🎨 Color rendering test: ##36245## (shows pure colors) RGB).
• 🔦 Lighting test: ##0842## (checks the uniformity of brightness).
• 📊 Full diagnosis: ##4636## → Hardware Testing.

What should alert you:

• 🚨 On the multi-touch test, some areas do not respond or “jump” points.
• 🚨 Colors on RGB-dough looks dull or with a greenish/blue tint.
• 🚨 The lights flash or have dark spots in the corners.

Check the multi-touch in the engineering menu|Compare the colors with the original device|Evaluate the uniformity of the lighting|Test the sensor response at the edges of the screen-->

4. Check through Mi Flash Tool (for advanced)

If you're willing to go deeper, you can check the screen through the Mi Flash Tool, Xiaomi's official firmware utility, which requires a computer and a little bit of technical skill, but gives you the most accurate result.

Instructions:

1. Download the Mi Flash Tool and install the drivers.
2. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume Down + Power when you turn off).
3. Select Advanced → Check Device.
4. In the logs, find a line. display_panel. If it says unknown or a mismatch with the phone model, the screen is unoriginal.

⚠️ Warning: Some fake screens are replacing the data in the firmware, so the Mi Flash Tool may show a false result. For reliability, compare the output with the data from the engineering menu (#4636##).

5. Hardware inspection: what hides the disassembly

If you're not afraid to take your phone apart, you can look inside the screen, which is the most reliable way, but it requires care.

• 🔧 Plastic blade or mediator.
• 🔥 Fryer (for softening glue).
• 🕵️ Loupe or macro lens for smartphone.

What to watch:

⚠️ Warning: Disassembly will void warranty (if it is still valid) If you are not sure about your abilities, contact the service center. Also remember that some models (Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi) K50) They have ultra-thin plumes that are easily damaged.

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Even if the screen looks original, check the production date on the plume, if it's newer than the phone's release date, it's a blatant fake.

Verification by matrix serial number

Each original Xiaomi screen has a unique serial number that can be verified through the manufacturer’s database, which works for models released after 2020.

How to find the serial number:

1. Take your phone down (or ask them to do so).
2. On the back of the matrix, look for a sticker or engraving with the code (e.g., SN: XM210312ABCD).
3. Enter the code on the Mi Verify website.

What do the results mean?

• ✅ "Genuine Xiaomi Part – the original detail.
• ⚠️ "Unverified – number not found in the database (possibly fake or old screen).
• ❌ "Counterfeit" - explicit copy.

💡 Tip: If the seller refuses to provide the serial number of the matrix, this is a reason to doubt. Also check whether the number on the screen matches the data in the documents (if the phone was bought in the official store).

7. Comparison with the original: an identity test

The most reliable way to compare your screen to the original one is to:

1. Take the same phone from a friend or in a Xiaomi salon.
2. Open the same image on both devices (e.g. Lagom test images).
3. Compare: 🎨 Color rendering (especially shades of gray). 🔦 Brightness at maximum settings. 👆 Sensor sensitivity (try writing with a stylus).

📌 Key differences:

• 🔴 Counterfeits often have a cooler hue (blueish), whereas Xiaomi originals are closer to the natural hue (sRGB).
• 🔴 On the copies at maximum brightness visible "stripes" or flickering (especially on the AMOLED-screen).
• 🔴 Sensor on fakes can "skip" touches when writing fast.

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If you AMOLED-The original Xiaomi arrays use Pixel Shift technology, which prevents this effect. On copies, burnout appears after 6-12 months.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen check Xiaomi