How to check if the screen has changed on Xiaomi: full instructions

When buying a smartphone from hand or after contacting an informal service center, the owner often asks about the authenticity of the installed components. The display module is the most expensive and vulnerable part of the device, accounting for up to 40% of the cost of the gadget, which is why unscrupulous sellers often replace the original matrix with a cheap analog or restored component, passing it off as a factory one.

There are a number of ways to determine whether a replacement is happening, from simple visual inspection to deep diagnostics. Xiaomi, in its MIUI and HyperOS firmware, leaves many digital traces that reveal interference with the design of the phone. It is important to understand that even a high-quality copy can behave differently from the original.

In this article, we will discuss all the available verification methods that will help you avoid buying a “refurbished” device for the price of a new one, learn to distinguish the signs of home repairs and understand which software options should be paid attention to first.

Visual inspection and tactile sensations

Primary diagnostics always start with the look. The original screen has perfect color reproduction and uniform lighting throughout the area. If you notice that the edges of the display glow brighter than the center or have a yellowish hue, this is a sure sign of replacing with a low-quality copy or repainting of glass.

Notice the frames around the display. In the factory, they are glued with industrial precision, there are no gaps. Artisanal repairs often leave traces of glue, uneven joints or micro-slits that can get dust into, and it is also worth swiping your finger along the transition from glass to the body - the original is smooth, and the copy can feel a step.

Pay special attention to the front camera and the proximity sensor, and the original matrixes are organically inscribed, and if you see air bubbles under the protective glass around the camera cutout or the sensor, the module has been precisely changed, because of the use of poor-quality glue when you glue the glass.

• 👁️ Check the viewing angles: on the cheap IPS and TFT matrices when tilted color invert or fade more than the original AMOLED.
• 🖐️ Rate the oleophobic coating: swipe your finger across the screen, the original slides easily, and the copy often "sniffs" and quickly gets dirty.
• 💡 Include white: uniformity of glow is the main marker of the quality of the illumination.

⚠️ Warning: Do not buy a smartphone if you see villi or dust under the screen. This indicates assembly in unsterile conditions without the use of special gaskets.

Checking through CIT's engineering menu

The most reliable software method is the use of the built-in CIT (Customer Interface Test) menu, a service section designed to test all components of the phone before sale, accessed through a special code in the Phone app.

Dial the combination ##6484## or ##64663#. If the menu opens, you will see a list of all the tests. Find the item associated with the display (usually called Display, LCD or Color). Run the test: the screen will start changing colors, allowing you to check the broken pixels and uniformity.

However, the test itself won't tell if the screen has been changed, the main trick is another: in some versions of firmware for certain models (for example, the Xiaomi Redmi Note series), the logs or additional CIT menus may display the status of components. If the system writes "Unknown" or the test ends in an error, although the screen is working visually - this is a sign of incompatibility of the firmware with the installed module.

It is important to note that newer versions of HyperOS may have limited access to a full report on components, but passing all color tests without artifacts is a good sign.

• 📱 Enter the code ##6484## in the menu login call.
• 🎨 Pass the Color test, looking closely at gradient transitions.
• ✅ Make sure the touchscreen responds at all points on the screen when the drawing test is performed.

Analysis of the screen version in device information

In Xiaomi smartphones, there is a hidden section with technical information that can tell you about the version of the installed display. → You'll need to find the line "version" or "version" here. MIUI».

Make 10 quick taps on this line. The Status menu will open, where you will see the iron component information. Find a line that starts with a letter that indicates the type of matrix (e.g. E, F, G for Samsung AMOLED or T for Tianma). If instead of an alphanumeric code, you see the bars, zeros, or the words "Unknown," that's an alarm.

Experienced wizards know vendor codes, like the E4 or E5 codes that point to modern Samsung matrices, and if a phone that specifies as AMOLED displays code that is typical of low-end IPS panels, it means the screen has been changed to a cheap one.

Compare the resulting code with the official specifications of your model on the manufacturer's website. The mismatch between the type of matrix (for example, IPS instead of AMOLED) will be obvious even without deep knowledge.

Use of AIDA64 application and analogues

For more detailed analysis, you can use third-party utilities such as AIDA64, CPU-Z or Device Info HW. These applications read data directly from the system and can show the model of the installed display, its resolution and pixel density.

Download AIDA64 from Google Play and start the scan. Go to Display, where you're interested in the line "Model" or "Supplier." If the app shows "Generic" or "Unknown", and if the declared resolution does not match the physical (which happens on very cheap copies with a stretched image), the screen was changed.

Also note the refresh rate. If your model is 120Hz and the program is only 60Hz and you can't switch, you have a stripped-down copy of the matrix installed. Software identification is not always accurate at the MIUI firmware level, but it does provide an important clue.

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Pay attention to energy consumption: Cheap matrices often consume 20-30% more battery power than the originals, which can be tracked in usage statistics.

Dead pixel and touchscreen test

The quality of control in the Xiaomi factory eliminates the presence of broken pixels. If you see black, white or colored dots that burn constantly, it is 100% a sign of replacement or mechanical damage. Use special online tests or YouTube videos with black and white backgrounds to check.

The touch layer is worth noting. Multi-touch works perfectly on the original screens. Run a multi-touch test (you can use the same engineering menu or MultiTouch Test app). The original screen recognizes 10 simultaneous touches. Cheap copies often only "see" 5 dots or have "dead zones" at the edges.

Swipe your finger across the entire screen with the app icon clamped down. If at some point the icon sticks or jumps off the trajectory without you, the touchscreen doesn't work properly, and it's a common problem after a poor replacement when the train isn't pressed well enough.

Also check the automatic brightness. The original light sensors change brightness smoothly. On replaced screens, the brightness may jump in jerks or not change at all, even if the sensor is closed with a finger.

Specificity of AMOLED vs. IPS in diagnosis

Understanding the difference between technologies will help in checking. flagship Xiaomi uses AMOLED arrays where each pixel glows independently. Budget models often have IPS. If you buy a phone with AMOLED, and when you turn on in the dark you see the lights on the edges (like IPS/LED) – you are being deceived.

Black screening is the simplest test. Turn on a completely black picture and turn off the lights in the room. On an AMOLED screen, the phone should turn completely black, blending into the frames. If you see the gray glow of the backlight, this is an IPS matrix installed instead of AMOLED.

AMOLED screens also support Always On Display, and if you have this feature in the settings but don't activate after you repair it, you've got an incompatible matrix or the plume doesn't transmit the signals you want.

⚠️ Attention: AMOLED And when you replace them, you often have a factory-made logo protective film, and if you don't have one, and the screen looks perfect, it's suspicious, but if you have one, it's not a guarantee of originality, because they've been glued in the underground shops.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)