Owning high-quality acoustics from the popular Chinese brand is often fraught with confusion in the nomenclature.The market is saturated with devices, and visually distinguishing the Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 from the first version or from the Redmi Buds 3 is almost impossible without a careful study of the details. Users often face the need to identify the gadget when searching for drivers, replaceable mounts or just to clarify the characteristics before selling.
To make matters worse, marketing names can be very different from the technical articles written in the documentation. For example, the global version of the device and the version for the domestic market of China often have similar designs, but differ in model codes and supported codecs. Understanding how to learn the Xiaomi headphone model becomes a critical skill for any owner of this brand equipment.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the identification methods available, from simple inspection of the case to the use of specialized software, you will learn to read the markings, work with the Mi Home application and distinguish original devices from replicas, this knowledge will help you avoid mistakes when buying accessories and adjust the audiophile settings correctly.
⚠️ Attention: The visual similarity of the original headphones and high-quality copies can reach 95%. Relying on the appearance of the case when buying from hand is risky.
Search for information on the case and charging case
The most obvious and reliable way to know the model is to look carefully at the physical device, and manufacturers are required to put the technical markings on the electronics case. TWS-Headsets are often hidden inside the charging case or on the bottom of the headphones themselves. You will need good lighting and possibly a magnifier or macro shot on the phone, as the font is often microscopic.
And look at the inside of the charger case, and that's where you usually have a sticker or laser engraving with the basic data, look for a line that starts with Model: or Model:. The code can look like a set of letters and numbers, like TWSEJ06LS or BHR4272GL. This code is a unique identifier that allows you to find the exact specification on the Internet.
- 🔍 Check the charging connector: sometimes brief information is duplicated next to the Type-C or Micro-USB port.
- 🔍 Check the ends of the headphones themselves: remove the silicone nozzles and carefully examine the leg or the main part of the speaker.
- 🔍 Look. QR-code: Modern models often have a square code, reading which the phone immediately opens the product page.
If the sticker is worn or missing, look for information on the original package. On the side or bottom of the box there is always a barcode with the full model name and article, and it is worth looking at the warranty card or instructions, if they are preserved in paper form, there is a model indicated on the first page or on the back of the brochure.
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Use the smartphone’s camera macro mode with flash enabled to take a readable snapshot of fine text on the inside of the case, which can then be zoomed in on the computer screen.
Identification via Mi Home and Xiaomi Earbuds
Xiaomi’s digital ecosystem offers a more advanced way of identifying, which also allows you to manage audio settings. This requires downloading the official Mi Home app (for Android and iOS) or the specialized Xiaomi Earbuds. Once you connect your headphones to your smartphone via Bluetooth, the app automatically recognizes the device and displays its exact name in the interface.
The connection process is simple: open the app, click Add Device and follow the instructions on the screen. Often, simply put an open case with headphones to an unlocked phone with Bluetooth enabled. The system will prompt you to add the gadget. The device card will indicate the full marketing name, for example, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Pro, and the firmware version.
It is important to note that all features, including model display, may require authorization in the Mi Account. The region in the application must be selected correctly (often you need to switch to China for full compatibility with all models, but your region will also suit the global versions).
The details are available inside the app: the charge level of each headphone separately, the game mode delay and touch control settings, all of which are tied to a specific profile of the device, which confirms its authenticity and model. If the app writes "Unknown device" or the functionality is limited to basic playback, you may have a non-original product or a very old model.
Checking in the Bluetooth settings of the smartphone
When you don't have time to run heavy apps, you can use standard operating system tools. Go to your phone's Bluetooth settings and find your headphones on the list of paired devices. The name that appears here often contains model keywords. However, manufacturers sometimes change the default name to the user name, so this method is not always accurate.
On Android smartphones, clicking on the gear icon or information next to the device name can show additional data. Some shells, such as MIUI or HyperOS, display a case image and an exact model. On iOS, information can be more scarce, limited to the general name of the series.
| Displayed name | A probable series | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic | Redmi AirDots | Budget segment, mono-mode |
| Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 | Mi TWS 2 | Leg-barrel, optical sensors |
| Redmi Buds 3 Pro | Redmi Buds | ANC (noise reduction), oval case |
| Mi FlipBuds Pro | Flagship | Premium design, high noise reduction |
If the Bluetooth listing is simply called "Bluetooth Audio" or "TWS", it's an alarm. Most likely, the headphones were overflashed or are a cheap copy, the chip does not transmit the correct Device Name ID, in which case it is better to double-check the device with other methods described above.
Analysis of serial number and codes on the box
For in-depth expertise, especially when buying used equipment or questionable lots, you need to analyze the serial number (S/N). This code is unique for each instance. On the box it is usually located on a barcode sticker. The combination of letters and numbers in S/N can tell you about the date of production and the manufacturer.
There are online services and databases that allow you to verify the validity of the serial number. By entering the code on the official Xiaomi support site or in specialized authentication applications, you can get information about when and for which region the device was manufactured, which helps distinguish the global version (Global Version) from the Chinese version (CN Version).
What is the difference between CN and Global?
Pay attention to the quality of the print on the box. The original packaging has barcodes that are clear, not blurred, and the model sticker is glued flat. If the text on the sticker looks blurry or the data on the box doesn't match the data on the device itself (e.g., different S/Ns), it's a sign that the box has been changed or the device is assembled from different parts.
It is also worth checking for holograms or safety signs on the package, typical for the importer in your area. Official distributors often glue their stickers on top of or next to the original packaging.The absence of such signs does not always indicate a fake (parallel imports), but requires more thorough verification of the device itself.
Differences between Mi, Redmi and Black Shark
Understanding Xiaomi’s brand architecture makes it much easier to find a model. The company uses different sub-brands to segment the market.Mi-branded headphones (now more commonly Xiaomi) are marketed as flagship or mid-budget solutions with advanced technologies such as active noise cancellation and wireless charging.
The Redmi line (sometimes labeled Redmi by Xiaomi) is geared toward the mass-market and budget devices, and it’s common to see models with the prefix “Basic” or “Lite” that look a lot like the older brothers but have a plastic case instead of a glossy one, a less capacious battery, or no support for the application for fine tuning.
- 🎮 Black Shark: gaming division. The headphones in this series have an aggressive design, RGB-It's a low-latency, lighting, and it's a low-latency model that often contains the word "Gaming».
- 🎧 Poco: rare, but there are models under this brand, usually rebranded Redmi with a modified design.
- 🎵 Xiaomi Sound: a new line of high-quality audio products, often developed in conjunction with audio brands (e.g. Dynaudio).
Knowing these differences, you can roughly determine the class of the device by its appearance and price. If you are offered a “flagship Mi” for the price of a “budget Redmi”, you should be wary. Visually, they can differ in the materials of the case, build quality and configuration (the presence of a wireless charging base).
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The Redmi line is always cheaper than Mi with a similar design, but can be inferior in the materials of the case and the presence of advanced audio transmission codecs.
How to distinguish the original from the fake by software features
The Chinese electronics market is notorious for its abundance of copies. High-quality replicas ("luxury copies") can have weight, dimensions and even a setting menu similar to the original. However, the software part often gives out a fake. Xiaomi's original headphones, when connected to a phone with a MIUI shell, show an animation of a pop-up with an accurate image of the case and percentage of charge.
Fakes often don't know how to transmit the charge of each headphone separately or show a static picture. Try updating the firmware through the Mi Home app. The original devices either update or report that the version is up to date. The fakes either won't be available for updating or, worse, can "brick" when you try to write foreign code into them.
⚠️ Note: If you try to update the firmware process is too fast (for the first time). 1-2 seconds) or, conversely, hangs on 1% — This is a sure sign of an unoriginal chip.
Another test is touch control. In the original touch zones are calibrated precisely, and actions (pause, switching tracks) are performed without delay. In copies, the sensor can be too sensitive or, conversely, require strong pressure. Also, pay attention to voice notifications: in the original they are clear and in the right language, in copies there are often distortions or strange phrases.