Updated 07/02/2020. Xiaomi is one of those manufacturers that have proven their professionalism, but, as is usually the case, for everything good there are hundreds of products from unscrupulous “pirates”. In this article, we will analyze all the methods for checking the authenticity of smartphones and other Xiaomi devices.
Xiaomi authentication by imei
There is now only one official verification method - through the manufacturer’s website using the IMEI number, serial number or security code.
First you need to find out your IMEI and serial number , there are three ways:
- There is a sticker with numbers on the box of the device (sometimes it can also be found on the back cover of the smartphone or on the battery);
- Enter *#06# in the phone's dialing menu to display the IMEI;
On phones with dual SIM cards, 2 imei numbers will be displayed, this is normal.
- Go to “Settings” -> “About phone” -> “General information”, where you can find the serial number (SN).
To check the authenticity of a Xiaomi smartphone or tablet, you need to:
- Go to the website https://www.mi.com/global/verify/#/ru/tab/imei;
- The “Device Verification” tab (“Verify your phone purchase” in the English version) should be open;
- Enter the IMEI number or device serial number (S/N) in the special field
- Enter the verification code (captcha);
- Click “Verify” (“Verify” in the English version);
- You will see the result of the check, a green circle means you have an original, a red circle means it’s a fake.
If all the inscriptions are displayed in English, you can turn on Russian in the upper right corner of the site.
There are 3 check results:
- You have an original device;
- The authenticity of the device has not been confirmed, there is a high risk of counterfeiting;
- Invalid data entered. Typically, the error “Your IMEI or S/N doesn't exist, please verify and enter again” appears. Double-check your data to make sure there are no spaces at the beginning or end of the number.
This method is suitable for each model range of Xiaomi smartphones and tablets: Mi, Redmi, Mi pad, Android One (A series).
Additionally, you can try entering the number in the search engine. If in the search results you see sites with the numbers of your device in the public domain, then most likely you have a fake or a device assembled from spare parts of used gadgets (this can be found on Aliexpress).
Problems and solutions
Inability to scan QR code
When the QR is on a monitor screen, it may appear blurry to the camera. In view of this, it is recommended to print it on paper.
Problems with IMEI detection
If sending a USSD request for some reason is not possible, you can find out the unique SIM slot number as follows:
- In your phone settings, open the “General Information” tab;
- Click on “IMEI Information”;
- Look at the data listed in the tabs. The number of codes depends on the number of SIM connectors and is different for each of them, so it is advisable to check both combinations.
To determine the authenticity of a Xiaomi brand device, it is not necessary to involve outside help - there are ways to do this yourself with high accuracy. If you have an iPhone, we recommend that you read the article on how to check your iPhone for originality .
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Checking for originality using a security code
There is another verification method on the official website:
- Follow the link https://www.mi.com/global/verify/#/ru/tab/secur;
- By clicking on the link, a second tab should open called “Xiaomi Product Authentication”;
- Take the box from your Xiaomi device and then look for a secure field on it that you can erase. You have also seen such fields on mobile recharge cards;
Recently, not every model (especially new ones) has a similar code on the box!
- Having erased the protective layer, we will find a 20-digit code, the numbers from which we enter into the first field;
- Enter the captcha in the second field and click the “Verify” button (“Verify” in the English version).
This way you will be able to understand whether your device has passed the originality test. A positive result will display the number of checks for this code, which should be no more than one.
Authentication via Antutu Officer
Antutu Officer is a program for checking the originality of a smartphone. You can install it from the Play Market. It's easy to use and completely free. To check the authenticity of a device, you must:
- Go to the official website of the program at y.antutu.com via your computer. A page will open with a QR code displayed.
- Launch the Antutu Officer application on your smartphone. It will greet you with a screensaver on which you need to press the “Start” button.
- Wait until the application performs the analysis and launches the camera with the area highlighted by the square. In this area you will need to place the QR code shown on the site.
- After this, the application will begin transferring data from the phone to the antutu server and information about the authenticity of the phone will be displayed on the page launched on the PC. If the device is original, then a circle with the inscription “Good” will be displayed on it.
If the device is not original, a red circle will appear. When the device cannot be identified, a window with the inscription “Unknown” will be displayed; this happens with rare and unpopular devices. Their counterfeiting will not bring much benefit to scammers, so data about such smartphones is not entered into the Antutu database. However, when this message appears when checking Xiaomi, there will be every reason to believe that the smartphone is not original.
At the same time, the entire verification process is completely automatic and you do not need to click anywhere. With the help of Antutu Officer, you can very quickly check the authenticity of any mobile product.
Checking by external signs
Checking by external signs does not give 100% certainty, however, these factors may force a more thorough investigation.
Technical support
Checking by external signs does not provide 100% certainty, however, these factors may give rise to a more thorough investigation.
It is worth paying attention to external features:
- Poor-quality materials of accessories - the power adapter, headphones, cable can be detected by touch. As a rule, the plastic feels unpleasant or the assembly itself is flimsy and does not inspire confidence;
- Models that must have a metal or glass body are made of plastic ;
- The display or case very quickly becomes covered with scratches or even cracks;
- discharges very quickly from the first days - some sellers on Aliexpress sell phones with fake batteries;
- The screen is grainy , it causes eye fatigue and unnatural color rendition is visible;
- Large black frames around the screen are striking ;
- The layout of the buttons and ports differs from images from official sources.
In addition to external signs, it is worth carefully studying the operation of the smartphone and its software:
- Mi and Redmi models should have Miui shell . Try updating the firmware through the settings item; as a rule, fakes give an error;
- An unknown has been entered (a sign of using a phone or assembly from different donors);
- slowdown , lags;
- Unstable operation of modules (camera, autofocus, microphone, speaker, loss of cellular communication);
- Phone with clean firmware gets very hot
The last two points can mean either a fake or an ordinary defect.
Why check
To make sure that you purchased an original device from a Chinese company, you can independently check the authenticity of your Xiaomi. This is necessary to avoid becoming the owner of the copy. Since their owners face a lot of problems:
- Low quality. In some cases, you can identify a fake by its appearance: fragile thin plastic, rapid appearance of chips and scratches. If we look at the example of the Mi Band 4 smart watch, we will immediately notice the rough, hard strap of the fake, as well as the incorrect and inaccurate operation of the system.
- It will be impossible to find the device if it is stolen. Since non-original devices have a fake IMEI, the search will end in failure. Fraudsters assign non-original numbers for their products; genuine products have unique s/n and IMEI numbers.
- Poor functionality. Non-original smartphones are much more likely to experience system crashes and freezes. Applications may simply turn off during operation.
On a note!
Very often, system malfunctions are caused not by the device itself, but by crooked localized firmware.
Thanks to the uniqueness check, the user will have confidence in purchasing a high-quality functional device. If you have a fake in your hands, you can go to the store and try to return the device back.
Checking with programs
Previously, a proprietary application “Verification tool” was used for verification, which no longer works. In addition to it, it was possible to use the “Antutu Officer” program from a third-party developer, but it also ceased to exist.
At the moment there are two ways:
- Conduct a performance test using the AIDA64, CPU-Z application (or any other application that will show the technical characteristics of the device).
QR Code
AIDA64
Developer: FinalWire Ltd
Price: Free
We go into the application, open the properties of your smartphone and compare the characteristics (display resolution, processor, frequency, battery capacity, etc.) with those declared by the manufacturer (the parameters can be found on the official website or other resources).
- Conduct a performance test using any benchmark (for example, geekbench 5).
QR Code
Geekbench 5
Developer: Primate Labs Inc.
Price: Free
We start testing, get the power expressed in points, and compare it with the results of the same model (data can be found on the Internet).
Interface and installed software
Xiaomi installs only Android OS on its products in combination with the proprietary MIUI shell. This means that if other software is found in the smartphone, this clearly indicates that the device is counterfeit. And keep in mind that the possibility of installing firmware (official MIUI or any other) on a fake smartphone is completely excluded.
How to avoid counterfeits
To avoid counterfeit equipment, the investigator follows the following rules:
- Do not buy where the price is lowest (with the exception of well-known store brands);
- Purchase goods only from well-known stores;
- If possible, check the device before purchasing;
When purchasing from Aliexpress:
- Read reviews carefully;
- Choose a seller with a large number of purchases and a rich assortment;
- Do not make transactions with new sellers (these may simply disappear after a while).
How to check the authenticity of a smartphone when purchasing
It is best to check the item before you pay for it. Fortunately, there are several parameters that will raise enough suspicion to refuse the purchase.
By checking the device before purchasing, you get rid of the possible hassle of exchanging and returning a smartphone. Photo: usanewsnow.info
- If you purchase a product in an offline store, be sure to prepare in advance, look at the list of items included. When purchasing, make sure everything is in place. The Xiaomi package should always include a cable and an AC adapter for charging (with rare exceptions, for example, the Mi 11 smartphone may not have them), as well as instructions. It may only be in Chinese, but this does not mean that the phone is fake: it all depends on the device model and the country in which the smartphone is sold.
- Be sure to check for an official guarantee.
- Inspect the appearance of the goods before paying!
- If there is such a possibility, be sure to ask the seller to show you the characteristics that are available in the device system: phone model, operating and built-in memory, processor, software version.
- When purchasing a device from an online store, always check the possibility of returning the product. Try to check it upon receipt using at least one of the methods listed above. The simplest one is by IMEI identifier.
- If you are dealing with a reputable seller, he will return your money if a counterfeit product is detected.
There are many myths that Chinese manufacturers create only fakes, and the fact of buying a fake smartphone is almost impossible to disclose. As you can see, this is not the case. It is very easy to check the authenticity of a device, and the main thing is to do it on time and not waste money.
What is an original and what is a fake
Why is it important to understand which Xiaomi phone you bought, original or fake? Firstly, everything you have heard about phones of this brand, all their capabilities, both hardware and software, are available only in original devices, i.e. those designed and produced by Xiaomi.
Fake Xiaomi phones have nothing in common with the original ones; they even differ in appearance from the models they are trying to copy, not to mention the internal content.
When you buy it, you're unlikely to take the phone apart to see how it's put together inside, what chips were used, what battery is installed, and what camera module actually takes the pictures.
Counterfeit phones always use the cheapest components that can be found on the market. The processor is the slowest and cheapest, the memory is the slowest and short-lived, the body is made of the cheapest plastic, which will lose its appearance after a couple of weeks of use.
There’s nothing to say about the camera; fakes use matrices that are so bad that they cost pennies. You can't get any high-quality pictures with these cameras.
Let's not forget about the software; counterfeits use old versions of the Android OS, which cannot be updated under any circumstances. Moreover, many fake Xiaomi phones do not use Android at all, they use their own OS, which does not support the installation of third-party applications. What is on the phone works, nothing else can be installed. Of course, such an operating system does not support any services from Google, so these phones are completely useless.
We have figured out how real Xiaomi differs from fake ones, now I will tell you about all the ways in which you can quickly determine the original in your hands, or an insidious replica.
What’s important is that you can perform some verification methods very quickly before buying a phone in a store, so you can determine the true state of affairs before you spend money.
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Build quality of the device
Due to the installation of the cheapest modules in fake smartphones, the quality of the devices is at a very low level: dim and blurry images on the screen, poor quality of photos and videos, noise during conversations, etc. A smartphone may work slowly and “slow down” due to a low-quality and low-power processor, the microphone may malfunction, and the connection may be disconnected from time to time.
The Xiaomi brand uses only the highest quality components, and smartphones undergo strict quality control. This means an absolute absence of squeaks, loose fits, rattling, and the use of thin plastic, including those that emit a pronounced plastic aroma.
How to find out Xiaomi serial number
I searched for information on this topic on the Internet for quite a long time and came to a disappointing result - it is only possible to find out the Xiaomi number on its original box. It is not registered anywhere inside the smartphone, neither in the engineering menu, nor in the system properties, and even with the help of third-party diagnostic applications it cannot be recognized.
Therefore, if you strictly need to know the Xiaomi serial number, you need packaging, otherwise there is no other way.
On the box you can find it under a large barcode, it begins with the letters “SN”.
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Specifications
If the device has fake firmware installed, then there is a high probability that data about them will be displayed that is as similar as possible to the official characteristics. Using AnTuTu check sometimes does not allow obtaining reliable results due to the fact that know-name manufacturers have found ways to bypass it.
Stages of checking technical characteristics:
- Go on the website. The resource contains information on the characteristics of all smartphones in the world, presented by their official manufacturers;
- After downloading the program (CPU-Z), you are given the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the list of names and functions of modules installed on the smartphone.
When comparing data from CPU-Z with the website, close attention is paid to the display resolution, type of processor and its frequencies. This kind of data is also contained on other sites, so you can check the technical characteristics on other thematic resources.
