What to check when buying xiaomi. How to distinguish fake Xiaomi

On Xiaomi smartphones, authentication is more relevant than ever, because a huge number of purchases fall on Chinese stores. Of course, smartphones are cheaper on these sites, but there are more risks. Chief among them is the possibility of getting a fake. Xiaomi smartphones are indeed counterfeited, as in 2017 they took second place in the popularity ranking after the iPhone.

After the phone is in your hands, you have 14 days to do everything about everything: check the authenticity, file a claim with the seller and exchange the fake. Overview to supply you with all the necessary knowledge.

You can check the smartphone for authenticity on the official website of Xiaomi. It has a database of IMEI and serial numbers (S / N) of all its products, and allows you to identify a fake. The IMEI number and S/N are indicated on the box.

For your information: a valid IMEI number will be displayed after entering the command * # 06 # in standard application"Telephone". It is not recommended to read the IMEI and S / N number from the box! The serial number is available on the path Settings - About phone - general information.

To complete the verification procedure, you must:

If a red warning message appears at the top of the identification number, and the page cannot be updated and provide information about the phone (as in the image above), then the IMEI is not present in the database and the device is not original.

Check by IMEI

One way to check the authenticity on Xiaomi is to use a special command that will show the IMEI number. This is a special set of numbers that represents a unique lot digit code, which contains a lot of information about the device. Using IMEI, you can even search for a smartphone in case of loss.

Xiaomi has two such numbers, they are indicated on the box. However, they cannot testify to the authenticity of the smartphone until the IMEI check is carried out programmatically on the smartphone and then compared with the numbers indicated on this very box.

As already mentioned, these numbers are unique. Counterfeiters put the same IMEI number on all boxes. In this case, the code in the program will be different. The discrepancy between the numbers indicated on the package and the numbers identified by the program will be evidence of the purchase of a fake phone. To find out the IMEI number on your smartphone, you will need to perform a few simple steps:

• go to the "Phone" application;
• enter the command * # 06 # in the line;
• wait for display IMEI numbers on the device display.

After that, it remains to compare the numbers indicated in the software with the numbers printed on the package. If they are different, then the device is not authenticated.

Security code verification method

Another option with which you can check the authenticity of Xiaomi is a verification through a security code. This special code, which is imprinted on the box of the device and closed with a special coating that must be erased in order for the numbers to become available. A similar coating is applied to lottery tickets, so finding it on the box will not be difficult.

To obtain information about the smartphone, you need to enter the code on the company's website and follow the steps:

• wipe the area on the box with protective coating to make the number readable. The code has 20 digits, so you need to erase the entire layer to the end.
• go to https://www.mi.com/verify/#secur_en .
• enter the 20-digit code and captcha in the line below in the "Xiaomi Product Authentication" section. And then click on the "Verify" button.

If the code is correct, the page will be refreshed and the user will be presented with information about the country for which the smartphone was produced, as well as how much it has pre-installed and random access memory. In the case when the smartphone is not original, the page simply will not be updated, and a warning about an incorrectly entered or non-existent code will appear above the “Xiaomi Product Authentication” item.

Attention! Not all models have secret code on the box, even in the original versions.

Authentication via Antutu Officer

Antutu Officer is a program for checking the originality of a smartphone. You can install it from Play market. It is easy to use and completely free. To check the device for authenticity, you must:

If the device is not original, a red circle will appear. When the device cannot be recognized, a window will appear with the inscription "Unknown", this happens with rare and unpopular devices. Their fake will not bring much benefit to scammers, so data on such smartphones is not entered into the Antutu databases. However, when this inscription 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 fully automatic and you should not click anywhere. With the help of Antutu Officer, it is possible to very quickly check any mobile products for authenticity.

How to identify a copy by external signs

External signs may indicate that the device was copied from the original, and is not capable of performing all the functions that the original models have.

Fakes differ from the original in the following ways:

• The back cover is not made of aluminum, but of plastic. You can determine this by tactile sensations: plastic does not cool the hand.
• The camera has poor image quality, and autofocus is unstable and constantly tries to stabilize the image.
• The case is painted with poor quality paint and is easily scratched.
• They have less weight due to the use of poor quality materials.
• Poor sound reproduction, especially in conversational dynamics. It is worth noting separately that in the original Xiaomi, the speaker for talking is very forte devices.

If there is the slightest doubt, then the current product of non-original production.

How not to fall for a fake when buying

Sometimes even in those stores that claim that they sell exclusively factory Xiaomi, there are fakes. Unscrupulous merchants can put printed banners with the company logo on the walls of their establishment, and then “hang noodles” on the ears of gullible buyers. Therefore, when buying it is important:

To authenticate, you need to go to the “Settings” of the smartphone and then go to the “About phone” item. It contains all the information that can help. Pay special attention to the line " MIUI Version". It should contain the inscriptions "Stable" and "NAMMIEK".

The described methods will help determine whether Xiaomi smartphone copy. At the same time, it is worth noting that all of them should be carried out in a complex, since one verification option is sometimes not enough to issue a reliable verdict.

Serious competition unfolded in the Chinese smartphone market. If a little earlier the main target of fakes was the venerable Apple, Samsung or Sony, lately copies of companies such as Lenovo and Xiaomi have been popping up on this market more and more often.

Checking the Xiaomi phone for authenticity is not such a simple procedure, especially since the design and other distinctive features of the gadget are not familiar to the domestic user. Sometimes a well-executed logo on a copy is enough and a gullible consumer who has not seen the desired object live will be led to the tricks of scammers.

Let's try to figure out what parameters are used (specifically for Xiaomi) for authentication, and how to protect yourself from acquiring a low-quality copy.

Rear panel

You can distinguish a copy from the original using the back cover. In the original Xiaomi version, it is made of high-quality plastic in a matte finish, while a fake one, as a rule, has a cheap gloss that immediately catches the eye.

Xiaomi camera sticker

Authentication can be carried out by the presence of a branded sticker in the lens area. The shipping film is made of opaque fiber and adheres well to the lens. The method is suitable if you buy a gadget in a store; alas, it does not work for the hand-held option, since the stickers are most likely gone.

SIM card tray

The original Xiaomi gadget (authentication, for example, Mi4 models) has a SIM card slot slightly on the side, the color of the tray matches the color of the case, and the edge does not protrude above the end surface of the device.

In addition, the smartphone does not support two SIM cards, so if you are told about a “new product” with two slots, do not believe it, you have a fake.

Firmware

For Xiaomi devices, authentication can be performed at the time of the firmware update: if you have the original, then a new version the operating system will boot without problems, while the copy simply will not be able to update and even connect to the company's servers.

Interface

The original Xiaomi gadgets work on the Android platform with the proprietary MIUI shell. If your device has a "bare" OS installed, even if it's "Android", then this is a fake. There are some nuances here: especially talented hackers are able to equip a copy with an original interface, so it would be useful to check the gadget for other points.

Original Xiaomi: Authentication by IMEI

By analogy with Apple products, you can check Xiaomi gadgets. There is a special section on the official website of the manufacturer, where after entering the IMEI value, you will be given information about the authenticity of the product.

The only problem that complicates the verification is the Chinese characters. If everything is more or less clear with entering the number, then entering the captcha in Chinese is a problem.

scratch code

On the original Xiaomi packaging, you can always find a sticker with a protective layer. Under it is a scratch code, which just allows you to distinguish a fake from the original. After the protective layer is removed, you must enter a twenty-digit code on the official Xiaomi website (similar to checking by IMEI). If the code is not accepted, then you have a fake.

Xiaomi is a large and popular company that is known all over the world. It is no secret that there are fakes on the market and unscrupulous sellers give out copies as the original in order to earn money. With Xiaomi, this unfortunately also happens. How to check the gadget for authenticity?

Check by IMEI

The first way is to check the unique number of your smartphone. However, it may not show the most reliable result, fake manufacturers can steal numbers. For check:

• go to mi.com/verify/#imei_en ;
• go to the Verify your phone purchase tab;

• in the IMEI field, enter the 15-digit unique number of your smartphone (you can find out on the smartphone box or by dialing *06#);
• enter serial number in the second field (you can find the serial number on the box or in the "About phone" menu section in the "General Information" tab);
• enter the captcha and click on the Verify button;

• The test result will appear in the window.

Specification check

Another way to check is to define specifications smartphone and verification with official data from the device catalog. This can be done using programs and benchmarks (Antutu Benchmark, Geekbench, CPU-Z, Epic Citadel, etc.). We recommend checking with several programs - it's more reliable.

Build Quality Check

All fakes suffer from build quality and tend to have the cheapest system components installed, be it the flash, battery, camera, or processor. If possible, visit a specialized store that sells Xiaomi products, see how everything works in the original device and compare. If you find a discrepancy, you probably have a fake in front of you.

To protect yourself from fakes and not waste time on endless checks, make purchases from trusted sellers. For example, in the Xistore store, all phones are tested and have certified global firmware.

Be protected with Xistore!

The Chinese market has long been famous for its goods, but, unfortunately, among them you can often find fakes, carefully designed by various "pirates". Xiaomi products are also at risk. But to determine a non-original smartphone in appearance is very difficult, almost impossible for non-professionals, so there are different, more reliable methods. In this article, we will talk about how to check Xiaomi phone on authenticity and reduce the possibility of buying low-quality goods to a minimum.

NAVIGATION

6 ways to check Xiaomi for originality

The first 2 methods are almost identical, but 1 gives a full guarantee that you bought the product from a reliable seller, that is, the original.

Method 1: Check through the official Mi Verify website (100%)

This is the simplest and fast way. The verification results are 100% correct, as the algorithm reads the IMEI you entered and looks for it in the official database of released Xiaomi phones.

1. Let's go to the verification page.
2. Enter your IMEI (you can check two, but separately). To find out IMEI - look at the back of the box, or enter a special code *#06# and copy the resulting numbers.
3. Enter the security code (captcha).
4. If the phone / tablet is original, you will receive a green inscription on successful verification.
5. If the device is a fake, you will see a red inscription.

Method 2: How to check Xiaomi for authenticity via IMEI

This method does not always work, but is ideal for those who, for example, do not have enough internal memory for installation additional application. And here you only need access directly to the phone and an online translator.

The problem is: the most skillful and experienced "thieves" sometimes assign official IMEI to fakes in order to mislead the user.

How to find out your IMEI

But still, let's try to carry out the operation. First, find out your IMEI and S / N (serial number). There are two options for this:

1. We find the factory box in which the smartphone was bought. On the reverse side should be a barcode. If you look closely, you can see the necessary data on it.
2. Or open the "Phone" and enter the following number: *#06#. Do not forget about the symbols, do not change the numbers and do not rearrange them. Immediately after the typed command, IMEI will be displayed. In order to show the serial number, go to "Settings" - "About phone" and "General information". In the list that appears, the material you need will definitely be there.

We go to the official verification site, but pay attention to the language: choose only Chinese, because even when English is selected, a completely white page is displayed.

But you can enable automatic Google translation into Russian. Next, enter the above data, namely IMEI and S/N. Let's get to the captcha. Don't worry, a dedicated Zhonga website comes to the rescue. When all fields are filled, click on " Verify". There is a check, after which we get a window similar to the first method. We also see the date, place of purchase of the device, extended characteristics and the final result.

Important! For this process to be successful, yourIP address should only be Chinese. All this can be configured usingVPN. Virtual network v free access is in the browserOpera, or may sometimes be included in

Method 3: Identification through the AnTuTu Officer application

Too easy way, identical to the first one. Only here the program is already provided by the AnTuTu Officer benchmark ( not to be confused with standardAnTuTu). First, we perform the same procedure as with the Verification Tool. Namely:

1. We open Google Play. After the application icon appears, download it, after clearing the space on the internal memory, since up to 100 free megabytes may be required.
2. We are waiting for the installation to complete. Let's go to the program.
3. Now we open the official page on the computer, do not close it until the procedure is successfully completed.

Click on the smartphone start» and scan the QR code again. The real-time check begins. As soon as it ends, we get the result.

A green screen with the name of your device means that the phone is original. If it's a fake, there may be several options. Black or red page available.

Method 4: Checking the technical specifications

This is an addition to the main testing, but quite truthful. The fact is that in all real Xiaomi operating android system contains the MIUI shell. Whereas non-original smartphones can have any other software. No matter how sellers advertise them and pass them off as unique, know that genuine Xiaomi is MIUI only.

Another important fact: it is impossible to install firmware on a fake. I mean, it won't even work. During this operation, the phone will constantly crash, turn off, you may observe unclear characters and screens.

All these are clear signs of imitation of the original product. And they are almost 100% correct.

Method 5: Identification of a fake based on appearance

It is not always possible to determine a fake here. The most experienced "pirates", who earn thousands of dollars on their fakes, have learned how to draw them up with such accuracy that regular user very often falls into the network of lies.

But, as a rule, Chinese deceivers save expensive non-original smartphones for their own compatriots, and send cheaper and low-quality goods to other countries. It's easy enough to identify them.

Signs of a fake phone

1. Cheap, bendable plastic that constantly leaves scratches and dirty marks;
2. Fragile case;
3. Low quality display; screen shattered from minimal damage;
4. The high-performance camera takes terrible pictures, the flash does not respond to distant objects;
5. The sound is noisy, the speaker is crackling, the interlocutor is almost inaudible.

Note! Some of the listed items can sometimes be observed in real Xiaomi, so this data is not enough to charge a fake.

Method 6: Authenticate at the point of purchase

If you buy a phone in a local store, then it will be problematic to immediately identify a fake. Of course, the first thing you should pay attention to before paying - bad appearance , as discussed above. Ask the seller to review the actual settings as they may differ from the specifications shown. For example, the description says 16 GB of internal memory, but in fact there are only 8.

Also pay attention to the packaging of the goods. Depending on the device model and cost, additional gadgets differ, but in any case necessarily Charger as well asUSB-cable. And, of course, the instruction (it is possible that it will only be on Chinese) and official warranty.

Video instruction

As an addition to this article, you get an excellent detailed video instruction, where all possible ways checking the phone for originality. You will be able to see with your own eyes every step of a certain method so that there are no problems and confusion in the process. The information is presented in an easy and understandable way, without complex definitions and materials that only masters in the technical field know.

Answers to popular questions

If I have identified a non-original product, what can I do?

Contact the dealer from whom you purchased the device. In most cases, this is not their fault, they simply receive low-quality products, but they can return the money for the phone to you. Especially problems should not arise if you received a guarantee when buying.

As you can see, it is possible to identify a fake product without much difficulty at home. In order to avoid an incorrect test result, you must carefully follow the above instructions.

But remember that even the device is directly from the by Xiaomi can sometimes have many more flaws than a fake. This is usually related to the terms of delivery.

Serious competition unfolded in the Chinese market. If earlier the main object of counterfeiting was the products of Apple, Samsung and Sony, then after entering the top ten largest manufacturers of such Chinese companies as Lenovo and Xiaomi, their smartphones began to be actively copied as well.

Sometimes it becomes not so easy to distinguish the original Xiaomi smartphone from its fake. Moreover, the design of the latter and the list of models are not as well known to the domestic consumer as the products of the same Apple. Sometimes a nameplate with a logo is enough for a gullible buyer who has heard about Xiaomi smartphones but has not seen them “live” to fall for the tricks of scammers.

Our article will help you understand and find out exactly how you can distinguish a real Xiaomi from its copy.

• Rear panel

The back cover will help to distinguish the copy. If the original has a panel made of matte plastic, then the cheap gloss is striking for fakes.

• Factory sticker on the camera

The transport film on the lens of the original devices is made of an opaque material. Unfortunately, in this way it is possible to distinguish from a fake only new xiaomi. If you take the device from your hands, most likely the sticker is gone.

• SIM card tray

The original Xiaomi (for example, Mi4) has a SIM card slot located on the side, has the same color as the edge and does not protrude above the end surface. Only one SIM is supported.

• Firmware

Distinguish fake Xiaomi From the original, you can also try to update the software via the Internet. The copy simply will not be able to download the latest version of the OS update.

• Interface

Real Xiaomi are equipped with Android OS with a proprietary MIUI shell. If a "naked" Android is installed in the purchased device, this is a fake. True, many fakes can also be equipped with an original interface, since it is not difficult for a specialist to modify the firmware and install the MIUI shell.

• Check byIMEIandS/ N(serial number)

Like Apple products, you can check Xiaomi for authenticity on the official website of the manufacturer by clicking on the link http://order.mi.com/service/imei. True, only those who are familiar with Chinese writing can take advantage of this opportunity: if everything is clear with the number entry fields, then the captcha is there with hieroglyphs, and the result of the check is the same. Only the red color of the message makes it clear that something went wrong, and you have a copy in your hands.

Some counterfeiters can steal original IMEI bases and assign them to their products. Therefore, it is impossible to distinguish 100% original Xiaomi.

• Scratch code check

There is a sticker with a protective coating on the box of the original Xiaomi. Under it there is a scratch code that allows you to distinguish a smartphone from a fake. Erase it (cover) and enter the number on the manufacturer's website, at http://www.mi.com/verify/. In the case of an incorrect code, you can be sure that your Xiaomi is a fake.

• Special Application

To protect customers from fakes, the manufacturer has released special application to test their products, Xiaomi AntiFake. Unfortunately, since Xiaomi smartphones are not officially exported outside the Celestial Empire, the creators did not take care of the interface in languages ​​other than Chinese. Enthusiasts made a partial translation of the program, but many items remained with hieroglyphs. But, and this is enough to distinguish the copy: if after the test the message is on a green background, then everything is fine, you have the original. Red color indicates a fake.