Serious competition unfolded in the Chinese market. If earlier the products of Apple, Samsung and Sony became the main object of counterfeiting, then after Chinese companies such as Lenovo and Xiaomi entered the top ten largest manufacturers, 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, only the new Xiaomi can be distinguished from a fake in this way. 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
You can also distinguish a Xiaomi fake from the original when you 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 a special application for checking its 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.
How to check Xiaomi phone for authenticity? There are several easy ways to do this:
Method 1:
Of course, the developers are aware of the problem associated with a large number of fakes, and an application was released specifically for owners of Xiaomi products. You only need to download it and run it.
Method 2:
This option works, but does not guarantee full confidence that your Xiaomi is not a fake. You need to go to the official website, where there is a database of all released smartphones. Enter the IMEI field there, as well as the serial number. Here is a link to check: http://www.mi.com/verify/#imei_en. Here you need to click the second tab Verify your phone purchase.
If you do not know where to get this data, then there are two methods to look at it:
- Open the back cover and look at the battery. There is a sticker on it: the top line is IMEI, the bottom line is the serial number.
- Enter the number *#06# to find out the IMEI. Then go to Settings>About phone>Status and you will see the serial number.
The problem is that attackers often copy all this data from the original model.
Method 3:
Take the box from the smartphone and look at the back - there should be a special code. Go to the same site that is indicated in the second method and in the first tab Xiaomi Product Authentication enter the code.
Here you can see how many times it was entered. If it was entered once, then everything is in order and no one checked it before you. It may also be that the input was made several times - in this case, do not worry, because this is often done by the sellers themselves for verification.
And if the code was entered 30, 40, 50 times, then this is clearly a wake-up call.
For clarity, watch the video:
As practice shows, with the increase in the popularity of any gadget model, its fake necessarily appears. This has already become a common occurrence, which does not surprise anyone. If a person just wants to become the owner of a beautiful little thing, then, in general, he will not be upset when he finds out that he has become a “victim” of scammers (naturally, if the smartphone was purchased at an affordable price). Otherwise, trouble cannot be avoided. Therefore, in the buying process, you should not make hasty decisions.
How not to get caught
Experienced Owners Xiaomi Redmi 3, how to distinguish a fake know, but newcomers do not. Probably the surest way to buy an original model is to contact the official points of sale. The seller appreciates the trust in himself and will not risk it by offering you a fake.
Remember, the original Xiaomi model, even if you buy it "on hand", simply cannot be cheap. A gadget that has been in operation for some time, of course, will cost you less. But if they are trying to sell you a model for minimal money, be sure this Xiaomi Redmi 3 is fake.
Obvious features of the original
Package. The instructions on the package must be written in normal type. The letters "run" should not. On the box, without fail, there is a certified code that can be compared with the code on the official website.
Take a photo and look at its quality. The manufacturer claims that the camera takes good pictures. But, of course, this is not the most reliable way.
As a result, it can be noted that if you have “no trained eye”, then it will be difficult for you to determine whether you are faced with an original or a fake. As mentioned above, only a purchase from an official representative of the manufacturer is the key to obtaining the original. Never forget this.
Whatever smartphone is, it needs protection
Whether you own a fake or not, you should buy a Xiaomi Redmi 3 case. It will protect the case of the device from the negative impact during the operation of the device. Scuffs and dirt will not be terrible, and in the event of an unintentional fall, the accessory will keep the device intact.
The fact that the original phone is much better than a fake is probably known to all owners of gadgets. The original origin guarantees the flawless operation of the device for a long time, as really reliable components are used for assembly.
Also, there are no questions about the quality and functionality of the software. If there are difficulties or incomprehensible moments during operation, you can always contact the support service, where you will be given a comprehensive answer. Naturally, original products will cost more, but purchasing a non-original Xiaomi phone will definitely be a dubious savings due to incorrect and short-lived operation of the device.
How to check Xiaomi smartphone for originality
There are 3 main verification methods.
Via App
This is the official application developed by Xiaomi.
Your course of action will be:
By IMEI on the site
Xiaomi has its own database of identification numbers that are assigned to each product it produces. The test is not 100% accurate. This is due to the fact that "craftsmen" steal IMEI directly from the manufacturer, and then assign them to fake phones.
Sequencing:
You can get information about the identification and serial numbers by examining the information contained on the sticker on top of the packaging box. In the event that the box is not saved or the information is not readable, then open the dialer and enter the combination of numbers * # 06 #. You can also get the necessary information if you go to the "Settings" menu, select "About phone", and then "General information".
By product code
There is another way how to distinguish a fake from an original Xiaomi smartphone. It, like the previous version, does not give a 100% probability of an accurate result due to the likelihood of code theft by intruders. To do this, enter in the address bar
The Chinese fake of Xiaomi sounds strange, but if you think about it, as soon as success comes to any manufacturer of equipment for mass use, they immediately begin to copy it - sometimes successfully, sometimes not very much, and this applies not only to Apple or Samsung. This is exactly what happens with Xiaomi smartphones, which are widely used for their low cost combined with wide technical capabilities and high quality workmanship. Today, on the same Ali or Avito, you can easily stumble upon non-original devices - both flagships and budget models. How to distinguish a fake Xiaomi from the original? Let's figure it out together.
How to distinguish fake Xiaomi through the application?
Few people know, but for the convenience of its customers, Xiaomi has released a special Mi Verification mobile application in order to distinguish the original from the fake. You can either download it from the link or by scanning the QR code below.
For this:
It's strange, but when I checked my Xiaomi Redmi for originality, when I clicked on the link, I got an error - the application was not available from the official site. But this does not matter - it is easily searched for by name in the Play Market repository
Authentication takes place by its IMEI and serial number. Where to get this data? There are two ways:
- From the sticker on the box - it is present on all officially sold smartphones. It has barcodes with IMEI (1) and S / N, that is, the phone's serial number.
- If the packaging has been lost for a long time, then it is easy to get information from the menu of the phone itself - for this we go to "Settings - About Phone - General Information"
This page will display the serial number, and to view the IMEI (1) you will need to go to another subsection.
We enter these data in the application and check.
How to distinguish a fake from the original Xiaomi on the site?
Another reliable way to distinguish an original Xioami smartphone from a fake is through the official Xaiomi authentication website "Product Authentication" - here we will see the same interface as in the application. Enter the numbers in the appropriate fields in the "Verify your phone purchase" tab.
Security code check
Finally, another verification method, available for both the application and the web version of the authentication service, and suitable not only for smartphones and tablets, but also for other gadgets that do not have IMEI, for example, headphones or portable chargers - 20 each digit security code. It is under a protective sticker on the box that looks something like this
It is necessary to erase the silver with a coin, under which the code is hidden. And enter it on the same site, but only in the "Xiaomi Product Authentication" tab
After verification, you will find out if this device is really original and how many times this code was entered in the verification service. If you are the first one to hold it in your hands, then the value should be equal to "1"
If you know any other ways to distinguish an original Xiaomi from a fake, share them in the comments.
