We have already said this more than once. Xiaomi is one of our favorite brands since it has a multitude of really attractive mobile phones at prices to suit all budgets. But that Xiaomi is one of the most popular brands of the moment is a double-edged sword because it means that it is also one of the companies that suffers more counterfeits.
And it is not the first time that the Chinese company has warned of this terrible problem. A few months ago the company warned that both its chargers and powerbanks were falling victim to counterfeiting. But beware, not only are these accessories an imitation object, but also their smartphones.
Time how can i know if my new xiaomi phone is real? Keep reading.
How to know if the Xiaomi you have purchased is fake
How to know if my Xiaomi is really real?
The truth is that the internet is a tool that makes it so much easier for us when it comes to buying products, as we can see at a glance where the best prices are. But the internet also has its dangers and it is that one of the biggest problems when buying a smartphone is that we cannot see it before we buy it.
And this is where our fears begin. We may have seen a really cheap device on a particular website, but is it true? What if they send me a fake smartphone? Counterfeits are becoming more faithful to the originals, so how do I know if my phone is really real?
These fears grow when we buy phones in Chinese stores, for example Xiaomi models, a brand that is unfortunately quite easy to forge. Fortunately Xiaomi has some tools so that its users can easily check whether the phones they own are real or not.
Although the most experienced eyes may simply guess that a phone is real or just out of the box, the truth is that there is most users will have to use alternative methods. One of these methods is thanks to the IMEI number that each device has assigned and which will allow us to know if we have been victims of an imitation or if, on the contrary, our purchase was a total success.
What is the IMEI number and how to find it
IMEI is the number used to identify every phone on the market
The IMEI of a mobile phone is a 15-digit code used to identify a smartphone and it never hurts to know him. It is really a number that allows the identification of our device among the rest of the smartphones. In other words, each mobile phone has its own IMEI number assigned and two smartphones cannot have the same number.
The IMEI, therefore, it is necessary to know it –Or at least having transcribed it in a safe place– as it can be useful on more than one occasion, for example if we lose it, it is stolen or in the case of having a device blocked by some operator, wanting to release it.
To know this number we have several alternatives. One of them is to simply consult the box of our device. In it the IMEI should appear written on a label. This of course is the simplest method but not the only one since, what if we have thrown the box?
In this case we just have to go to the phone settings, more precisely in the section About phone> Status. Here we can check the IMEI although we also have other alternatives. To do this we will simply have to dial the number * # 06 # on the dial of our device. Once this is done and automatically, the IMEI will appear.
But perfect, we already know the IMEI of our device. Now, how to know if the xiaomi cell phone we bought is real?
Check that your Xiaomi is real
We have an alleged Xiaomi mobile and we know the IMEI number. Now we just have to check if our device is actually real.
Very simple, we just have to access the Xiaomi product authentication page, enter the IMEI and wait for the results. In case everything is correct, the website will confirm them. In the event that the IMEI does not correspond to a Xiaomi phone ... it would be better to contact the site that sold it to us and request the amount of the exchange due to counterfeiting.
This is quick and easy we will check if the mobile we bought is really a Xiaomi or if, on the contrary, we have been robbed. Lucky.
Other methods to know if a Xiaomi is fake or true
Now we will look at some methods other than IMEI to know if Xiaomi is real or is an imitation.
Use the "Mi Verification" application
Given this situation, Xiaomi has launched an application that allows us to check if our terminal is fake or not. It can be downloaded from this link. Once installed, open it and scan.
A QR scanner will appear that you need to scan with another device, or go to http://jd.mi.com and scan it from your terminal. Wait for the application to work its magic and give you the result. If it is negative, go to the seller and return it as soon as possible. You can also use AnTuTu Officer.
Install a stock MIUI ROM
A ROM is the operating system file. When you install a stock ROM, you will reset the terminal from the factory, but you will also check that it is original.
Download the original MIUI ROM for your device and try to install it. If the phone is genuine it should allow you to install it without any problems. If it's fake, the phone will brick, for the simple reason that the ROM you're trying to install isn't designed for that fake device.
Check out the design
While design-wise, copies may appear the same at first glance, there are small details that can reveal whether a phone is fake or real. Flash can be a good example. Most Xiaomi Phones has a dual tone flash, so the flash will have an orange part and a whiter part.
If it is completely white or completely orange, it means that the phone is a fake. The same goes for the edges. The Mi Note 2 has a gold bezel, while the knockoffs don't.
Pass a landmark
Xiaomi phones usually they score very high in performance tests. AnTuTu is one of the most famous. Download it on your terminal and take the test. At the end, the application will make a comparison with the different terminals.
There you should check what average score your phone gets ; if it is much lower than average you could use a fake.
Check the MIUI version
The vast majority of fake phones have a modified ROM to give them the impression that it is real. Go to settings and look for the "About my phone" section. Check which version of MIUI you have installed and ask in the forums / google which version it should be.
If, for example, in the settings you find that it has MIUI 12, when you search for "MIUI 12" on Google you will see that there are no results because it does not exist.
Check the accessories in the box
If the packaging has arrived very complete, it is possible that your Xiaomi smartphone is a fake. The devices of the Chinese company they are supplied without headphones. If your phone has headphones you should be worried. Check that the Xiaomi logo is present on the package and that a user guide is provided. If there is no logo or guide, your phone is most likely a fake.
Now you know how to identify a fake Xiaomi. If you are one of those affected by these imitations, please feel free to contact the phone seller, explain the situation and ask for your money. I also invite you, if you've been there, to tell us what your experience was and how you discovered it, so that, together, we can help those people who may be in the process of being scammed.
