The Chinese company Xiaomi leads the world in sales of inexpensive and high-quality smartphones. At the same time, it produces mobile devices for its domestic market. And here, most users, especially newcomers, have many problems and questions. One of these is how to distinguish the global version of Xiaomi from the Chinese, and which is better?
What versions of Xiaomi smartphones are there
There are three main modifications: global assembly, Chinese and Indian. Judging by the names, you can already determine which version belongs to which country. This means that a European user will not be able to use a Chinese device, and an Indian will not do the global version. Let’s find out.
Global version – Global
Created specifically for users from European and American countries. Provides the necessary Google services and is multilingual. You will not need to spend time reflashing, searching, and implementing language patches. The first time you start the mobile device, it will offer you a list of available languages.
The package is also noteworthy. The kit must present a charger suitable for our (EU) outlets, the English-language manual, and the official warranty from the manufacturer.
Chinese version – China
Developed for use only within China.
You should not confuse the Chinese version of the phone and the Chinese firmware! Smartphones under the Chinese shell MIUI can be upgraded and work fine in any country. But the purely Chinese device, most likely, will not work at all. It does not have the communication standards available in the CIS countries and Europe, and it may have a different processor.
Moreover, recently there have been some serious bans on reflashing and locking the bootloader. Trying to translate the Chinese smartphone Xiaomi to the global firmware – get a brick.
Indian version – India
A specific build made for buyers from India. In this country is a very common company, Xiaomi, and its products are very popular.
Therefore, the company quite often creates localized devices. The last of these was the most popular smartphone Pocophone F1 and a slightly modified Redmi Note 6 Pro. The Indian version is slightly different from the global version: more RAM and external memory.
Recently, many models oriented to India began to emerge, so when buying a phone, pay attention to this.
The main differences between Global and Chinese versions of phone Xiaomi
Now in practice, let’s look at how to distinguish between the versions of the phones in appearance and “stuffing”. The best option – is the global version on the global firmware, so we will be guided by it.
Packaging
The first thing you should pay attention to is the smartphone’s packaging. The global version will necessarily have a red mark Global Version, and all the inscriptions are in English.
The Chinese package is slightly different. You will receive a similar white/orange cardboard box, but without identification marks and the presence of hieroglyphs.
Power supply and plug
A plug not designed for EU outlets often comes with the Chinese smartphone. But some sellers, for example, on AliExpress, specially put the European adapter. So if the charging wire fits you, it’s far from an indication of the global version.
MIUI version code, IMEI, and authentication
Looking through the mobile device and the “Settings” will not be superfluous. Of course, this is already a longer procedure, but it should not be skipped. Buying a smartphone in a suspicious local store, persistently ask the seller to turn on the device and check everything on the following points:
- Find the device’s IMEI on the package and compare it to the code listed on the smartphone. To do this, type *#06#. If the numbers match – there is no problem with the device.
- Go to Settings – About phone and pay attention to the MIUI version section. If you see the letters MI – it means the global version, and CN – the Chinese version.
- Look at the number of digits specified in the version. If there are more than 4, it is possible that you got a Vietnamese version.
- And the last option: check the authenticity of the smartphone through the official Xiaomi website.
FAQ
I have a global version of Xiaomi, but the firmware is Chinese. Can I flash it, or will I get a brick?
It depends on the year of the phone. If it is before 2018 – you won’t have any problems, but if it’s new – you need to unlock the bootloader.
My phone is on MIUI Global Developer, but updates come very rarely. Could it be custom firmware?
Check the automatic updates in Settings and go to the MIUI website. There may be simply no new builds for your model yet.
Is it worth buying Xiaomi on AliExpress?
Yes, because the price is significantly lower than in local online stores. Only choose proven sellers, and carefully read the reviews and ratings. It should be written that this is a smartphone with a global version, multi-language, and Google services presence. Also, do not be fooled by too low a price. And it is advisable to buy a product with a warranty, for example, on Tmall.
As you can see, it’s quite easy to distinguish the Global version of Xiaomi from China. Take just a little time, fully test the device, and then you can buy a good device with quality firmware and no lags.
