When buying a Xiaomi smartphone from unofficial sellers, you need to have at least a minimal understanding of the technical nuances, know what lines of smartphones are on the market and understand how the global version of Xiaomi differs from the Chinese or other versions.
The company's portfolio of mobile devices is organized simply: a number of models are united by similar features and capabilities into separate families. For example, the Redmi Note series, whose devices are considered the best in terms of price/quality ratio. There are also budget phones, “just” Redmi, and the Mi line, which is positioned as a flagship, where they offer all the best: excellent speed, premium materials, decent photo quality and the latest fast charging technologies.
But there is something that all the company’s smartphones have in common - MIUI firmware. Perhaps this is one of the high-quality Android add-ons of all, where they manage to combine nice “tricks” with decent speed and stability of the shell under a pleasant interface.
At the moment, Miui is presented in several versions or “guises”. In this article we will talk about the following:
- How does the global version differ from the regular one?
- Let us explain what versions of Xiaomi exist;
- How to choose the right smartphone on AliExpress with the required firmware, so that you don’t regret what you’ve done.
Differences between the global version of Xiaomi and the Chinese one
Before purchasing a new phone, be sure to check what modification the seller offers for purchase . Just a couple of simple recommendations will allow you to distinguish between device versions.
Equipment and markings
One has only to look at the smartphone box, and it is immediately clear which version is inside. The packaging for the Chinese market has hieroglyphs , while the box for the global market has inscriptions in English . A sign that this is a variation for the international market is the Global Version label in red . Inside the package there is an instruction manual in the language of the country where the device is sold.
On the back of the smartphone there is also the inscription “Made in China” or “Made in India” , there is a company logo and you can find the model number.
Another sign of what variation of the gadget is in front of you is the charging adapter . The delivery set includes an original charging unit with flat pins for the Chinese market . to the European and global markets with a charger that already has a corresponding plug out of the box.
Region and Language
You can determine which version of the Xiaomi phone you have in front of you by checking the language pack . So, in China the choice of languages is limited to English and Chinese , for the rest of the world, including Europe - a full package of languages provided by Android.
Technical differences
There is a difference in hardware and characteristics . For example, in China they use a hybrid slot for a SIM card or microSD card , and also offer support for two SIM cards. While outside the Middle Kingdom they offer the same model with a separate slot for a microSD card or the ability to work with only one SIM card.
NFC
For quite a long time, Xiaomi smartphones were not equipped with such a function as NFC. The reason is simple - this wireless technology is not widespread or popular in China. But as devices expanded beyond the home market, they began to be equipped with NFC modules. It is considered the norm that models for the Chinese market do not have a chip for contactless payments , while global versions do.
LTE support
Chinese devices offer support for LTE bands at frequencies Band 1, 3, 5 and 7. For the international market they produce models capable of operating at frequencies Band 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 20. This means that the global version of Xiaomi is not able to correctly operate in fourth generation networks in China and a similar rule is valid for international modifications, but in the vastness of the Middle Kingdom.
Separately - Rostest version (PCT)
What version is this and what are its advantages?
This version is not much different from the international version. Global Version is certified according to Eurotest standards. It operates all over the world except for some countries, including Russia.
In Russia, the Eurotest certificate is superimposed on another one - the Russian one (Rostest). Thus, Rostest is a certificate of an already certified product in Europe. Of course, this does not come without additional costs, and accordingly, its cost is included in the price of the smartphone. On average, this is approximately 20% of the cost of the product.
What does this give?
In return, you get the right to have your phone repaired during the entire warranty period at official service centers throughout the country. A phone with a certificate from Eurotest is listed all over the world. Nowhere in the world do they overpay 20% of the price for an additional guarantee.
Only the Rostest version has an official guarantee?
It should be noted that Eurotest (Global Version, EU) and the Chinese version of the phone (Global ROM) do not have a guarantee, like Rostest throughout Russia.
In this case, you are not left without a guarantee; for such versions the store provides its own warranty for a period of 1 year. Those. you can have it repaired free of charge under warranty by bringing it to the store where you bought it.
In general, buying a Eurotest is the same as if you bought a phone abroad at a lower price. Only in case of warranty repair, you would have to go back to this country or repair it at home for money. When you buy Eurotest or Global ROM, say, in our store, you immediately have a free guarantee and you don’t need to go anywhere.
What versions of Xiaomi smartphones are there?
It's time to explain what variations of smartphones are produced and why the company needed to divide them. The fact is that Xiaomi is struggling with resellers and shortages. To prevent cunning businessmen from buying up devices and thereby causing a shortage, and also to avoid an imbalance in the number of available devices in different markets, the company has introduced a division of devices into versions targeted at specific markets.
In addition, Google services are blocked in China , while outside this country users can no longer imagine a full-fledged smartphone without them. Support for cellular network standards , which vary in regions, is also important . The differences between versions of smartphones are also in the language packs installed on them.
Chinese version
Version for the Chinese market (China, Cn)
China ROM is a version intended exclusively for the Chinese market. It is replete with pre-installed applications targeting the preferences of users in the domestic market. to choose from : English and Chinese . And, perhaps most importantly, there are no Google services here and it is impossible to make contactless payments via NFC in the global market. And you can also forget about the warranty for a smartphone outside the Middle Kingdom.
It is also important which 4G LTE frequencies are supported. Thus, Chinese telecommunications companies do not work with fourth-generation networks in the 800 MHz band; there is no support for Band 20. Even if you try to reflash a Chinese device to the international MIUI shell, high-speed 4G Internet will not work in the LTE 800 coverage area.
However, reflashing a smartphone is now a quest . Gone are the days when just a few simple steps were required to roll a global card on any “Chinese”. From now on, you need to obtain permission, which will take several days, and with any careless movement there is a risk of getting a “brick” . But even if you manage to install the global version of the firmware, there is no guarantee that along with it the Xiaomi phone will not receive a number of problems and reduced functionality .
The advantage of China ROM is that smartphones with it on board are among the first to receive MIUI updates. While updates reach all other devices with a considerable delay.
Global ROM - modified Chinese version
Global ROM is a smartphone model aimed at the Asian market reflashed by the seller on Aliexpress. The reseller independently unlocked the bootloader and began installing the global version of the firmware. If in terms of software, it is practically no different from the Global Version, then the hardware limitations will not go away. This phone does not offer LTE b20 and there is a high probability that banking applications will not work correctly , which in turn will lead to the inability to make contactless payments .
Indian version
It is not difficult to guess that these are mobile devices that are aimed at the Indian market and are produced here. Xiaomi has several factories in the country on the banks of the Ganges River that assemble the company’s equipment. To increase the attractiveness of gadgets in this country, it has repeatedly flaunted the fact that smartphones are assembled in India and sold immediately.
Such mobile phones operate under the global version of MIUI, but with a number of differences in terms of pre-installed software. Smartphones are supplied in branded packaging, written in English, and there is always an inscription that they were made in India . You can determine that this is an Indian version, first of all, by the number of supported LTE frequencies. There are fewer of them than in China and on the world market.
Showing its loyalty to Indian consumers, Xiaomi often premieres its new smartphones in India, and subsequently they appear on the global market and directly in China. It also happens that they go outside India with different names and different memory configurations.
Russian version (Rostest)
In terms of software and hardware, smartphones are no different from global variations . The only trick is that they are labeled “Rostest” and certified by this department. They have official status and are available exclusively on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The Rostest marking means that they have identification codes (IMEI) and their warranty is valid throughout Russia; the user has the right to receive warranty service at any Russian certified center.
The disadvantage of such devices is that the price is on average 15-20% higher than for models sold on the “gray” market. Such devices are supplied legally, and the importer pays all necessary taxes and fees . The costs associated with the import of devices are included in the final price tag, and it is higher than what is asked for “gray smartphones.”
Global version
Devices available mainly on the European and American continents.
Xiaomi Global version, the key difference from other versions is:
- multilingual support, there is support for all languages offered by Android, including Russian. The translation is correct, the interface is free of incomprehensible signs and hieroglyphs;
- GSM Android or the full package of Google services is offered, access to the Google Play store;
- 4G LTE bands, 20 band present.
Determining the firmware on a smartphone
In addition to the red sticker on the top of the box, there is another way to find out and determine that the Xiaomi phone has the Global Version platform - information can be easily found in the device.
How to view the firmware version
If the interface language is English when you first start a mobile device, this does not always mean that the firmware is for the Chinese market. To determine the platform on which the phone runs, you need to go to the main menu. Among all the icons you need to select “Settings”. A list will appear on the screen, which you should scroll down to the “About phone” tab.
Full optimization of the MIUI shell
If the menu language is in English, then you need to go to “Settings” and select “About phone”. Information about the smartphone will appear in the category that opens. In the “MIUI Version” or “MIUI Version” sections, information about the installed shell will be indicated.
photo: wojab.compprincamb.tk
Firmware modifications
A distinctive feature of MIUI is its several firmware options:
Stable ROM
Stable ROM is the official firmware of MIUI developers. It is stable, errors and bugs have been fixed . It is recommended for everyone to install it; it optimizes the operation of individual functions and the system as a whole, and also introduces a number of improvements and innovations. There is no clear release schedule.
Developer ROM
Developer ROM or developer firmware, which is created in the depths of Xiaomi and is aimed at geeks or enthusiasts who want to be among the first to try out the new functions of the proprietary shell. After it passes the closed testing stage and all the shortcomings are eliminated, it acquires the status of Stable ROM and is distributed to supported devices. Installation of Developer ROM occurs in two ways: fastboot and recovery.
MIUI Ported ROM
We are talking, first of all, about custom firmware from third-party developers . As a rule, they are released in countries where there is no official support for devices. For example, in Vietnam. The first clear sign that this is third-party software is that when the device boots, the logo of the team that created the firmware appears on the screen.
Poor quality custom builds
The openness of Android and the fact that Xiaomi publishes firmware sources opens up opportunities for device customization, including installing third-party firmware. There are really high-quality custom ones that expand the functionality of smartphones.
But there is always a chance to run into software that will turn into a headache. There is a high risk of getting a “pack” of bugs or a “brick” , and the owner also loses the warranty on the device. Often, installing custom firmware will disable a number of functions, there may be a deterioration in the autonomy and stability of the smartphone , and you should not count on stable support and timely receipt of updates.
Local MIUI ROM, etc.
MIUI ROM - firmware designed to work in the networks of a specific cellular operator . Most often we are talking about WCDMA ROM MIUI and TD ROM , where the first is focused on working in 3G WCDMA networks, and the second is on models for the Chinese market.
Based on the size of the firmware, they are classified:
- Full ROM. They put it on “clean” mobile phones. Contains all key services and eliminates errors that could not be resolved in the usual way;
- Incremental ROM is an “appendage” or addition to MIUI. The main task is to eliminate errors.
iPhone markings
Apple, like Chinese brands, produces its products in three versions: for the American, European and Asian markets. Differences in modification and warranty. All Apple equipment has an official 1-year warranty in the Russian Federation, regardless of certification. For iPhones marked EAC, Russian legislation provides an additional second year of warranty (thanks to Article 19, paragraph 5 of the Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”). The iPhone, which is not certified for Russia, but is marked with the CE mark, is fully adapted for use in our country. Models for other markets may differ in functionality. Thus, “American” iPhones may have Sim-Lock - tied to a specific telecom operator. To use such a “locked” iPhone outside the United States, you need to unlock it or purchase a SIM-free device. UAE iPhones do not have FaceTime video calling capabilities. In Japanese devices, the camera shutter sound cannot be turned off, and there is also no ability to make payments via Apple Pay. Popular 2-SIM models are supplied only to Asian markets, so they cannot be found from official distributors in Russia, although they can be purchased in some stores. Also, depending on the region, the type of plug and the power of the charging unit differ, but with the release of the iPhone 12, which is equipped only with a cable, this problem will gradually and steadily fade into oblivion. Thus, iPhone 11, XR and XS 2020 are already available in “lightweight packaging” slim box (without charging block and headphones).
How to determine what firmware version you have?
In order to understand which firmware version is installed on the gadget, follow the path: “Settings” - “About phone” - MIUI version . Another way is to determine (special identifier) is present or missing We go to the “About phone” , go to “All parameters” then to “General information” , where the presence of the abbreviation MEID next to IMEI indicates that this is a “Chinese” phone.
Separation of MIUI firmware by region
The MIUI firmware is based on the Android platform.
The first modifications were exclusively in Chinese and were based on Android version 2.2.x. Xiaomi developers changed the platform interface and included several of their own applications into the system. The finished OS was quickly accepted and appreciated by users, and was unofficially translated by private developers into many languages.
As soon as the Xiaomi brand reached the global level, the MIUI firmware was divided into global international and local Chinese. The latter does not have any applications from Google - they are replaced by similar local services. The interface language can be English or Chinese, at the user's choice. Global firmware by default includes many Goggle services, as well as several dozen pre-installed languages, incl. Russian.
There are also unofficial versions of MIUI created by third-party developers. Smartphones based on them have a set of programs and options that are different from the original.
conclusions
After reading a “ton” of text, the main conclusion to come to is that it is better to give preference to the global version of Xiaomi and not to “dance with a tambourine” in order to reflash the “Chinese” to Global ROM. Yes, purebred “Chinese” ones are cheaper on AliExpress, but in order to be comfortable working with them, you have to download the appropriate software and Google services, and also say goodbye to the warranty.
Therefore, pay a little more, but you will receive a device that is functional and adapted for our latitudes with a guarantee . If you are planning to buy a Xiaomi smartphone, then do not neglect our advice. Check the packaging, equipment, firmware version and supported LTE bands so as not to miss the choice.
Differences in the operation of the NFC module (for contactless payment).
Added 09/11/2019
Recently, Xiaomi Corporation has introduced some changes to the firmware procedure for its smartphones. In this regard, additional restrictions appeared on the Chinese versions. And if the absence of Band 20 LTE might not have any impact on the buyer’s experience at all, then the unavailability or limited use of the NFC module carries with it more tangible differences.
Differences in NFC should also be divided into two subtypes: Chinese versions of Xiaomi and Chinese versions of Huawei Honor
Innovation in the firmware procedure for Xiaomi smartphones
Now, to install Global Rom on Xiaomi, you need to go through the bootloader unlocking procedure. The procedure itself is very simple; step-by-step instructions can be found on the Internet without any problems.
To do this, you need to set up a MIUI account and send a request from it to unlock the smartphone linked to it for firmware.
And it would seem, what’s wrong with that? And this is where all the salt lies! The procedure itself takes a long time, can reach 360 hours. And this is only for the first request. It may well be that if the unlocking center senses a catch, namely firmware for commercial purposes, they may extend the waiting period. And when it comes to an end again, send you to wait for another N number of hours, and so on in a circle.
NFC problem of Chinese version of Xiaomi
What and how is the problem related to the new firmware procedure? The thing is that in the new procedure, after flashing the firmware, the bootloader remains unlocked. And it is not possible to block it due to the high risk of turning the smartphone into a “brick”.
Since almost the entire NFC payment system works through Google Pay, its operation directly depends on the permissions and requirements for the system (phone). In this case, for Google Pay to work, the bootloader must be locked and there must be no root access rights.
Accordingly, Google Pay via NFC will not work with an open bootloader on the Chinese version of Xiaomi.
Of course, every cloud has a silver lining; the module itself works great, and you can use third-party services for contactless payment. As for the Russian Federation, Yandex.Money does an excellent job with this. Article “How to add contactless payment in the Chinese version of a Xiaomi smartphone” (https://divizion39.ru/novosti/kak-dobavit-beskontaktnuju-oplatu-v-kitajskoj-versii-smartfona-xiaomi/)
NFC problem of the Chinese version of Huawei Honor
In Huawei Honor smartphones, the problem with NFC is more significant. Unlike Xiaomi, there are no innovations in the firmware, the bootloader can be either locked or unlocked and there are no problems with this. And the question here is more fundamental. The Chinese version may not have NFC at all!
This is due to the fact that this module is not so widely used in China! All payments are made using a QR code. It is very convenient, simple, cheap and effective. NFC is used there for other purposes: paying for travel in transport (NFC is built into smart watches), using NFC tags, in a smart home (can be used instead of keys), etc. Not for payment at all. Therefore, its presence is usually found only in expensive models.
Therefore, absolutely identical models of different versions may not have an NFC module. As a rule, for more expensive models, it is present in both versions. It should be noted that Xiaomi has an NFC module only in more expensive models, i.e. In Xiaomi, unlike Honor or Huawei, the presence of NFC does not depend on the version (Chinese or global).
End of addition 09/11/2019
Main differences
- Package — export versions of smartphones are packed in a box with the inscription Global Version.
- Charger - the global version comes with a European plug. For Chinese versions, the charging is different, but in some cases it can be equipped with a special adapter suitable for our sockets.
- The firmware is perhaps the main difference. The China version only supports 2 languages: Chinese and English.
4G support (aka LTE)
Perhaps this is where the significant difference lies between phones for the Chinese and international markets. Although in fact, if you look into it a little more, you can understand how insignificant it is.
A little about technology.
Unlike GSM and UMTS, which have become the standards for 2G and 3G communications, LTE technology can use a much wider range of frequencies.
LTE technology can operate at frequencies from ultra-low frequencies of 450 MHz to ultra-high frequencies of 5 GHz, and what's more, it can combine multiple bands into one channel using LTE Advanced technology. In turn, these frequencies are divided into ranges, which are usually called “bands”.
There are a total of 70 LTE “bands”, which differ in frequency and some other parameters.
Currently, Russian operators use 5 bands:
- - 3 in the 1800 MHz FDD range;
- - 7 in the 2600 MHz FDD range;
- - 20 in the 800 MHz FDD range;
- - 31 in the 450 MHz FDD range;
- - 38 in the 2600 MHz TDD range.
“Global ROM” and “Global Version”
You can often find descriptions such as “Global ROM” or “Global Version”.
- The first is the Chinese version, which the factory has already updated and installed the international version. Such a device is practically no different from the “global” model, except for hardware differences (for example, the lack of 4G in phones).
- The second is the international model. There is a global operating system for working in any region, and all hardware capabilities.
