1. Go to Settings->About device->Model number. Since you can write anything here, it only makes sense when another model is immediately written there. Further here is Settings->About device->Android 4.x.x version several times quickly click on this item until a picture appears indicating the actual version of Android (for example, as in screenshot 4.2.2), on clones, as a rule, the versions do not match.
Real candy
You can play with candies, throw them, so you need to play a long tap on the first big candy.
2. Call the service of those. Samsung support by phone 8-800-555-55-55 (round-the-clock and free of charge) and ask to verify your IMEI, which can be recognized by the code * # 06 # by dialing it in the dialer. Since there were rumors that the Chinese craftsmen are stitching the original stolen IMEI on their crafts, it is better to be safe. You can also check your phone by serial number.
3. Dial the code * # 0 * # to enter the service menu. (It can be disabled if you take it with your hands, it should always work out of the box). If everything works, then with high probability we can say that you have the original. Also in this menu you can check the performance of the main hardware of the phone, camera, sound, vibration, dead pixels, and so on.
Screenshots of the service menu - the main menu, the "Sensor" button, the "Touch" button.
4. Download and install a program showing the characteristics of the device, for example
Phone INFO ★ Samsung ★or
Android System Info, and check with information such as the Samsung website. Only software components of the OS version can differ, for example, Android 4.2.2 (there should be no other versions, this is China), all hardware characteristics such as screen resolution, diagonal, processor (can be defined as "ARMv7"), camera resolution, etc. . must match exactly. Also, the hardware characteristics can be checked in the program
AnTuTu Benchmarkin the info section
Screenshot from the original GT-I9500
Hardware specifications from Android System Info
Hardware specifications from AnTuTu Benchmark
5. Visually inspect and compare with the original or with images from the official Samsung website or view a review on any video hosting service, the presence and location of the light sensor, camera, labels, etc., as well as the internal arrangement of the elements should exactly match the image in the screenshot .
View of the original GT-I9500
6. Check for Recovery mode (Recovery mode), Download Mode (firmware mode). As a rule, on Chinese clones, you need to enter Recovery mode differently, so if you have a clone, it will either not enter or show something that does not coincide with the image in the screenshots.
6.1 In order to enter Recovery mode, it is necessary to simultaneously hold down the volume rocker to plus (Volume +), the central button (Home), and the power button (Power) and turn the power on until the phone is turned on. To exit this mode, select the Reboot system now (selected by default) volume rocker, and press the Power button.
Screenshot Recovery mode on the original GT-I9500
Spoiler (+/-) (Stock Recovery mode - Factory, out of the box should always be so)
6.2 In order to enter Download mode, it is necessary to simultaneously hold down the volume rocker to the minus (Volume-), central button (Home), and power button (Power) and turn it on until it is turned on, after downloading you should see exactly what is shown in the screenshot on the left, then you need to press the volume rocker to plus (Volume +) and we will see what is on the screenshot to the right, in the upper left corner, the information we are interested in:
ODIN MODEPRODUCT NAME: GT-I9500
CURRENT BINARY: Samsung Official (With hands can be Custom, an unofficial firmware is installed)
SYSTEM STATUS: Offical. (It may be Custom to change the official firmware, for example, install root rights and so on ...)
Exit the mode by holding the power button (Power). But you should not flatter yourself, in capable hands all these counters are easily brought to the factory state - Current Binary: Samsung Official, System Status: Official, well, it's basically not scary.