The current electronics market is oversupplied, and customers often have to determine the actual age of the device, especially when buying a used gadget or a refurbished device that may have been in storage for a long time, the date of production directly affects the state of the battery, even if you did not use the phone, the chemical processes inside Li-Ion batteries are constant, regardless of whether the device is on or not.
Xiaomi, a market leader, produces hundreds of models every year, and it’s easy to get confused with the generations of processors and shell versions. Knowing the exact time a particular instance comes to light will help you avoid buying an old runoff or a device with a resource that has been developed. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to get this information without using complex equipment.
There are several levels of verification, from simple visual inspection to analysis of factory codes. Some methods give approximate results with an accuracy of up to a month, others allow you to know a specific assembly date. IMEI-We'll go through each of the available options in a consistent manner, so you can choose the one that's most convenient for your situation.
Analysis of factory packaging and documentation
The easiest and most affordable way to avoid the device is to examine the original box, and on the side or back of the cardboard packaging, the manufacturer always places a sticker with technical information, and it shows the serial number, model, color, memory capacity and, most importantly for us, the date of production, and it's usually located at the bottom of the label next to the barcode.
But remember, the date on the box corresponds to the time the device is packed, not the actual component manufacturing. The difference can be anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. If you buy a phone with your hands without a box, this method, alas, will not work. Also be careful: unscrupulous sellers can re-adhearse labels, so the data from the box should be rechecked in other ways.
It often comes with a warranty card or check if the purchase was made in an official store, and it may also have a warranty activation date or sale date, which indirectly indicates the age of the device, and although it is not the date of assembly, it gives an indication of when the phone first came into the user's hands.
⚠️ Note: If the production date on the box is significantly different from the first activation date (more than by a factor of two). 1-1.5 This may indicate that the device was in storage for a long time, which negatively affects the battery capacity.
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When buying a used phone, always ask for the original box, and the lack of packaging is the first sign that the device may have been recovered or assembled from different parts.
Checking the date through smartphone settings
The Android operating system and MIUI (or HyperOS) proprietary shells don’t always display a direct build date in an understandable format. However, in the About Phone section, you can find indirect signs. Go to Settings → Phone and look at the firmware version and security update date. Although this is not a release date, it gives a rough idea of the software’s age.
More informative is the "Status" or "General Information" section. Some shell versions may have "Time since first activation" or usage statistics. If the phone is new and you turn it on for the first time, the meter will show a minimum value. For older devices, this parameter can be reset after resetting.
Users often search for hidden menus, but you won't find the exact factory date in the standard settings, but you can find the serial number (S/N) that you'll need to check further on the manufacturer's website, write it down or take a screenshot so you don't enter the data manually.
- 📱 Go to the settings menu of your device.
- 🔍 Find the "About the Phone" or "About the Device" section».
- 📝 Copy the serial number and IMEI post-check.
- 🔄 Check the date of the last system update as a guide.
☑️ Checking in settings
Using engineering code for diagnostics
One of the most reliable technical methods is to enter the engineering menu through a special USSD-This interface is for service engineers and contains in-depth information about hardware and software components. To get there, open the Phone app and type in the combination ##6484##. CIT (Customer Interface Test).
In this menu, we're not interested in feature testing, but in version information. Click on the three dots in the top right corner or look for Version. In the list that opens, look for Build Time or Compile Time. This is the time of compiling the firmware installed in the factory. It usually coincides with the date of production with a few days' accuracy.
It's important to understand that if the previous owner has reflashed the phone, the compilation date will be the time of installation of the new firmware, not the date of the phone's release from the assembly line. So this method is only effective for devices that are running the factory operating system, otherwise you will get the date of the last software update.
⚠️ Note: Do not change the settings in the engineering menu CIT, If you don't know exactly what each parameter is responsible for, it can cause the screen, sensors or communication module to calibrate incorrectly.
What if the code doesn't work?
Determination of age by IMEI-code online
The most reliable way service center specialists use is to check for the international IMEI identifier. This 15-digit code is unique to each device and is assigned at the factory.
There are a lot of aggregator sites that provide verification services, and you have to type IMEI into a search box on a manufacturer's website or a specialized resource, and the system will issue a report that will indicate the date of first registration of the device on the network or activation of the warranty, and this is the actual date of the start of life of the smartphone.
Xiaomi's official service allows you to check the warranty status, which indirectly confirms the age. If the warranty has expired, the system will show the expiration date. If you take away one year from that date (the standard warranty period), you will get an approximate date of purchase or activation. For new models, this method works faultlessly.
| Method of verification | Accuracy of data | Action required | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packaging | High (date of packing) | Visual examination | Possible forgery of labels |
| Engineering menu | Average (firmware date) | Entering a code into a bell | Data gets lost when you flash it. |
| IMEI verification | Maximum | Searching the database | Internet access is required |
| Android settings | Low (indirect) | Studying the menu | No direct release date |
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Checking the IMEI through official databases is the only way to find out the date of activation of the device, which is almost impossible to change software.
Decoding of the serial number
The serial number (S/N) of the device often contains encrypted information about the date of production. The coding format differs from manufacturer to manufacturer. In the case of Xiaomi, the format can vary depending on the assembly plant and year of release. It is usually an alphanumeric string of 10-12 characters.
Often the first two characters indicate the plant code, the next two are the year of manufacture, and the next two are the month. For example, if the number "21" is at the beginning of the number, this may indicate 2021. However, there is no single standard for all models, and trying to decipher S/N manually without a directory of plant codes can lead to an error.
It is easier for the average user to use online serial number decoders that automatically parse a string and output a date. Type your S/N into a "decoder" search engine, and specialized sites will try to recognize the format. Remember that for older models (released more than 5-7 years ago), databases may not be complete.
- 🔢 Find the serial number on the box or in the settings.
- 🌐 Use online services to decode S/N.
- 📅 Pay attention to the first ones. 4-6 code-symbols.
- ⚠️ Please note that the format may differ for different plants.
Specificity of determining the age of different models
Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO's different smartphone lines may have their own marking features. Flagship models of the Mi series (now Xiaomi Number series) often have more detailed documentation and are easier to check by database. Budget models of the Redmi series can come in huge print runs, and pack dates can be scattered within a quarter.
Special attention should be paid to devices designed for the Chinese market (CN Version), where the date of production can be indicated in the format of the GYMDD in the form of a digital code on the sticker. Global versions (Global) are more often standard European labeling. When buying a “gray” device, be prepared for the fact that the instruction and marking will be in Chinese.
Also, some models may be refabricated, and officially refurbished devices are labeled separately and often sold in a white box, and the date of their production will be relevant for the components, but assembly may have occurred well after the original model was released, and you can find out by special IMEI code or box labeling.
⚠️ Warning: If you buy a phone that was released more than 3 years ago, even in a sealed box, be sure to check the battery status after first turning on.