How to determine the year of release of Xiaomi device: all the ways from serial number to hidden menus

You bought a used Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 at a bargain price, but the seller is not sure about the year of release? Or you want to check whether you sold a repackaged restyling three years ago under the guise of new technology? Determining the real age of a Xiaomi device is a critical step before buying, repairing or selling. The manufacturer does not always specify the date of production on the box, and this information is hidden deep in the system settings.

In this article, we will explore all the working methods, from decrypting the serial number to analyzing hardware tags, you will learn how to distinguish the Mi 11 of the first release from the revision of 2022, why data from the imei.info site can be lied, and what to do if there is no factory sticker on the box, and also a unique table of matching production dates and party numbers for flagship models of 2020-2026, which is not found on any other resource.

Serial number: main key to the release date

Serial Number (Serial Number, SN) — It's a unique identifier that Xiaomi assigns to each device during the manufacturing phase, and it encrypts the month and year of assembly, the manufacturer, and sometimes even the batch of components. SN one-way:

• 📦 Sticker on the box (usually under the barcode or next to the IMEI).
• 📱 In the settings of the smartphone: Settings → The phone. → General information → Serial number.
• 🖥️ Through ADB-Adb shell getprop ro.serialno
• 🔋 Under the battery (for collapsible models, for example, Redmi). 4X).

Xiaomi serial numbers usually follow the pattern:

• Format 1 (before 2019 year-end): ABC12345678, where C is a year, for example, 8 = 2018), 1-2 — month.
• Format 2 (2020–presently): 1A2BC3D4E5F, where 3D4E — week and year, for example, 3021 = 30-I'm a week. 2021 year-end).

An example of decryption:

Serial number. MZB93FCN (Mi model 9T Pro):

— 9 = 2019 year,

— 3F = March (3rd month) and Factory F (Foxconn).

Thus, the device was assembled in March 2019.

⚠️ Attention: On fake devices, serial numbers are often forged. SN via official service mi.com/verify — If the system makes a mistake, you have a clone.

2. IMEI: sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity is another unique identifier, but its connection to the release date is indirect. IMEI does not contain information about the year of assembly, but through it you can get data on the first activation in the network, which approximately corresponds to the date of sale.

How to check:

1. Find it. IMEI:

- Dial on the keyboard *#06#,

— Look at the settings → The phone. → General information,

On the sticker under the battery (for older models).

2. Enter IMEI on-site:

imei.info (paid detailing),

SNDeeP (free but limited)

What the services will show:

Date of first registration in the operator’s network (may differ from the date of production by 1-6 months).

First activation country (useful for checking gray imported devices)

Model and specifications (check with the stated seller).

⚠️ Note: If the activation date is 2+ A year after the serial number date, the device was in storage or refurbished after repair, which is an excuse to bargain or refuse to buy.

3. Hardware tags: where to look for the date on the case and board

If you have a physical device on your hands, check it for factory marks. Xiaomi puts the production date on:

• 📦 Box: Look for a sticker that says Manufactured Date or DATE format YYYY-MM-DD or YY/MM.
• 🔋 Battery: on most models (Redmi Note) 8 Pro, POCO X3) date marked in laser format 2021-05-15.
• 🛠️ Motherboard: Under the protective screen or next to the processor is often a label of the view W21 (Week 21 of 2021).
• 📱 Slot SIM-maps: on some models (Mi 10) the date is engraved on a metal frame.

Examples of tags:

— On the battery. POCO F3: 20210710 → July 10, 2021.

— On the Redmi board 9A: K40 → Week 40 of 2020 (October).

— On the Mi box. 11 Ultra: 21/03 → March 2021 year-end.

If the tags are not there or are erased, this may indicate:

— Fake (especially relevant for the POCO redmi),

Repair with replacement of components,

Removing labels to hide real age.

Check the box for a date sticker|Check the battery (remove the cover if the collapsible model)|Search for tags on the motherboard (disassembly required)|Verify the data with the serial number for a match

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4. Hidden menus and engineering codes

In the firmware MIUI There are engineering menus hidden where you can find the production date data, and these methods work on most Xiaomi smartphones, but you need to be careful — don't change the settings in these menus!

Method 1: Code for the test menu

1. Open the Phone app.

2. Enter the combination: ##4636##.

3. Go to the tab Phone Information.

4.Look for Date of Manufacture or Hardware Info.

Method 2: Menu CIT (new-model)

1. Enter in the phone app: ##248##.

2. In the menu that opens, select Version Info.

3. Scroll to the Manufacture Date block.

Method 3: ADB-Teams (for advanced teams)

Connect your phone to a PC with ADB installed and do:

adb shell getprop ro.boot.ddr_size


adb shell getprop ro.boot.emmc_size




adb shell getprop ro.product.manufacturer

In the answer, look for lines with date or manufacture.

⚠️ Note: On models with a locked bootloader (Mi 12, Redmi) K50) Some operators (such as MTS or Beeline) block access to these menus in firmware for their versions of devices.

5. Online services and databases: pros and cons

There are several online tools to check the release date of Xiaomi, but their data is not always accurate, we tested popular services and compiled a reliability rating:

How to use:

Enter the serial number or IMEI search-field.

2. Check the device model in the results with yours (fraudsters often fake) IMEI The most popular models are the Redmi Note 11 Pro.+).

3.Please note the Manufacture Date or First Activation field.

Important: If the service shows a date that is very different from the box or serial number, this is a reason to doubt the authenticity of the device. SN The phone was released in 2020, and the service shows activation in 2023, most likely, IMEI was altered.

💡

Before buying a used device, ask the seller to send a photo of the sticker from the box and the serial number in the settings. Check them through the official Mi Verify - it will take 2 minutes, but will save you from forgery.

6. Features for different types of Xiaomi devices

The methods for determining the year of release vary depending on the type of equipment, and the key nuances for each segment are below.

📱 Smartphones and tablets

• 🔹 Serial number is the most reliable method (see section 1).
• 🔹 In the models with AMOLED-screens (Mi 11, Redmi) K40) The date of production is sometimes listed in the Settings menu → Screen. → Additionally.
• 🔹 For POCO and Black Shark use the code ##6484## (menu) MTK).

⌚ Smart watches and bracelets

• 🔹 On the Mi Band and Amazfit, the date is indicated on the back of the case in format YYWW (for example, 2235 = 35-I'm a week. 2022 year-end).
• 🔹 For Xiaomi Watch, check the box – the date is marked on the sticker under the barcode.
• 🔹 In the Mi Fitness app, go to the Device → About the program - sometimes it displays the month and year of release.

💻 Laptops and tablets

• 🔹 On the Mi Notebook and Mi Pad, the serial number is marked on the bottom of the case and begins with the letters L (2020), M (2021), N (2022).
• 🔹 V BIOS (pinch F2 When you turn on, look for the Manufacture Date line.
• 🔹 For Mi Pad 5, the date is indicated in the Settings menu → About the tablet → Version. MIUI (tap 5 times on the line).

📺 Televisions and projectors

• 🔹 The sticker on the back contains the date in format YYYY/MM/DD.
• 🔹 Settings menu → On TV. → General information search Production Date.
• 🔹 For Mi. TV Stick and Mi Box date is listed on the box and in the web interface (192.168.x.x/about).

💡

Xiaomi devices for the global market (labeled Global) and Chinese (China) may have different serial number formats, such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro for China. SN It starts with D and for the global version it starts with G.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When determining the release year, users often encounter false data, and here are the most common errors and ways to bypass them:

• 🔄 Re-enhanced device: If the phone was flashed to custom firmware (like LineageOS), the serial number in the settings may not match the real one. SN box-and-battery.
• 🔧 Replacement of motherboard: After the motherboard is repaired, its serial number may not match the box. IMEI battery-stick.
• 📦 Fake box: Scammers often use boxes from new models for older devices.Solution: Check model match on box and in settings (Settings) → The phone. → Model).
• 🔄 Resetting counters: On some models (Redmi 9) the date in the hidden menu is reset to factory settings. Solution: use physical tags (battery, board).

If the data is contradictory, follow the algorithm:

1. Confirm the serial number on the box and in the settings.

2. Check. IMEI through 2-3 services.

3. Inspect hardware tags (battery, board).

4. If in doubt, ask the seller for a photo:

- The stickers from the box,

- Serial number in settings,

- Labels on the battery (if the model is collapsible).

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi's "restyled" models are common on the market, which look no different from the original, but are assembled from cheaper components. For example, the Redmi Note 8 2021 may have the same body as the 2019 version, but a different processor and camera!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions