How to know the release date of Xiaomi Redmi 4X: from the box to the hidden menu

The Xiaomi Redmi 4X is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2017 and is still in active use today, but when buying a used device or assessing its condition, it is critical to know the exact release date, which determines the residual battery life, the relevance of firmware and even the market value of the gadget.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Reliable Ways to Determine Redmi Production Date 4X — From serial number analysis to hidden service menus, you'll learn how to decrypt factory codes, where to look for information on the box and in the system, and what pitfalls await when checking through the system. IMEI (spoiler: this method doesn't always work: 2/16GB, 3/32GB and 4/64GB.

1. Release date by serial number (S/N) — most accurate

The serial number (S/N) of Xiaomi Redmi 4X contains encrypted information about the date of production.

• 📦 On the sticker under the battery (requires to remove the back cover)
• 📄 In a check or warranty card (if retained)
• 🔧 In the phone settings: Settings → The phone. → General information → Serial number.

Serial number format for Redmi 4X: XXXXXXXXXYYWWZZZZ, where:

• YY is the last two digits of the year (e.g. 17 = 2017)
• WW – week of production (01 to 52)

Example: If your S/N ends at 1735..., it means your phone is released at week 35 of 2017 (end of August).

⚠️ Attention: On the fake Redmi 4X Serial numbers are often forged. S/N on the sticker under the battery and in the phone settings - they should match!

Take a picture. S/N battery-stick|

Compare the number in the phone settings |

Decipher the year and week in the table |

Check the integrity of the sticker (whether there are traces of counterfeiting)-->

2.Date on the original box - fast, but not always accurate

At the bottom of the Xiaomi Redmi brand box 4X It's got a label on it, and it's got factory data. MFG DATE (Manufacturing Date) or DATE OF MANUFACTURE. Date format: YYYY-MM-DD or MM/DD/YYYY.

Examples:

• 📅 2017-06-15 → 15 June 2017 year-end
• 📅 08/22/2017 → 22 August 2017 year-end

However, there are 3 pitfalls here:

1. The date on the box is sometimes indicated earlier than the actual assembly (by 1-2 weeks).
2. When repackaging (e.g. for the EU market), the box may be replaced and the date will be irrelevant.
3. Counterfeiters often copy labels from the original boxes, but with errors in fonts or codes.

If the box is lost, try to find a picture of the label in the message archive (for example, when buying with hands).

3.IMEI Verification - doesn't work for all parties

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique phone identifier that can theoretically contain release date data, but for the Redmi 4X, this method only works for a fraction of devices released in 2017.

How to check:

1. Find out the phone's IMEI: Enter in the phone app *#06# Look at Settings → About phone → General information → IMEI On the sticker under the battery (near S/N)
2. Use decryption services IMEI, for example: 🌐 IMEI.info (free of charge) 🌐 IMEI-Pro (paid reports)

What's important to know:

• ✅ For Redmi. 4X first batch (up to mid-2017) date may be displayed.
• ❌ For devices released later, IMEI Often does not contain information about the date.
• ⚠️ Services may show the date of activation, not production!

Yeah, I always check |

I tried it, but it didn't work.|

No, I didn't know about that method.|

I'll use other ways.-->

⚠️ Attention: Do not enter IMEI Fraudsters can clone your ID to activate stolen phones, use only verified services from official sources.

4. Hidden engineering menu - for advanced users

Redmi 4X has a hidden EngineerMode menu where you can find factory data, including build date, which requires caution, as improper actions can disrupt the phone.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code ##4636## (test menu opens).
3. Go to the tab Information about the phone.
4. Scroll down to the Hardware Info block.
5. Manufacture Date – Bootloader Version production date – may contain a week of release

Alternative code for accessing factory data:

##284##

Then, select Version Info → Hardware Version.

💡

If the engineering menu does not open, check if access is disabled through the developer settings. Go to Settings → Additional → Developer and enable the Allow Engineering Menu option (if any).

Date format in the engineering menu:

• YYYYMMDD – for example, 20170815 (15 August 2017)
• WWYY – for example, 3217 (32nd week of 2017)

⚠️ Warning: Do not change the settings in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose! Incorrect settings can lead to network loss or overheating of the processor.

5. Analysis of firmware version and MIUI assembly date

The MIUI firmware version on the Redmi 4X indirectly indicates the release date of the device. The older the phone, the earlier the MIUI is installed out of the box.

How to find out the original firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. Write down the current version (e.g. MIUI 9.2.3.0).
3. Compare the table of correspondence versions and release dates:

Important: This method is not accurate because:

• The user could update the firmware manually.
• In different regions (China, global version) versions of MIUI differ.
• Some sellers reset the phone to factory settings before selling.

💡

If the current version of MIUI is newer than the table for your expected release date, then the phone has been updated. To find out the original firmware, check the update log in Settings → About Phone → System Update → Update Log.

6. Physical examination of the phone - indirect signs

If no digital methods have worked, pay attention to the physical features of the device. For the Redmi 4X, there are characteristic differences:

By box and configuration:

• 📦 Early parties (2017 Q1) It was supplied with a white charger on 5V/2A.
• 📦 Late batches (2017 Q3–Q4) — black-footed 5V/2A and elongated cable.
• 🎧 Headphones in the early boxes had a flat plug, in the later ones - rounded.

The phone's appearance:

• 🔍 On the back cover of early models, the Xiaomi logo is matte, on the later ones – glossy.
• 🔍 Devices released before June 2017 don’t have a metal frame around the camera.
• 🔍 Serial numbers on the battery sticker in the early batches are printed in small print, in the later ones - larger.

These features do not give an exact date, but help distinguish early devices (January-April 2017) from late ones (July-December 2017).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi release date 4X