How to know what year Xiaomi smartphone: the full guide

Owning a device from the popular Xiaomi brand often requires knowing exactly what it’s going to do, especially when it comes to production dates – a knowledge that’s critical when buying a used gadget, making a warranty, or simply understanding the relevance of software – and many users mistakenly assume that the year a model goes on sale coincides with the year a particular instance is released, but that’s not always the case.

Devices can lie in warehouses for months before they reach the end user. So how to know what year a shaomi smartphone is is one of the most pressing questions for those who want to avoid buying old runoff. There are several proven methods to get this information with high accuracy using built-in system functions or third-party services.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the ways you can do it, from simple visual checks to complex queries through an engineering menu, learn to distinguish models, understand the labeling on the box, and use special codes to get comprehensive information about your device, which will help you navigate the world of Redmi and Poco mobile technology with confidence.

Analysis of factory markings and boxes

The easiest and most affordable way to do this is to look at the packaging, and there's always a sticker on the back or side of the original box, and it's the model, the amount of memory, the color, and most importantly, the date of production, and look for a line that says Production Date, or just a date in the GHG-MM format.

But be careful: the date on the box may not match the date of assembly of the phone itself if the package has been changed or if it is a refurbished device, and many models, especially the budget Redmi series, may have small prints on the bottom of the case with the year of release, usually the last two digits of the year, such as the "23" for 2023.

If you buy a device with hands without a box, inspect the tray for SIM-Some flagship Xiaomi and Poco models have a unique code or markings that can be decrypted through special databases. The absence of a box makes initial verification much more difficult, so in such cases rely on software methods.

⚠️ Note: If the production date on the box is significantly different from the activation date of the device (more than 1 year), this may indicate that the phone was in storage for a long time or is a showcase sample.

Visual inspection helps you quickly cut out the frankly old models, but to accurately determine the year of release of a particular instance, it is better to use digital methods, which give a more reliable result and allow you to learn the history of the device deeper.

Checking the date through the MIUI system settings

Modern MIUI and HyperOS shells provide users with enough information about the system, although the direct production date is often hidden.However, the Android version and the date of the security patch can be used as an indirect indicator. Go to Settings → About the phone and pay attention to the MIUI version.

Knowing the release date of a particular firmware version can help you determine the age of the device, for example, if the phone is running a factory firmware released in 2021, the smartphone itself is not produced before that time. To verify accurately, click several times on the logo of the MIUI version to see more information.

In some regions and firmware versions, Status or General Information may show the date of first activation or purchase if the device was registered through a Mi Account.

• 📱 Open the Settings menu on the main screen.
• ℹ️ Select About Phone at the top of the list.
• 🔍 Find the line Version MIUI Check the date of its release on the Internet.
• 📅 Check the Status section for activation date.

The use of system information is a basic level of verification, which does not give an exact build date, but helps to form a general idea of the age of the software installed on the device.

Use of the engineering menu and USSD-code

One of the most reliable ways to access hidden information is through the engineering menu, which is called by special codes in the phone app on Xiaomi phones. Enter the code ##6484## or ##4636##. CIT-Menu (testing equipment), second - test menu.

You can often find Version Information or Device Info on the CIT menu, which may contain firmware compilation dates that are usually close to the device’s build date, and look for version code, which sometimes encrypts the year and month of production.

Another useful code is *#06#. It displays IMEI-The code of the device, although it doesn't show the date by itself, is the knowledge IMEI You need to do the next, deeper test.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change the settings in the engineering menu unless you know exactly what they are responsible for. Resetting important settings can lead to malfunctioning of the network or other phone functions.

The engineering menu is a powerful tool in the hands of a knowledgeable user, and it allows you to look under the hood of a system and see data that is usually hidden from the owner's eyes.

Determination of the year of issue IMEI-code

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique identifier that is assigned to each mobile device, encrypted with manufacturer, model, and, importantly for us, sometimes you can calculate release period, and there are online services that decrypt IMEI and give a detailed report.

To verify, enter a 15-digit IMEI code on specialized sites such as imei.info or miui.com. The report often specifies the model, color, memory capacity and, in some cases, the approximate production date or warranty start date, which is almost equal to the release date.

The IMEI structure can also tell you a year. Although there is no single standard for all manufacturers, Xiaomi often has patterns in the first digits or in the middle of the code that indicate a year, but relying on manual decryption is difficult, and it is better to use automatic decoders.

• 🔢 Type *#06# to receive IMEI.
• 🌐 Go to a verified site for verification IMEI.
• 📝 Enter the code and press the check button.
• 📅 Check the “Production Date” or “Warranty Start” field».

This method is considered one of the most accurate, since IMEI is recorded in global databases at the time of the device’s release from the assembly line.

Decoding of the model code (Model Number)

Each Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco smartphone is assigned a unique model number, such as the M2101K7BNY, which can be found on the box, under the battery (if removable), or in the About Phone settings, and the model code often encrypts the year of release.

Usually the first digits after the letter prefix (M) indicate a year. For example, in the code M2101... the digits "21" represent 2021. Similarly, M22... is 2022, M23... 2023, and so on. This rule applies to most modern models of the brand.

The first two digits after the letter M in the model number (M21xx, M22xx) almost always correspond to the year of development or production of the given modification.

However, there are exceptions when the same model was released in different years with different region codes, so the model code gives you an idea of which generation the device belongs to, but not always the exact date of assembly of a particular instance.

💡

Model code is the fastest way to understand a device generation by simply looking at the first digits after the letter M.

Knowing how to read the model code allows you to instantly estimate the age of a device without even turning it on, which is especially useful when evaluating lots quickly on ad sites.

Third-party diagnostic applications

If the built-in tools can not get an exact date, come to the rescue specialized applications from the Google Play Store, programs like Device Info HW, AIDA64 or CPU-Z collect information about hardware and software components of the phone.

Install the app, run the scan, and go to the System or Device section, which can include an Android build date, a kernel compilation date, or even a specific production date if it is available through system logs, which is often more accurate than what the standard settings menu shows.

The AIDA64 app, for example, shows "Build Date" in the Android section, and if the phone hasn't been reflashed, that date will be very close to the date the device went on sale or was manufactured.

• 📥 Download the Device Info app HW analogue.
• 🚀 Run the system scan.
• 📂 Go to the System or About section.
• 📅 Find the Build Date or Kernel Date fields.

⚠️ Note: When installing diagnostic applications, pay attention to permissions. Do not provide access to contacts or files if the program is declared only as a feature viewer.

Using third-party software is a great way to get the most information, and these applications are indispensable when buying used equipment, when you need to make sure that the components are original and fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)