Xiaomi Redmi 4X is one of the company’s most popular budget devices, released in the heyday of the Redmi series. Owners of this gadget often face the need to accurately determine the date of its production, especially when buying a used device, selling or searching for compatible accessories. Since visually all models look the same, knowing the exact year of release becomes a critical parameter for assessing the residual battery life.
There are several proven methods to find out when your phone came off the assembly line, and we'll look at both software methods through settings and special codes, and physical methods to check the markings on the case. The accuracy varies depending on the method chosen, but a comprehensive approach gives the best result.
In this article, we will discuss each of the available options in detail, explain how to decipher complex model codes and what to pay special attention to when analyzing technical documentation. Redmi 4X was produced in different versions for different markets, so understanding the nuances of marking will help to avoid confusion.
Verification through the system settings of Android
The most affordable and quick way to get the primary information about the device is to access the operating system’s built-in settings menu. While the standard Android interface doesn’t always show the full production date explicitly, you can find key identifiers here. Go to Settings → About the phone to see the basic information.
In this section, you should be interested in the line "MIUI Version" or "Android Version." Often the date of assembly of firmware installed from the factory can indirectly indicate the year of release of the device. If you see a version of MIUI dating from, for example, early 2017, then with a high probability the phone was produced in late 2016 or early 2017.
⚠️ Note: The firmware may have been updated by the user or in a service center, so the software version date is not guaranteed proof of the year of iron production.
For a deeper analysis, in the About Phone menu, look for All specs or General Information, which may contain the model number, which we will use in the sections that follow, write it down or take a screenshot to check with databases.
☑️ Checking in settings
Use of the engineering menu and USSD-code
A more reliable source of technical information is the device’s engineering menu, which is often accessed via special character combinations in the Phone app on Xiaomi smartphones. Enter the code ##6484## or ##4636## to enter hidden diagnostic sections.
The CIT (Customer Integration Test) or Statistics menu that opens can provide detailed information about components. Look for sections labeled as "Version," "Hardware Info," or "Status," which sometimes displays the date of sensor calibration or module assembly, which is almost the same as the date of production.
- 📱 Enter the *#06# code to display IMEI and the serial number on the screen.
- 🔍 On the menu. CIT Find Version Information to view the dates of components.
- 📝 Write down all the numerical values found for subsequent decryption.
- 🔄 Restart the device if the menu does not open the first time.
Some versions of MIUI shells can block access to the full engineering menu, so try using third-party apps from the Play Market, such as Device Info HW or AIDA64, which read data directly from system logs and can show a more accurate date for first activation or build.
What to do if the codes don't work?
Analysis of markings on the box and body
The most reliable source of information about the year of release of Xiaomi Redmi 4X is the original packaging box. On the back or side of the cardboard box is always a white label with barcodes and technical information, this is where the manufacturer indicates the date of production in an explicit or encoded form.
Look for a line that says "Mfg Date" or "Date." The format of the record can vary: sometimes it is a direct format of GHG-MM-DD (for example, 2017-03-15), And sometimes you use an encoding that shows the year in the last digits before the month. IMEI-code – often next to it indicates the month and year of release.
| Location. | What to look for | Data format | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box (sticker) | Mfg Date / Date | YYYY-MM-DD | Tall. |
| Back cover. | Small text below. | Year of issue (e.g. 2016) | Medium |
| Under the battery. | Serial number. | Coded | Low. |
| Guarantee pass | Date of sale | DD.MM.GYG. | Indirect |
If the box is lost, check the actual body of the smartphone. The Redmi 4X's metal back has a small print of technical information that can only show the year of release (e.g., "Designed by Xiaomi 2016"), but that only indicates the year of the model's start, not the exact instance.
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Keep the boxes from Xiaomi equipment at least for the warranty period. In addition to the date of production, they have unique codes necessary to contact the service center.
Decoding the model code and IMEI
Each Xiaomi smartphone has a unique model ID that allows you to identify not only the region, but also the approximate release period. For the Redmi 4X, the most common models with codes MDG6 (Global), Santoni (codename) and various variations for the Chinese market.
For example, the Redmi 4X Prime (4/64GB) came out later than the normal version. If you see a marking in the settings or on the box that indicates the Prime version, then the phone could not have been produced before the end of 2016. The global version is usually labeled as MDG6, and the Chinese version is marked as MDG5 or similar indices.
IMEI-The code also contains encrypted information. The first 8 digits (TAC) They identify the model, and the subsequent signs may indicate the serial number of the batch. IMEI, This is often the same as the date of the first activation of the device on the network.
⚠️ Be careful when using free online checkout services IMEI. Enter the number only on verified sites, so as not to transfer data about your device to scammers.
Comparison of characteristics of modifications
Understanding the differences between the Redmi 4X modifications helps narrow the production time range, which comes in multiple memory configurations, and each of them goes on sale at different times, allowing the exclusion method to be used to determine the year.
The base version with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory became available in early 2017. The version with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of ROM came a little later, and the top-end Prime (4/64GB) version was introduced closer to mid-2017. If your phone has 4GB of RAM, it physically couldn't be released in 2016.
- 🚀 2/16 GB: Starter model, mass sales since February 2017.
- ⚡ 3/32 GB: Popular configuration, appeared in the spring 2017.
- 💎 4/64 GB (Prime): Flagship version of the line, release in summer 2017.
- 🌏 Chinese version: Often has a two-sim slot and support for specific frequencies, released before the global.
Also worth noting is the processor. All versions of the Redmi 4X run on the Snapdragon 435 chip. However, early batches may have had slightly different modem or screen revisions. Compare the claimed specs in the About Phone menu with Xiaomi's official press releases over the years.
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RAM is the easiest marker to determine the year: 2 GB – the beginning of 2017, 4 GB – the middle of 2017 and later.
Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s production date
Device owners often ask questions about not only the date, but also how this information affects the operation, and here are some of the most popular queries about the age characteristics of the Redmi 4X.
Does the year of release affect the battery life?
Can I upgrade the old Redmi 4X to a new MIUI?
How to distinguish the original from the fake by date?
Where to find service documentation for 2016-2017 models?
Determining the Xiaomi Redmi 4X release year is a multi-pronged task, combining checking the box, analyzing system data, and knowing the history of the release of modifications, you can get accurate information about the age of your device, and this knowledge will help you correctly assess its technical condition and the relevance of the software.