How to accurately determine the release year of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4: all working methods

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is one of the brand’s most popular smartphones, released in several versions from 2016 to 2017. But how do you know which year your device belongs to? This is critical when buying a used device, assessing battery wear or checking originality. In this article, we will analyze all the available methods, from serial number analysis to hidden system menus that will help determine the exact date of production even without the box.

It’s important to understand that the year of release has a direct impact on battery life, firmware compatibility and the market value of the phone. For example, early batches of 2016 may already require battery replacement, while devices late in 2017 still retain up to 80% of capacity. We will also reveal the unique features of the Redmi Note 4 labeling for the Chinese and global markets, which are often confused by users.

1. Serial number check (IMEI/SN)

The most reliable way is to decrypt the serial number, or IMEI, where the production date is encoded. In Redmi Note 4, it is hidden in the first 6-8 characters, but the algorithm differs for different batches.

To find the number:

• 📱 Enter *#06# and a window with IMEI (15 digits) will appear.
• 📦 Look at the sticker under the battery (if you removed the back cover) or on the box.
• 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → General information.

Then use one of the methods of decryption:

⚠️ Warning: Serial numbers are often forged on fake Redmi Note 4s. If the SN and IMEI dates are not the same or indicate 2018 or later (officially discontinued in 2017), this is an excuse to check the originality through fastboot oem device-info.

2. Analysis of markings on the box and phone

If you still have the original packaging, look for the date of production in the following places:

• 📦 On the white sticker on the side of the box is a line MFD DATE (e.g., 2017.03 → March 2017).
• 🏭 The sticker under the battery is a code of the form MDG7CZA, where it is 7-2017, C-March.
• 🔍 On the back cover under the SIM- card tray is a fine print with the date of certification (not to be confused with the date of production!).

The Redmi Note 4 has the following factory code marking system:

Important: Box stickers are often forged, and if the date on the package and phone doesn't match, trust the labeling on the device itself (under the battery or in the system).

3. Verification through system settings

If there is no box or stickers, the release date can be found through the hidden menu and standard settings:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on the kernel line (the notification “You became a developer”) will appear.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install Android SDK Platform-Tools, and type in the command: adb shell getprop ro.boot.date The answer will be in YYYYMMDD format (e.g. 20170515 → May 15, 2017).

Alternative method (without PC):

• 📱 Enter in ##4636## → Select Phone Information → scroll to Hardware Info.
• 🔧 Look for the lines manufacture date or bootloader date (may appear as 201611 → November 2016).

⚠️ Warning: On custom firmware phones (like LineageOS), system dates can be changed, in which case trust only physical labeling or fastboot data.

Determination by model and modification

Redmi Note 4 was released in several versions, and the production date depends on the specific modification:

To find out your modification:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Model (e.g. Redmi Note 4X).
2. Enter ##44336## → a window with Hardware info will appear, where the Model Number is specified.
3. Compare the table above – this will narrow down the range of possible dates.

Example: If you have a Redmi Note 4X codenamed mido, the phone is not released until January 2017, and if you have a nikel model, it is released no later than March 2017.

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If the settings have the code name nikel, but the phone was purchased after 2017, it's a fake. The original nikel was only released until March 2017.

5. Verification through service centers and online services

If the independent methods do not help, use the official tools:

• 🌍 Xiaomi Site: Enter IMEI on the originality check page. The system will show the activation date (not to be confused with the production date!).
• 📧 Xiaomi support: Write to the chat with IMEI and serial number – a response came with a release date (usually within 24 hours).
• 🔧 Service centers: Show your phone to an authorized SCC and they will check the date against the database using the Mi Flash service software.

Beware of third-party services that offer “IMEI checks” – many of them:

• 🚫 Inaccurate data (e.g., confusing the activation date with production).
• 💳 Requires payment for an "extended report."
• 📊 Collect statistics IMEI for fraudulent schemes.

⚠️ Warning: On sites like imei.info or sndeep.info, the Redmi Note 4 data is often wrong, for example, it can show 2018 for phones released in 2016.

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Xiaomi’s official website and authorized SCs are the only reliable sources for checking the release date by IMEI.

Indirect indications of the year of issue

If none of the methods worked, look for indirect signs that indicate the approximate age of the phone:

• 🔋 Battery capacity: Enter ##4636## → Battery information. If health is below 70%, phone likely 2016.
• 📦 Package: Early batches (2016) were supplied with charging on 5V/2A, late batches (2017) with 5V/2A + Quick Charge support 3.0.
• 🔄 Version MIUI: The 2016 phones originally came with MIUI 8, 2017 with MIUI 9 (see Settings → About Phone).
• 📡 Network support: Global versions of 2017 support LTE B20 (800 MHz), Chinese versions of 2016 do not.

Also, pay attention to the design of the box:

• 📦 2016: A box with a red Mi logo and the words "Dual Apps."
• 📦 2017: A box with a black Mi logo and a mention of the Snapdragon 625.

Important: These methods only give an approximate date. Use a combination of 2-3 methods (e.g. serial number + box marking) to determine exactly.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When checking the year of release of Redmi Note 4 users often make the following mistakes:

1. They confuse the activation date with the production date, for example, the phone could have been released in December 2016, but it would not be sold until March 2017, and services like imei.info will show March, although the real year is 2016.
2. Ignoring regional differences: China's nikel and global mido are labeled differently, like 6A, for the Chinese version, 2016, and the global version, 2017.
3. Trust the custom firmware data. Once you flash it, the system dates (ro.boot.date) can get lost. Always double-check it with fastboot.

To avoid mistakes:

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions