How to determine the age of the Xiaomi phone: release date, year of production and service life

Buying a used Xiaomi smartphone is always fraught with risks: a seller can hide the real age of the device, overprice or keep silent about the imminent end of support for updates. Even new devices from the store sometimes lie in warehouses for years - how to know if you have sold a "sloppy" gadget? In this article, we will analyze 7 working methods to accurately determine the date of production of a Xiaomi phone, Redmi or POCO - from checking the serial number to analyzing hardware tags.

It's important to understand that the age of a smartphone affects not only its market value, but also performance (battery degradation), security (no updates), and even compatibility with new applications. For example, models older than 4 years often do not support the latest versions of MIUI, and the battery loses up to 30% of capacity, we will show how to avoid cheating and assess the real state of the device before buying.

1. Verification of production date by serial number (S/N)

The serial number (S/N) is a unique identifier that contains encrypted information about the date of assembly of the device. Xiaomi's serial format depends on the year of release:

• 📅 Old format (up to) 2021 first year: 4 Numbers: Year and Week (Example: 201935 = 35-I'm a week. 2019 year-end).
• 🔢 New format (c) 2021 year): date coded in 6-7 symbols (example: K68072A1G, where K68 — 2021 year, 072 — 72-I'm a week).
• ⚠️ Exceptions: some models POCO Black Shark uses alternative coding.

To find the serial number:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → General information.
2. Scroll down to Serial Number (or Serial Number).
3. Copy the combination and decrypt it using the table below.

⚠️ Note: Serial numbers of Xiaomi models 12T, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and may use a two-letter prefix (e.g, AB2205). In this case, ignore the first letter, and decipher the second as a year (B).=2022, C=2023 etc.).

If your series doesn’t fit any template, use the online service IMEI.info, which supports decryption for 90% of Xiaomi models, enter the serial number in the search box and get a full report, including the date of production and the country of manufacture.

2. Determination of age by IMEI: step-by-step instructions

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a 15-digit code that is assigned to each phone, and unlike the serial number, it doesn't contain direct release date information, but it lets you know the exact model and year of launch. Here's how it works:

• 📱 Where to find out. IMEI: In settings: About the phone → General information → IMEI. On the device box (barcode sticker) Under the battery (for removable battery models) through the code: dial *#06#, a window will appear with a removable battery. IMEI.
• 🔍 How to Check: Copy the First IMEI (If you have two, you can take either. Go to IMEI.info or SNDeeP. Type the code into the search box and click "Check." In the results, find the Release Date and Model Name fields.

Example of the report for the Redmi Note 10 Pro:

Model: Redmi Note 10 Pro (sweet)




Brand: Xiaomi




Release Date: March 2021




Manufacturer: China

Note: the release date indicates the official announcement of the model, not the date of production of a particular device.The actual age of the phone can be 1-6 months newer if it is released in the first batch, or 1-2 years older if it is the remains of the warehouse.

Check the correctness of the code entry (15 digits without spaces)|Make sure your phone is not in black spirit (stolen/lost)|Try another service (IMEI24.com, IMEI.pro)|Contact Xiaomi Support if you can IMEI absent-->

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If the phone has two IMEI (two-way SIM-Check both cards, sometimes they are different parts of the production.

Production Date in MIUI Settings: Hidden Menus

MIUI firmware stores the date of the first activation of the device, which can be retrieved through the engineering menu or hidden settings, this method works for most models, except the newest ones (for example, Xiaomi 13 and newer).

Instructions for MIUI 12-14:

1. Open the phone app and dial the combination: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down to the Uptime block.
4. Click on this block 5 times in a row – a hidden menu with the date of the first system boot will open.

The following is the case (for MIUI 13+):

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional → for developers.
4. Find the first boot time (first boot time).

⚠️ Warning: First Boot Time shows when the phone was first turned on, not when it was made. If the device was in a warehouse or in a box, the difference can be from a few months to a year.

For maximum accuracy, compare this date to information from the serial number or IMEI. If the difference is greater than 6 months, it is likely that the phone was stored in stock or bought as a "new" but is actually the remnant of an old batch.

4. Hardware tags: where to look for a date on the case and battery

The physical body of Xiaomi smartphones often has tags with dates that indicate the month and year of production, and can be found in the following places:

• 🔋 Battery: On the battery sticker, look for the type code 2021-07-15 (Year-month-day for removable battery models (e.g. Redmi) 4A) The date is on the battery itself, on non-removable batteries (e.g. Xiaomi). 11T) The date may be under protective film.
• 📦 Box: At the bottom of the box, look for a barcode sticker - there may be a date in format YYYY/MM/DD. In some models (POCO X3, Redmi Note 9) date is shown next to the serial number.
• 🔧 Under the lid SIM-Tray: Remove the tray for SIM-And you can flash a flashlight, sometimes the date is in small print: W21 (Week 21) or 2103 (March 2021).

Example of tag decoding:

On the battery: "2020-11-05" → November 2020.




On the box: "W45/20" → Week 45, 2020 (November).




Under the cover: "2107" → July 2021.

⚠️ Note: If the date on the box and on the battery differs by more than 3 months, this may mean that the battery has been replaced (for example, under warranty.

5. Check through official Xiaomi services

Xiaomi provides two official ways to verify the authenticity and age of the device: through the support site and the Mi Verify app.These methods are suitable for all models released after 2018.

Method 1: Checking on the Xiaomi website

1. Go to the Mi Verify page.
2. Enter the IMEI or serial number.
3. Enter the captcha and press Submit.
4. In the results, find the fields: Production Date - production date. Warranty Status - warranty status (shows how long it has been since activation).

Method 2: Mi Verify (for Android)

1. Download the Mi Verify app from Google Play.
2. Scan it. QR-code on the box or enter IMEI manually.
3. Press Verify and wait for the report.
4. The Device Info section will show the release date (Manufacture Date).

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Xiaomi’s official services are the only way to get a 100% accurate production date, but they only work for devices purchased from authorized stores.

Analysis of battery status: indirect signs of age

Even if you don't know the date of production, the battery status can tell you the actual age of the phone. Xiaomi batteries lose capacity at a rate of 10-20% per year when used actively.

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

1. Go to Settings. → Battery.
2. Slap the icon. ⚙️ (battery settings).
3. Select Battery Health (Battery Health) status.
4. Look at the Full Charge Capacity option and compare it to Design Capacity.

Method 2: Engineering menu (for advanced)

1. Call the phone code ##4636##.
2. Select Battery Information.
3. Pay attention to: level - current charge. voltage - voltage (normal: 3.7-4.4 V). temperature - temperature (normal: 25-40 ° C.), health - state (100% = new, below 80% = critical wear).

If the battery capacity is below 80% and the seller claims that the phone is “almost new”, this is a clear sign of cheating. Xiaomi batteries rarely fail before 2 years of active use, so severe wear and tear suggests that the device is 3+ years old.

🔥 Overheating above 45°C (do not play games on charging)

⚡ Less than 10% (connect charging on time)

🔌 Use of non-original chargers-->

7.Verification by date of last MIUI update

Xiaomi regularly releases updates for its smartphones, but the support period is limited:

• Flagships (Mi series, Xiaomi 11/12/13) - 3-4 years of updates.
• The middle segment (Redmi Note, POCO X) is 2-3 years.
• Budget models (Redmi A, POCO C) – 1-2 years.

If the phone hasn’t received updates for more than 12 months, it’s likely to be 3+ years old.

How to check:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Check the last update (last update).
3. Compare this to the official MIUI update schedule.

Example:

• 📅 Redmi Note 9 (released in 2020) received its last update in May 2023 → age ~3 years.
• 📅 Xiaomi Mi 10 (released in 2020) updated until January 2026 → age ~4 years, but support is still active.

⚠️ Note: No updates always mean an old phone.Some models (e.g., no updates, POCO F1) They get updates from the community through custom firmware. MIUI In settings: if it ends in.eu or.xm, it is an unofficial build.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the age of Xiaomi phones