How to know exactly the year of release of the Xiaomi smartphone – all working methods

Why is it important to know the date of production of the Xiaomi phone?

You bought a used Xiaomi and you doubt the seller's honesty? Or you want to see if you've been sold a "fresh" device from the counter that's actually been in stock for years? The date of production of a smartphone is not just numbers: it depends on the warranty period, battery status and even the market price of the device. For example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro, released in 2021, in 2 years can cost 30% cheaper than a new one, but its battery is already worn out by 15-20%.

Xiaomi manufacturers (including POCO and Black Shark sub-brands) don’t always list the year of release on the box or in documents. And aftermarket sellers often hide the real age of the device to sell it for more. In this article, we’ll look at all the available ways, from official (via serial number) to hidden (firmware and hardware tag analysis), you’ll learn how to distinguish the actual date of production from the activation date, which is sometimes given as the “year of release.”

Method 1: Serial number (S/N) test is the most accurate method

Serial Number (S/N) is a unique identifier for your Xiaomi that contains encrypted information about the date of production.

• 📦 On the sticker under the battery (if the back cover was removed) or on the box.
• 🔧 In the phone settings: Settings → The phone. → General information → Serial number.
• 🖥️ Through ADB (Adb shell getprop ro.serialno

Xiaomi serial number usually has a format XXXXXXXXXYYWW, where:

• YY is the last two digits of the year (e.g. 21 = 2021).
• WW is the week of production (01 to 52).

Example: If your S/N ends at 2235, then your phone is released in Week 35 of 2022 (August 2022).

Find S/N in the settings or on the box

Select the last 4 digits

The first two digits are a year (for example, 23 = 2023)

The last two - week (01-52)

Check with the calendar of weeks.-->

⚠️ Attention: On new Xiaomi models 13/14 Redmi Note 12 format S/N It may be different if the last 4 The numbers do not match the logic of the year/week, use the method of checking the data. IMEI (method 2).

Method 2: IMEI Checking – an alternative for phones without a box

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is another unique identifier that can be used to determine the date of production. Unlike the serial number, the IMEI does not contain direct information about the year of release, but it can be checked through official services or databases.

How to find IMEI:

• 📱 Type on the phone keyboard: *#06# - a window will appear with the phone IMEI.
• 🔧 In settings: About the phone → General information → IMEI.
• 📦 On a sticker under the battery or on the box (if saved).

There are two options:

1. Xiaomi official website: Go to the checkout page, enter IMEI and CAPTCHA. The system will show the activation date (not to be confused with the production date!). Usually the difference between production and the first activation is from 1 to 6 months.
2. Third-party services: For example, IMEI.info or SNDeepInfo. They decrypt IMEI and can show an approximate release date (accuracy ~80%).

Method 3: Date on the box - where to look and how to read?

If you still have the original Xiaomi box, it should have a sticker with the date of production, usually located:

• 📦 On the bottom of the box (where the barcode is).
• 🏷️ On the side sticker with IMEI and S/N.

Look for lines like:

• MFD DATE: YYYY-MM-DD (Manufacturing Date)

Example: If the box says MFD DATE: 2022-11-15, then the phone is released on November 15, 2022. If it says 45/21, it is the 45th week of 2021 (November 2021).

⚠️ Note: On fake boxes (especially for popular models like the Redmi Note 11 or the Redmi Note). POCO X3 Pro) the date may be forged. Always check it against the serial number or IMEI!

I only look at the exterior.

Checking IMEI and serial number

Battery testing and performance

I trust the salesman at his word.

I use special applications.-->

Method 4: System information – hidden data in firmware

MIUI's firmware contains the date of the first build of the device, which can be extracted through an engineering menu or a special application, which is suitable if you don't have a box and you don't trust the sticker data.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and dial ##4636##.
2. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down to the Build Date or Build Time block, which is the firmware build date, and it usually coincides with the production date of ±1 month.

An alternative way is to use the CPU-Z app (available on Google Play):

• Install and open the CPU-Z.
• Go to the About (About Program) tab.
• Find the Build Date string, and it will be in MM-DD-YYYY format.

Example: If the CPU-Z specifies Build Date: 03-15-2023, then the firmware was assembled on March 15, 2023, and the phone itself was released around this period (perhaps deviations of 2-4 weeks).

💡

If the date in Build Date is significantly newer than the date by serial number, it could mean that the phone has been reflashed a more recent version. MIUI. In that case, focus on S/N or IMEI

Method 5: Battery status analysis – an indirect sign of age

If none of the previous methods worked (e.g., the stickers are erased and the serial number is not readable), you can approximate the age of the phone by battery wear.

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery status.
2. Look at the capacity or wear parameter, for example, if you wear it. 25%, And the container fell off 5000 mil 3750 M.A., the phone was probably in use. 1.5-2 year-end.

Compare this with the typical metrics for Xiaomi models:

Important: This method is not accurate, as wear and tear depends on the intensity of use. For example, if the phone has been in storage for 2 years without recharging, the battery may be in perfect condition, despite its age.

💡

Battery status is an indirect indication. Always use the serial number or IMEI to determine the exact year of release.

Frequent Mistakes and Myths About Xiaomi Production Date

When checking the year of release of Xiaomi users often encounter false information, let's examine the most common misconceptions:

Myth 1: “The date on the warranty card is the date of production”

In fact: The warranty card indicates the date of sale or activation of the warranty, rather than the release of the phone.The difference can be from several months to a year (for example, if the phone has been in storage for a long time).

Myth 2: “All Xiaomi is made in China, so the date on the box is always right.”

Reality: Xiaomi has factories in India, Indonesia and Vietnam, and box stickers from these countries may have a different date format (e.g., DD-MM-YYYY instead of YYYY-MM-DD). Always check with the serial number.

Myth 3: “If the phone is new and on film, it’s just released.”

Truth: Many models (such as the POCO X3 NFC or Redmi 9A) could have been in dealership warehouses for 1-2 years in their original packaging.

Myth 4: “The date in the phone settings (First run) is the date of production.”

This is the date of the first activation of the device, which can occur months after release, for example, the phone could be produced in October 2022, but sold and activated only in March 2023.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions