How to determine the year of release of the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 8: official and hidden methods

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is one of the brand’s most popular budget smartphones, released in 2019. However, even within the same model, devices of different batches can be assembled at different times. Knowing the exact release year helps with buying a used phone, warranty repairs or authentication. In this article, we will analyze all the official and alternative ways to find out the production date of the Redmi 8, including decrypting the serial number, analyzing the box and hidden system data.

It's important to understand that Xiaomi doesn't always specify the year of release directly -- you have to pull this information from indirect sources. Some methods require physical access to the device, others work even on a phone that's turned off. We'll also tell you how to distinguish the original from the fake by the date of production and what to look for when buying.

1. Serial number check (IMEI/SN) — most accurate

Serial Number (SN) and IMEI are your Redmi 8's unique identifiers, which encrypt the production date information to find them:

• 📱 Dial on the phone keyboard *#06# - will appear on the screen IMEI (15 numbers).
• 📦 Look at the sticker under the battery (if the phone is collapsible) or on the box.
• 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → General information.

Xiaomi serial number is usually in the format XXXXXXXXXXYYYY, where YYYY is the week and year of production. For example, if the last 4 digits are 2049, it means:

• Week 20 to week 20 of the year.
• 49 – 2019 (49 = 2019 in the six-line system that Xiaomi uses).

For convenience, we have compiled a table of correspondence of the last digit of the serial number and the year of issue:

⚠️ Note: If the serial number ends in 0, 1 or 8, it may indicate a fake – Xiaomi does not use these symbols to indicate the year.

2.Analysing the box and stickers - what to look for on the package

The original Redmi 8 box contains several labels that can be used to determine the date of production, and the main thing is to find a sticker with a barcode and serial number (usually on the end of the box).

• 📅 Date of production – can be specified in the format YYYY-MM-DD or YYMMDD (for example, 191015 = 15 October 2019).
• 🏭 Plant code - first 2-3 letters of the serial number (e.g, 8QB means factory in China).
• 🔄 A batch – if the box has a Batch No. label, it can contain a week and a year.

Also pay attention to the color and quality of the print:

• 🟢 The original box text is clear, without blurring, and the barcode is scanned by any application.
• 🔴 Fake boxes often have dull colors, uneven cuts, or typos (e.g., "Made if China").

Yeah, always.

Only if you have doubts.

No, I'm not paying attention.

I only buy new devices.

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If the box is a year before 2019 or later than 2020, it is 100% fake – Redmi 8 was released only in this period.

3. System information through the engineering menu

Redmi 8 has a hidden engineering menu where you can find the firmware assembly date, which is an indirect method, but it works if the phone is on.

1. Open the Phone app and dial ##4636##.
2. Go to the tab Information about the phone.
3. Scroll down to the Build Date block.

Date format: MM-DD-YYYY or YYYYMMDD. For example, 20191015 means October 15, 2019. Note that this is the firmware build date, not the phone's production date - it can vary by 1-3 months.

Check the correctness of the code (#4636##)

Make sure that SIM-card inserted (some firmware required)

Update your phone to the latest version of MIUI

Try the alternative code ##284## (for display test, but sometimes shows date)

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Another way to view MIUI is to view the version in Settings → About Phone. The first digits after the firmware name (e.g. V11.0.2.0.PCNMIXM) can indicate the year of release:

• V10.x.x.x - 2019.
• V11.x.x.x - 2020.
• V12.x.x.x is 2021 (but it’s unlikely for the Redmi 8).

4. Check through the official website of Xiaomi (by IMEI)

Xiaomi provides a tool for authenticating devices by IMEI. This method will not only confirm the originality of the Redmi 8, but also show the activation date (which is usually close to the production date).

Instructions:

1. Go to mi.com/global/verify.
2. Enter your phone's IMEI (can be found at *#06#).
3. Enter the captcha and press Verify.

The system will show:

• 📅 Date of first activation (usually on the 1-6 months after the date of).
• 🏷️ The model of the device (should match the Redmi 8, not the Redmi) 8A or other modifications).
• 🔒 Warranty status (if the phone is new, the warranty starts from the date of manufacture).

⚠️ Attention: If the site is making an error "IMEI Not found" this could mean: "The phone is fake (a common problem with clones on the phone MTK-processors). IMEI It was modified (for example, after the motherboard was repaired) and it was designed for another region (for example, the Chinese version for the domestic market).

5. Physical examination of the phone - indirect signs

If you have the Redmi 8 on hand, pay attention to the details that may indicate the year of release:

• 🔋 Battery: Early batches (2019) had a battery from the battery ATL (Amperex Technology Limited, later from SDI (The inscription on the battery contains the date in format YYYY-MM-DD.
• 📱 Factory film: On the original phones of 2019, the film was matte, for 2020 – glossy.
• 🔧 Screws: The 2019 Redmi 8 used Torx screws T3, in 2020 - Torx T4 (difference is noticeable when disassembled).

Also check the markings on the motherboard (if the phone is disassembled).Redmi board 8 It's written in format. MSM8937_XX_YYWW, where:

• YY is the last two digits of the year (e.g. 19 = 2019).
• WW is the week of production.

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If you buy a used Redmi 8, ask the seller to remove the back cover and take a picture of the markings on the battery and board, which will help to avoid counterfeits and phones after serious repairs.

6. Alternative methods: applications and services

If the standard methods do not help, you can use third-party tools:

• 📱 Annex CPU-Z: Shows the firmware assembly date in the System section → Build Date.
• 🌐 IMEI.info: Provides enhanced information on IMEI, including the estimated year of issue.
• 🔍 Mi Check app (unofficial): Reads data from the chip and shows the date of production (does not work on all firmware).

When using third-party services, be careful:

• Do not enter IMEI on questionable sites – this can lead to data leakage.
• Applications like CPU-Z are safe, but they don’t deliver 100% accuracy by date.

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The most reliable methods are to check the serial number and the official Xiaomi website. Third-party applications and services should be used only as an additional source.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When determining the release year of Redmi 8, users often face the following problems:

• 🔢 They're messing. IMEI and serial number: IMEI It consists of 15 digits, and SN — letters and numbers, for example, 8QBC123456789A). The production date is required for this SN.
• 📅 For example, 52 in the serial number is the 52nd week (December), not the 5th month.
• 🛠️ Ignoring signs of forgery: If the year on the serial number does not match the data on the box, the phone is definitely unoriginal.

To avoid mistakes:

1. Always check data from multiple sources (serial number + box + engineering menu).
2. If the SN is 2021 or later and the Redmi 8 is officially retired in 2020, it is a fake.
3. Check out the IMEI on Xiaomi’s official website – this is the only way to confirm the originality.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions