How to know exactly the year of the release of the Xiaomi TV: from the serial number to hidden menus

Xiaomi TVs have gained popularity due to the combination of affordable prices and modern technologies. 4K-permissions to built-in Google TV. But when buying a used model or checking the warranty, the question often arises: how to determine the actual year of release of the device? The manufacturer does not always indicate this information on the case, and sellers can deliberately hide the age of the device.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 reliable ways to know the date of Xiaomi TV production, from decoding the serial number to analyzing the firmware. You’ll learn to distinguish original products from fakes, check the validity of warranty and even determine the month of release from the first digits of the factory code. And for owners of Mi TV 4S, Mi TV Q1 and Redmi Smart TV models, we have prepared separate instructions based on their features.

Decoding of serial number: the main key to the release date

The serial number (S/N) is a unique identifier for a TV that contains encrypted production date information, which is usually 14-16 characters long on Xiaomi models and is applied to:

• 📄 Sticker on the back panel (near the ports) HDMI)
• 📋 Box (on barcode label)
• 📱 In the settings menu (Settings) → On TV. → Status)

Xiaomi’s serial number format may vary depending on the year and manufacturer, and the classic version for models after 2018 is:

L1234567890ABCD

Where:

• L is the factory code (e.g. L for Tianma, D for Desay)
• 1234 - week and year of production (first digit - year, next three - week)
• 567890ABCD - Unique device number

For Xiaomi Mi TV 5 and newer (2020-2026) the format has changed:

2208WX12345678

Here, 2208 stands for Week 20 of 2022 (May 2022).Note that the first two digits now stand for the year in its entirety (22 = 2022), not in abbreviated form.

⚠️ Note: On fake TVs, serial numbers are often forged using patterns from real devices. If the code starts with 0000 or contains repeating characters (e.g., 1111), this is a sure sign of fake.

2. Check the release date through the TV menu

If the serial number is erased or in doubt, the production date can be adjusted through the built-in settings, which work for all Android TV models (including Mi TV 4A, Mi TV 4X and Redmi Smart TV).

Instructions:

1. Open the settings (cog in the upper right corner).
2. Go to the section About TV → Status.
3. Scroll down to Production Date or Manufacture Date.

Some firmware has this information hidden to reveal it:

Click on the Menu remote → Settings → All settings → About the TV

Click 5 times in a row on the item Model (the hidden menu will appear)

Select Manufacturing Info (Manufacturing Info)

Copy the data or take a picture of the screen-->

If there is no date, try an alternative method:

Settings → System → About TV → Software Version → Click 7 times on “Assembly Number”

This will open the developer mode, where the Hardware Info section can display a build date. Note that it indicates the firmware date, not the production date – the difference is usually 1-3 months.

Mi TV 4S/4A/4X|Mi TV Q1/Q2|Redmi Smart TV|Mi TV 5/5 Pro|Other-->

3. Analysis of firmware and software versions

The firmware version indirectly indicates the minimum possible year of the TV. For example, if the Mi TV 4S has MIUI TV 1.8.32 firmware installed, the device is not released until 2020 - earlier models do not support this version.

How to check:

1. Open the settings → About TV → The version of the software.
2. Write down the full firmware number (e.g., V12.0.3.0.QCNCNXM).
3. Compare this with the official update table on Xiaomi Support.

If the software version is older than the 2020 version, the TV is released before that date, for example, firmware 1.3.12 on the Mi TV 4S means the 2018-2019 model.

⚠️ Warning: Some vendors willfully roll back firmware to older versions to hide the device's real age. Always double-check the date with a serial number or documents.

Document and packaging checks

The original documents and box of the Xiaomi TV contain several release date markers:

• 📦 Barcode on the box: The first 4 digits after the country of origin (e.g., 69410555...) may indicate the batch. UPC Database.
• 📄 Warranty card: Sale date in the cabin must coincide with the date of production ±3 months. If the difference is greater, that's a question.
• 🏭 The label says "Made in...": Xiaomi TVs are made in China, India and Indonesia. The manufacturer's sticker sometimes contains the date in format. YYYY-MM-DD.

Pay special attention to the label with QR-Scanning it through the Mi Home app will give you model and activation date information (if the TV is connected to your Xiaomi account).

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If documents are lost, request a serial number extract from Xiaomi’s warranty database via official support, email support@mi.com with the topic “Request for manufacture date” and attach a photo of the serial number.

Determination of the year by model and characteristics

The model number of the TV (Mi TV 4S 50, Redmi Smart TV X65, etc.) also helps narrow the range of years of release. Xiaomi updates the lines annually, adding new features:

• 📺 2018–2019: Models of Mi TV 4A/4S full-permission HD, without Dolby Vision support.
• 🎮 2020–2021: The Emergence of the Mi TV Q1 s QLED-120 Hz and Redmi Smart TV Android 9.
• 🔊 2022–2026: All models are equipped with Google TV, support HDMI 2.1 and MediaTek processors MT9611.

For exact binding, use the database on the Xiaomi TV website. For example, the Mi TV 5 Pro 65 model was released only in 2020-2021, and the Redmi Smart TV A55 – from 2022.

If you buy a TV from hand, check the characteristics with the official:

6.Authentication through Xiaomi services

Xiaomi provides two official methods of device verification:

1. Authentication site: Go to mi.com/global/verify. Enter the serial number and captcha. The system will show the status of the device: Original (original) or Unknown (not found in the database).

Appendix Mi Home:

• Connect the TV to your Xiaomi account.
• Open the Mi Home app → select the device → Settings → Information.
• The date of production or First Activation will indicate the age.

If the TV is not identified in the database, this can mean:

• 🔧 The device is fake (a common problem with Mi models) TV 4A off-the-cuff).
• 🌍 The TV is intended for another region (e.g. the Indian version of Mi). TV 4X will not be displayed in the European database).
• ⏳ More than 5 years have passed since the release of old models are removed from the verification system.

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If the serial number doesn't pass the check on the official website, but the TV is working properly, ask for a check or a warranty card from the seller.Without documents, the risk of buying a fake or gray import is ~70%.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When determining the year of production of Xiaomi TV, users often face typical problems:

• 🔢 Serial number misdeciphering: Confused year and week (e.g., 2023 mistaken for the 20th year of Week 23, even though it is 2023, Week 20).
• 📅 Date trust in settings: This setting is easy to forge through ADB-commands (e.g. adb shell setprop ro.vendor.build.date 20230101).
• 🛠️ Ignoring indirect features: For example, worn ports HDMI The yellowness of the plastic clearly indicates age. >3 years.

To minimize the risks:

Check the serial number on the case and in the menu (they must match)

Ask for a photo of the original barcode box

Check the history of software updates (in Settings → System → Updates)

Make sure your TV is not blacklisted by IMEI.info-->

If you buy a TV abroad (e.g. on AliExpress or eBay), please note that the Chinese versions (CN ROM) may have Google services blocked and do not support Russian.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions