How to accurately determine the year of release of the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 5: step-by-step instructions

Xiaomi Redmi 5 was released in December 2017, but sold in different regions until 2019-2020, which leaves many users with confusion: how to know when their device is assembled? The year of release affects battery health, support for updates and even market value when resold. Fortunately, the manufacturer leaves several “tips” that can accurately determine the date of production without disassembling the device.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 official ways to check the Redmi 5 year, from serial number analysis to hidden system menus, which data points to the first batches of 2017 with better build and which to the late models with a simplified package, and we’ll explain why the information on the box may not match the actual age of the phone, and how to check this.

1. Serial number check (S/N) — most reliable

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 serial number encodes the production date in the first 4-6 characters, and can be found on a sticker under the battery, in the system settings, or on the original box: XXYYWWZZZZZ, where:

• 🔢 XX — factory code, 8H Foxconn, 9B For Inventec).
• 📅 YY — last two digits of the year, for example, 17 = 2017, 18 = 2018).
• 📆 WW — week of production (01 to 52).

Example: Serial number 8H1745ABCDE stands for Week 45 of 2017 (November 2017).

⚠️ Attention: On the fake Redmi 5 serial numbers are often forged. 00 or contains letters in a field of the year/week, 100% Fake, also check for a match. S/N on the box and in the phone settings (Settings) → The phone. → General information).

Look at the sticker under the battery (requires to remove the back cover)

Open Settings → About the phone → General information → Serial number

Check on the original box (under the barcode)

Use the command *#06# output IMEI and S/N (firmware)-->

2.IMEI Analysis: What You Can Learn About Release Date

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique phone identifier that also contains information about the date of production. For the Xiaomi Redmi 5, the IMEI consists of 15 digits, where the first 8 characters encode the model and the factory, and 9-14 digits are the serial number with the date.

To check the IMEI:

1. Dial on the phone keyboard *#06#.
2. Write both down. IMEI (If the phone supports 2 SIM-map).
3. Use online services like IMEI.info or IMEI-Number.com to decrypt.

Example: IMEI 863547041234567 can stand for Week 41 of 2017 (October 2017), but the accuracy of this method is lower than that of the serial number, since the IMEI is generated by different rules.

💡

If the IMEI starts with 863 or 867, it confirms that the phone is assembled in China for a global market.The codes 35 or 01 at the beginning of the IMEI may indicate a forgery.

⚠️ Note: Some services show the wrong release year for Xiaomi, as databases are rarely updated.

3. Production Date on the Box - Trust or Not?

The original Xiaomi Redmi 5 box contains a sticker with the serial number and production date in YYYY-MM-DD or WW-YY format.

• 📦 The date on the box may indicate the date of packing, rather than the phone assembly (up to 1-2 months difference).
• 🔄 In 2018-2019, Xiaomi used the remnants of old boxes for new batches, so the year on the sticker may be earlier than the real one.
• 🚫 Fake boxes often have typos in dates (e.g. 201 instead of 2017).

To verify the authenticity of the box:

1. Compare the serial number on the box and on the phone (should match).
2. Check the print quality: the original stickers have clear fonts and holographic elements.
3. Note the manufacturer country: for the global version of Redmi 5, it must be China (Made in China).

4. Hidden system menus: how to find out the date without disassembly

Xiaomi Redmi 5 based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor has hidden engineering menus where you can find information about the production date. This method works without root rights, but it requires caution - do not change the settings in these menus!

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##4636##.
2. Go to the tab Information about the phone.
3. Scroll down to the Build Date block, format: MM-DD-YYYY or YYYYMMDD.

⚠️ Warning: The build date on the menu may indicate the firmware version rather than the phone's physical build.If the date is fresher than 2019, it's likely the date of the last update MIUI.

Alternative code for checking hardware information: ##225##. Here, the Hardware info section may display the calibration date of the display or battery that is close to the production date.

Yeah, by serial number.

Yes, IMEI.

Yes, through the system menu.

No, I learned (a) from this article.

I don't know how to do that.-->

5 Physical examination: what gives the age of the phone

If you don’t have access to the box or system menu, look for external signs that indirectly indicate the year of release:

• 🔋 Battery: Early batches (2017) had a battery from the battery ATL (code DM in markering, late (2018–2019) – from Sunwoda (code) SDI). Batteries. ATL are considered more durable.
• 📱 Back cover: In 2017, matte plastic with a rough texture was used, in 2018-2019 - glossy or with metal spraying.
• 🔌 Charging port: the first Redmi 5 connector Micro-USB was more rigidly fixed, the later - backflip due to savings on the mounting.
• 🎵 Dynamic: In the models of 2017, the speaker had a metal mesh, in 2019 – plastic.

Also pay attention to the configuration:

• 📄 In the boxes of 2017 there was an instruction in Chinese and English, in 2018-2019 added the Russian version.
• ⚡ The early-stage chargers had power. 5V/2A, late — 5V/1.5A.

💡

The most reliable physical feature is the battery. If the battery sticker has the DM-BH40 (ATL) code on it, it's almost guaranteed the first batch of 2017.

6 Online services to check: which really work

There are several online tools that help determine the release year of the Xiaomi Redmi 5 by serial number or IMEI, but not all of them are accurate – many databases are outdated or contain errors.

⚠️ Warning: No online service gives a 100% guarantee. Always double-check the data through 2-3 sources. For example, if SNDeep is 2018 and the box is 2017, trust the serial number from the battery sticker.

For maximum accuracy, use a combination of methods:

1. Check the serial number on SNDeep.
2. Compare the date to the box.
3. Use the engineering menu to confirm.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the release date of Xiaomi Redmi 5