Determining the age of a phone can be a challenging task. Whether you’re interested in buying a used one or simply curious. While it’s easy to find out when a phone came out, determining its manufactured date is more complicated. We will cover in this article how to find out “how old is my phone?”
The production date of a device may be significantly later than the model’s release date. Various smartphone manufacturers have different methods of handling this. But there are some approaches to try if you want to find out how old your phone is.
Examine the Box
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Certain manufacturers simplify things for consumers by providing the manufacturing date on the packaging itself. You can simply flip the package and search for the “date” to verify this.
We can validate that several OnePlus and Motorola phone models, particularly newer ones, have this information on the box. If you’re unable to locate it on the packaging, you may need to look elsewhere.
Look In the Settings
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If you want to know the manufacturing date of your phone, you can check the settings. The exact location may vary depending on the phone model. But you’ll usually find it under “About Phone” or a similar menu.
Some phones will display the manufacturing date or hardware version prominently. But others may hide it within the serial code, making it harder to find.
Check the serial code
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Apple incorporates manufacturing information within its phones’ serial numbers. In older models, the third digit of the serial number indicates the year of manufacture. For example, “9” representing 2019, “0” representing 2020, “1” indicating 2021, and so on. The fourth and fifth digits typically denote the manufacturing week of the year.
Newer models have more intricate serial numbers, where the third character designates which half of the year the device came out. For example, “C” signifies the first half of 2020, while “D” represents the second half. The first and second halves of 2021 are denoted by “F” and “G,” respectively, while the first and second halves of 2022 are indicated by “H” and “J.”
For 2023, the first and second halves will be represented by the letters “K” and “L” in Apple’s serial numbers. The fifth character of the serial number indicates the week in which the makers manufactured the device. ASUS is another manufacturer that typically includes the manufacturing date in its serial code.
The year and month are usually located towards the end of the code, following the letters “MFD.” If you’re unsure whether your serial number includes this information, we recommend doing a quick Google search. Since there are many different OEMs out there, you’ll need to look up the specific instructions for your phone brand and model, such as “[your phone brand and model] serial number manufacturing code.”
Use an app
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If you want to find out how old your phone is, try downloading a phone info app from Google Play. These apps can extract data from serial numbers, IMEI codes, and other technical details that might be difficult to understand. While they may not always accurately determine your phone’s age, it’s still worth giving them a try.
Manufacturing codes
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If you’ve exhausted other options and still haven’t found your phone’s manufacturing date, you can try using manufacturer codes as a last resort. However, it’s important to note that these codes are often specific not only to the OEM but also to the phone model itself, so we can’t provide direct guidance.
Some devices may respond to the codes “#197328640#” or “##197328640##” entered into the dialer (without quotation marks), which will open a service menu. To access the manufacturing date of the hardware, please follow these steps: Go to the Menu Version Information, then select Hardware Versions, and finally choose the option to Read Manufacturing Date.
If the previous method doesn’t work for your device, you can search for your specific manufacturer code on Google. Keep in mind that these codes can vary depending on the OEM and phone model. In some cases, you can access the manufacturing date through the dialer’s code “*#0000#”.
Take the Help of Google
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When trying to determine your phone’s manufacturing date, Google can be a helpful resource. Simply search for your device’s serial number or specific model and see if any relevant details pop up. If that doesn’t provide the information you’re looking for, you can still get a general sense of your phone’s age by finding its release date.
While the exact manufacturing date may vary, knowing the release date can give you a good estimate of how new or old your device is. For example, if the phone came out a year ago, you know it can’t be more than a year old.
FAQs
What is the purpose of knowing how old is my phone?
Knowing a phone’s manufacturing date can be useful in determining its age, which can help when pricing a used phone for sale. However, it’s important to note that this information alone isn’t necessarily the deciding factor in a phone’s value.
Other factors such as the release date, whether it’s the latest model, demand for the device, and its condition all play a role in determining its worth. Ultimately, when it comes to buying or selling a phone, people are generally more concerned with these other factors than the specific manufacturing date.
Does the manufacturing date of my phone impact the number of updates it receives?
Many manufacturers provide a guarantee of software updates, which can make it important to know your phone’s manufacturing date. For instance, Samsung guarantees up to four generations of Android updates and five years of security updates on certain high-end models.
However, this promise deals with the phone’s release date, rather than its manufacturing date. Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether your Samsung Galaxy S23 was manufactured in 2023 or 2024; the update clock should begin ticking from the release date in 2023.
Is there an advantage to owning a phone that was manufactured more recently?
As mobile phones age, they tend to slow down, and their batteries may experience reduced performance. Additionally, even brand-new devices that have been stored in unfavourable conditions for extended periods may undergo some wear and tear on their battery components. This can affect their performance to a certain degree, based on the specific materials and components employed.
However, any performance changes are typically insignificant, and significant wear and tear are typically only observable with frequent usage. For example, a phone that has been inactive in a warehouse for some time is improbable to exhibit apparent signs of aging.
Conclusion: How Old is My Phone
To determine the age of your phone, you can start by checking the box for relevant details. Although you may not find this information always available, it is the most straightforward method to attempt initially.
Additionally, some phones may have this information accessible within their settings, while others may provide clues within the serial code. Alternatively, there are other methods to try, so continue reading to see if any of these are effective for you.
