How Old Is My Phone?
When determining how old your phone is, there are several key dates to consider. These include the release date, manufacturing date, purchase date, and activation date. As we’ll explain in this article, each of these dates is important for a different reason.
Release Date: This is the day the phone model was officially launched and made available to the public. It gives a broad indicator of how modern or outdated your phone’s technology might be, whether it will continue to receive security updates, and the current resale value of your device.
Manufacturing Date: This refers to when your specific unit was made. Even within the same model, phones manufactured at different times may have slight variations or updates, and a later manufacturing date generally suggests a longer potential lifespan.
Purchase Date: This is the day you bought the phone. Purchase dates are often used as the start of your warranty period and is important for any repairs, replacements, or potential resale.
Activation Date: This is the day that your phone was first switched on with a SIM card inserted. In some rare cases, a warranty expiration date could depend on your phone’s activation date.
How To Find Your Phone's release Date
The release date is the best way to tell how old your phone is. Knowing when it came out helps you understand how up-to-date the technology in your phone is. Since technology changes quickly, a phone that’s a few years old might not run the newest apps or get the latest updates. If your phone is really old, it might be time to think about getting a new one!
Online Research
A quick online search of your phone model followed by “release date” should quickly tell you how old your phone model is. Device names and release dates can vary between countries, so for the best results include the country that you’re searching from (e.g. “Apple iPhone 15 Pro UK“)
How To Find Your Phone's Manufacturing Date (MFD)
The phone’s manufacturing date, also called the production date or MFD, is when your specific phone was made in the factory. This could be months or even years after the phone was first released, depending on how popular it is and how the manufacturer schedules production. Sometimes, the manufacturing date can affect certain features, as newer versions of the same phone might have improvements or fixes.
Knowing your phone’s MFD is useful because it gives you an idea of how long your phone might last. Electronic parts can wear out over time, even if they haven’t been used, so a phone made recently will generally last longer than one made years ago, even if you just bought it. This date is also important for warranty claims, as some warranties are based on when the phone was manufactured.
Here are some ways you can check for your Manufacturing Date:
Checking the Original Box
If you still have the original packaging that your phone came in, you might be in luck. Many phone brands include the manufacturing date on the white sticker, or printed onto the box.
If not, the box might display other information such as the manufacturer codes that can be used to figure out the manufacturing date.
Checking the Serial Number (For iPhone)
For iPhones, you can find out how old your phone is by checking the serial number, which holds some hidden details about when it was made. To find the serial number, go to the “About” section in your phone’s “General” settings.
- First 3 characters: Show the factory and country where your iPhone was made.
- 4th character: Tells the year and half of the year it was made (e.g., “C” = second half of 2010, “D” = first half of 2011).
- 5th character: Indicates the week of the year it was made (1-52).
The rest of the code usually relates to the model, colour, and storage capacity of your iPhone.
Phone's Settings (For Some Android Models)
Some Android phones display the manufacturing date directly in the settings. You can usually find this information under “About Phone” or similar sections. The exact path can vary between models and OS versions, so you might need to do a bit of hunting.
Other phones display manufacturing codes in the settings menu. For a Samsung phone, the fourth and fifth digits of this number tell you the year and month of manufacture. Look at the fourth character in the serial number to find out the year the phone was manufactured. Check your serial number against the below codes:
The fifth character represents the month, with January-September represented by the numbers 1-9, then October, November and December represented by A, B and C.
Using Special Codes (For Android)
Some Android devices allow access to the manufacturing date via special codes. These codes can be input in the phone app like you’re dialling a phone number. Codes differ between devices, but here are a few that you can try:
- #0000#
- #197328640#
- ##197328640##
Using an App
Phone info apps can easily show you your phone’s manufacturing date in a simple way by reading the information directly from your device. If you have an Android phone, just search for “phone info app” on the Google Play Store to find and download a suitable app that will do this for you.
Using The Phone's IMEI Number
The International Mobile Equipment Identity number, or IMEI, is a special code that’s unique to your mobile phone. It’s like your phone’s fingerprint.
Since it’s created by the phone manufacturer, you can use your IMEI number to find out more details about your phone, like when it was made.
Finding The Purchase Date
The purchase date is critical for warranty purposes. Most phone warranties begin on the day of sale and last for a specific period. At The Big Phone Store, we offer a 12-Month Warranty on almost all of our devices. If you need repairs or replacements, knowing when you purchased your device helps to determine if your phone is still under warranty.
Sales Receipt or Invoice
The simplest way to find the purchase date is to refer to the sales receipt or invoice you received when buying the phone. If you purchased your phone online, check your email inbox for a purchase confirmation, which will show the same information as a physical receipt.
Instantly Check How Much Your Old Phone Is Worth
You don’t need to know any of these dates to quickly find out the true resale value of your used phone, no matter how old your phone is. The Big Phone Store offers a way to instantly check the value of your device, for free! All you need to tell us is the make and model of your used phone, as well as the cosmetic condition and storage capacity of your device.
Read more on – What is the best way to sell my phone?
Why You Should Use The Big Phone Store
The Big Phone Store offers a trusted and eco-friendly way to buy and sell your old phone. With competitive prices, a wide range of refurbished devices, and a commitment to sustainability, you can save money while reducing e-waste.
Enjoy a hassle-free experience with fast, secure payments and reliable customer service, making it the smart choice for phone recycling!
