You might be interested in finding out how old your phone is if you are buying a new one. The method for doing so varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
This article will show you how to determine when your phone was made.
What is the importance of a phone’s age?
It is well-documented that different smartphones were launched at different times. Your phone may have been manufactured after launch, or even months later. You might check the manufacturing date for your phone for several reasons.
- This may provide insight into how secure your device really is. It is generally less secure than older phones.
- The age of your phone can affect its resell price. If you decide to sell your phone, a more recent model is more likely to make you more.
- Your phone’s performance is affected by your age. Older phones are slower and more susceptible to wear.
- The battery life of your phone decreases as you age.
What you need to know about the age of your phone
Although each manufacturer may have their own way of displaying the date of manufacture, there are some common tools that you can use regardless of what model or make of your phone. These are just a few:
Your phone’s purchase box
The first place to look is your phone’s box. Many manufacturers include the date of manufacture on each box. Many manufacturers attach a sticker to the backside of each box. You may find some symbols, words, or barcodes on the sticker. The sticker may contain the phone’s manufacture date.
It’s important that you verify that the IMEI number on the box matches the one in your phone’s settings. If they are not identical, it could be that the box you receive isn’t the one on your phone. In this case, the manufacturer date may not be correct.
Settings
Some phones include their manufactured date in the settings app. This information is typically found in the settings menu’s folder “About Phone”. Sometimes, the manufacturer might not provide the date, so you may need to use some sort of formula to determine when your phone was manufactured. iPhones are a good example, as we will see in the article.
Applications
Applications have been created by developers that allow you to access your phone’s data and use your IMEI number for online research. This will tell you when your phone was made. Due to the fact that they are usually developed in collaboration with the manufacturers, these applications may be manufacturer-specific. To access the data, you only need to download the application and install it.
Code for Manufacturing
If you have the manufacturing code of your phone, it may be possible to determine its manufacture date. Enter the following code into your phone’s dial pad to find out:
*#manufacturingcode#* or *#*#manufacturingcode#*#*
Once you have entered the correct information, a service menu will appear. It will display important details about your phone such as its model and manufacture date.
We’ll now look at some specific ways for phones to determine the manufacturing date.
How to tell how old your Android phone is
Android smartphones are extremely popular today because they provide the ideal platform for many applications. How can you determine when your Android smartphone was made?
You can view the manufacturing date of most Android brands’ phones in the settings. The “About Phone” tab can be found by going to Settings and selecting it. You may see words such as Your Phone, About or Phone Data in the section that displays details about your phone.
You can also try this alternative:
- Call *#197328640#* 197328640 #*#*. This will open the service menu.
- Tap “Menu Version Information.”
- Tap “Hardware Version”.
- Select “Read Manufacturing date.”
You may also be able to find the manufacturing date by using a different code, *#000#.
How to tell how old your Samsung phone is
Samsung smartphones are well-known for being able to use a variety of apps. You can download and install a phone information app if you have a Samsung smartphone. Although there are many phone info apps from different developers, they all serve the same purpose. You can search for “Samsung phone information app” in your phone’s application store to find the right app.
What is the age of your iPhone
There’s a good possibility that your iPhone’s manufacturing date has been coded into its serial number. Let’s take a look at the coding system.
- The year is represented by the third digit of the serial number. 8 is 2008, 9 2009, 1 2011, 1, 2, and 2 are examples of the year.
- The serial number’s fourth and fifth digits represent the week in which the iPhone was made.
You can view your iPhone’s serial numbers here
- Go to the settings of your phone.
- Select “About” under “General”.
The iPhone has even more options to determine the date of manufacture. A Dutch website called chipmunks allows you to check the details of your phone for free. Here are the steps:
- You can visit the Chipmunk website using your iPhone’s web browser. This can be done on a Mac or a PC.
- In the input box, enter your phone’s serial numbers.
- Click on “Laat de informative”, loosely translated to “Provide Information.” This will show you the manufacture date of your phone.
Alternativly, Apple’s website “Check Coverage” might be a better option. The platform was initially designed to allow iPhone users to check their warranty status. However, the device’s manufacturing date will also be displayed once you have entered the serial number.
How to tell if your old phone is locked
Unlocked phones can accept sim cards from different service providers if they are not locked. This is useful if you plan to travel to another country. Unlocked phones can accept sim cards from almost every network around the globe.
Here are some ways to verify that your iPhone is not locked.
- Tap on “Cellular” in the settings menu of your phone.
- Unlocked phones will have a Cellular Data option.
- If your phone is locked you won’t be able to see the Cellular Data option under the Cellular menu.
What about Android smartphones?
- Go to the settings section of your phone.
- Choose “Connections”
- Open “Networks”
- Click on “Network Operators” if your phone is not locked. If so, you will see a list listing all available networks. Your phone could be locked if you only get one result.
How To Tell If Your Google Phone is
Google phones are not as well-known as other brands of smartphones today due to their late entry into the market. Google phones, however, seem to be following the old formula when it comes down to the manufacture date. Here are the steps to find out when your phone was manufactured.
- Go to the settings section of your phone.
- Click on “General.”
- Select “About”
How to tell how old your LG phone is
Downloading the LG phone information app from the app shop is the best way to determine when your LG phone was made.
Alternativly, you may also use the online IMEI checker. Simply enter the IMEI number of your phone in the search box, and then click “Check.”
How to tell how old your Motorola phone is
You might also find information under Settings about when your Motorola phone was made, just like Google phones. This information is also included in most Motorola phones.
Additional FAQ
How do you know if your old phone is unlocked?
It is possible to check if your phone is locked using a reliable method. Simply remove your simcard and then replace it with a new one from another carrier. Your phone will be unlocked if you can make a call using the new simcard. If you are unable to make a call with the new sim card, your phone will be unlocked.
How do you check how long your phone has been in your possession?
Contact your network provider to find out how long your phone has been in your possession. They will keep a complete record of all transactions.
How do I find my old phone number?
If your phone is in excellent working order, you can proceed as follows
* Open the settings of your phone.
* Click on “About phone”
* Choose “Status”
* Click on “My number”
You can also ask a family member or friend, or go through your tax records.
How do I enable Find My Phone?
Use an iOS device
* Open the app settings
* Please select your name.
* Click “Find My”
* Click on “Find My iPhone”.
For Android users:
* Open the app settings
* Tap “Security”.
* Click “Find My Device”.
* Click on “Find My Device”.
Can I keep my old phone?
Yes. It is best to take the phone to a store to have it checked out. To use your phone again, you may need to unlock it. Once the contract has expired, your old carrier will be able to unlock it for you.
Last Thoughts
It can help you plan for your next purchase by knowing how old your phone really is. It can also help you determine if your phone is safe from the latest cybersecurity threats. Using the information provided in this article, you can quickly check how old your phone is. Did you have any difficulties trying to figure out the age of your phone? Have you got any hacks?
