How to find out the year of manufacture of a phone by serial number

When purchasing a mobile phone or tablet from a well-known or unfamiliar brand, the consumer is primarily interested in the real country of origin of the device.
Many famous brands locate their production in other countries, most often China, for example, the same Samsung can be produced both in South Korea and have apocryphal Chinese “roots”. But don't be skeptical about electronic devices manufactured outside the vendor's countries. Manufacturers value their reputation very much and will never allow low-quality goods to be sold under their brand. But still, the buyer wants to be sure that he has chosen an original smartphone, to establish the origin of the device he is purchasing second-hand, or to make sure that the information specified in the documents regarding a specific device is up-to-date. These nuances and a whole range of other useful data about the gadget are stored in a special IMEI code of the device.

The Internet assistant Tarif-online.ru will tell you how to find out the country of the phone manufacturer using IMEI and what features of the code you should pay attention to. We will also describe an alternative way to obtain reliable information about the country of origin using the device serial number.

Where was your smartphone made – how to find out?

How to determine the manufacturer of your mobile phone? The question is directly related to whether you were given a counterfeit? The inscription on the phone battery does not correspond to reality. Because on the battery it says where the battery itself was made, and not the entire smartphone.

As a rule, when we open the cover of the mobile phone and take out the battery, we will see the most popular inscription on the entire planet “Made in China”. This is not evidence that the smartphone, like the battery, came from China. The fact is that the Heavenly Office has factories and production facilities. The latest iPhone's battery also bears the "Made in China" label. Find out on our website if your smartphone is original.

The inscription in the instructions that the phone was made in the exact country indicated by the inscription should also not be trusted. If the pirates managed to counterfeit the phone, then they also have no problems with typography.

So, the surest way to find out which country your mobile phone came from is the IMEI address. The same 15-digit code. It is he who will help determine the country of origin. Find out How to find a stolen smartphone?

What is the difference between Rostest and Eurotest?

No matter how strange it may sound, in most cases the user will not find any differences at all when purchasing a device. Why? For the simple reason that there are no obvious differences.

Okay, you say, but then why are PCT devices more expensive? The fact is that the device must undergo certification, and this, as you understand, costs money. Accordingly, part of the costs for this falls on the shoulders of buyers. In addition, in this case, the manufacturer provides its guarantee directly. In the case of Eurotest, the guarantee is given by the seller, and it is impossible to say which is better in this case.

It is noteworthy that PCT smartphones are not always more expensive than Eurotest, it is often the exact opposite - they are sold cheaper, since the manufacturer can afford to reduce the cost of its products, and sellers, whose main goal is to make a profit, cannot do this.

The Rostest device cannot be a fake, while smartphones purchased from an unknown store may be. There are indeed a lot of fakes on the market and the user cannot in all cases understand that it is a fake, especially since the latter have become very high quality.

In rare cases, there will be a difference between Rostest and Eurotest devices. For example, a fairly well-known manufacturer of mobile devices has left the Russian language in its devices only for those that are officially sold in our country. Other devices use only English and Chinese languages. Accordingly, if you buy such a smartphone in some online store, it will not have the Russian language. However, this case is a rare exception, not the rule. But be careful.

As for everyone's favorite iPhone, the only difference will be in the warranty. In addition, a “gray” iPhone may be locked to a specific operator and it is unlikely to be unlocked just like that.

The procedure is as follows:

1. To find out your IMEI you need to dial *#06# or read how to find out IMEI?

2. You will receive a 15-digit set of numbers.

3. The seventh and eighth digits are the so-called FAC (Final Assembly Code)

4. These two numbers will indicate the country of origin

But there is a small caveat. Manufacturers of mobile gadgets try not to disclose their codes for various reasons. Therefore, there may be various contradictions here.

Here are some of them:

01 or 10 or 70 - these codes correspond to Finland, which means that phones with such numbering are of good quality;

02 or 20 is the code of the United Arab Emirates. Although this country is full of the richest sheikhs, poor people from other countries work on telephones. Accordingly, the phone will be of poor quality;

07, 08 or 78 – Germany. There is no need to find fault with the high-quality assembly of the Germans;

03 or 80 – China. Controversial quality. The guys work hard, but sometimes they do well;

19 or 40 – UK;

00 is a special situation. It means that the phone was produced back in 2003-2004, when FAC was abolished.

Source

Instructions

Enter the key combination “*#06#” on the phone’s numeric keypad in phone number entry mode. A 15-digit number will be displayed on the screen, which is the IMEI.

Look at positions 7 or 8 of this issue. If the values ​​“02” or “20” are given, this means that the phone was made in the United Arab Emirates and is of rather poor quality. If the numbers are “08” or “80”, then the manufacturer is Germany. The numbers “01” or “10” indicate that the phone was made in Finland, and if “00” is written in the 7th and 8th positions of the number, this means that the phone was assembled at the manufacturer’s factory, which is very good. Devices that contain the number “13” in this position were produced in Azerbaijan and may pose a threat to the user’s health due to their extremely low quality.

Look at the device box. It should not contain any inscriptions with the names of foreign cellular operators (for example, Orange or Vodafone). The SSE and PCT logos must be pasted on the box, which are also placed under the device’s battery.

Look at the list of supported languages ​​on your phone. The Russian language must be specified. The kit should include fully translated instructions, which are printed on high-quality paper.

The warranty card provides service at a certified service center and must be printed in high quality and entirely in Russian. A list of authorized service centers that are present in large cities and regions is attached to the coupon.

The IMEI, which is written on the sticker behind the battery, must match the value that is displayed on the screen as a result of the request “*#06#”.

When buying a cell phone, not everyone thinks about the country of its manufacture. It is clear that most phones sold in Russia are made in China. But China is different from China. Large concerns for the production of household appliances and electronics are transferring their production to the territory of the Middle Kingdom due to cheap labor. But manufacturers do it legally and build factories. And the quality of assembly there is often monitored more strictly than usual, so as not to damage the reputation of the enterprise.

How to find out by serial number where and when a smartphone was made

More information about your smartphone

When buying a new phone , we don’t think about its origin. The main thing that most consumers pay attention to is the design of the device, its functionality and, of course, the brand name. Of course, all these criteria are important and should not be neglected. But few people know that information about a smartphone hidden from users can significantly affect its performance in the future.

Important information! This week only we have super prices on new smartphone models. Hurry to buy a mobile phone in Odessa, Kyiv, Kharkov at a super price from the supplier in the Mobileplanet.ua online store. You can learn more about the range and prices in the “Phones” section

This additional information includes the following:

How to find out which country a smartphone is made for

A few years ago, not a single user thought about this question. But due to the widespread popularization of online sales, many countries began to keep records of registered smartphones and block illegally imported devices. After all, buying a phone directly from the manufacturer is much cheaper.

If you purchase such a device from unofficial representatives, you will not be able to fully use its functionality or communicate via cellular communications. Therefore, the first thing you need to remember is that purchases should be made only in trusted official stores . This is the Mobile Planet online store.

Here you can buy certified smartphones from all well-known manufacturers:

But if you nevertheless purchased a phone of dubious origin, then you should find out for which country your smartphone is intended. This information will allow you to understand whether the device supports local operators and other nuances associated with working in each specific state. This can be done using the WillMyPhoneWork.net service.

Having visited this resource, you need to enter the name of the company, phone model, country in which you are located, and click the search button. All useful information about the smartphone will appear in the window that opens:

Eurotest

The concept of Eurotest appeared during the period when so-called “gray” goods began to arrive in the country. This does not mean that the technology is of poor quality. It was simply imported bypassing official supply channels. Accordingly, such a product does not have certification, and the manufacturer will not repair such products during the warranty period. It turns out that the official Eurotest mark simply does not exist. This concept was introduced in order to more eloquently explain to customers that phones have a Eurotest guarantee and are serviced by a special service center. The seller issues a guarantee, but it is tied to one single center, and it is unknown how long it will last. If you move to another city, your equipment will not be serviced there.

What does PCT mean - pros, cons and differences

1. Official warranty in Russia from the manufacturer, unlike phones that do not have such a sign. If your device is, for example, Eurotest, i.e. without the RST sign, you can only rely on the store’s guarantee. The warranty period is usually 1 year, although previously it was 2 years.

Interesting! E.A.C. If this sign is on the device, then the manufacturer’s warranty will be valid in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. PCT and EAC smartphones mean the same warranty for devices with these marks. These are “white” phones.

2. Russian language. The firmware will be exactly Russian firmware and updates will come exactly in Russian. But, usually this is only relevant for some models of Chinese devices, while the rest already have all this.

3. Instructions, buttons and other consumables in Russian.

4. Russian installed applications. Recently, PCT smartphones have been initially equipped with applications from Russian developers.

5. Price. It can be either higher or lower. For example, iPhone Rostest is usually more expensive than without it.

6. Rostest does not mean that your phone copy was tested for quality compliance. The mark is issued for a batch of goods, and not for individual units.

7. Internals - the hardware of the phone is the same in any device, except for certain models.

8.Volume settings, camera settings and others may vary slightly.

9. The charger will fit into Russian sockets and no adapter will be needed. So, usually when purchasing an iPhone without a PCT, you have to additionally look at the charger for it.

10. A non-Rostest phone may be locked to a specific operator in any country; unlocking it is expensive and not always possible. Just look at what is written on the box and read the description so as not to buy such a device.

11. Build quality. In some countries they are much tougher and the devices they produce are much better assembled than the same ones for other countries. This used to happen with iPhones, but now everything seems to be back to normal.

Interesting! The advantages are insignificant, and if you like a mobile phone abroad, you can safely buy it. It's okay if it doesn't have an RCT badge. Moreover, many devices are covered by an international warranty, allowing the device to be repaired in any country.

In any case, it is always better to first study the reviews before purchasing, because... the situation even from batch to batch in the quality of assembly can vary greatly.

Why is EUROTEST cheaper?

EUROTEST devices are 30% cheaper than ROSTEST devices due to taxes and customs duties, and for the reason that you also need to pay for the ROSTEST certificate itself. There are no more differences between the phones. EUROTEST devices are not fake, they were simply imported into the country illegally and for this reason they are cheaper.

There is no difference in the quality of the product. Both products are manufactured at an official factory. All differences lie in the delivery channels to Russia and the conditions of warranty service.

It is entirely up to you to decide whether to purchase a ROSTEST or EUROTEST device; the most important thing is not to regret your decision.

When we think about buying a smartphone, the question arises in our minds: what is the difference between ROSTEST and EUROTEST? Indeed, we very often hear the words in an electronics store: ROSTEST certificate. However, does each of us know what this means?

How to determine the country of origin of a phone using IMEI

When purchasing a mobile phone or tablet from a well-known or unfamiliar brand, the consumer is primarily interested in the real country of origin of the device.
Many famous brands locate their production in other countries, most often China, for example, the same Samsung can be produced both in South Korea and have apocryphal Chinese “roots”. But don't be skeptical about electronic devices manufactured outside the vendor's countries. Manufacturers value their reputation very much and will never allow low-quality goods to be sold under their brand. But still, the buyer wants to be sure that he has chosen an original smartphone, to establish the origin of the device he is purchasing second-hand, or to make sure that the information specified in the documents regarding a specific device is up-to-date. These nuances and a whole range of other useful data about the gadget are stored in a special IMEI code of the device.

The Internet assistant Tarif-online.ru will tell you how to find out the country of the phone manufacturer using IMEI and what features of the code you should pay attention to. We will also describe an alternative way to obtain reliable information about the country of origin using the device serial number.

What devices are most often counterfeited?

It’s all the more disappointing when a purchase for a normal market price turns out not to be factory-made. This is already fraud on the part of the seller. Here you need to be very careful and when purchasing, pay attention to such details as:

To its credit, pirated copies are becoming more and more convincing. Sometimes the differences are so insignificant that you may not realize that the device is not original for years.

Most often, well-known and expensive models, such as brands such as Apple and Samsung, are counterfeited. Although recently Chinese quality products from companies such as Xiaomi, Meizu, Vivo, Nokia and others have also been in great demand.

Let's look at examples of offers from the Internet to mobile phones in a comparative table.

The lower price level can be 2-3 thousand rubles. This is exactly how much cheap Chinese copies cost, which are then used to create imitations of prestigious companies with successful marketing and an unblemished reputation.

The list of the most counterfeit phones in the world includes products from Samsung (30.1% of counterfeits), Korean Xiaomi (37.3% of copies), and the American market leader, Apple (although due to the iOS security system, a duplicate can be quickly identified after switching on).

Today, the top 3 counterfeited models are: iPhone 8, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note. Every fifth phone in the world is an imitation, not always of high quality.

An important threat to buying fiction is that it is made from components of dubious quality. This subsequently affects performance, performance and even sometimes safety. Cheap and outdated technology may look nice, but in fact it won't bring you any enjoyment.

In addition, we are talking not only about physical, but also information security. Fake firmware may contain commands that send information to third parties. This may include financial data from banking applications, personal data from government services, and other important information that you do not want to share with the general public.

IMEI Features

The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numeric identifier consists of 15 digits and is a unique identification marker for each piece of mobile equipment (phone, smartphone, tablet, modem, router) regardless of the country in which it was manufactured. By focusing on the structure of the international IMEI identifier, you can unambiguously establish not only in which state the factory is located, but also who the manufacturer of the phone is, its model, release date and serial number.

Important! IMEI is a unique identifier for each GSM and UMTS mobile phone and serves for accurate and complete identification in the cellular networks of providers. Today, many devices have been developed that can simultaneously use 2 or more SIM cards from different operators. Such devices have several IMEIs, the number of which depends on the number of SIM card slots.

Each device owner can find out their international mobile equipment identifier from four standard sources:

After this action, a 15-digit code will instantly appear on the screen. For example, for devices with two SIM cards, the representation of the numeric code may look like this:

IMEI 1: 357885051455122

IMEI 2: 357885051455130

Please note that authorized organizations and manufacturers are constantly trying to improve the protection of mobile equipment from unauthorized IMEI changes using special software. In particular, this resulted in the fact that the identifier is now stored in the gadget’s memory in a special, one-time programmable zone. In addition, in 2004 the format of the IMEI itself was changed.

On older devices, the international mobile equipment identifier was represented as follows: 357885 05 145512 0 (IMEI 1 from our example with the last digit replaced):

The new IMEI format, on the one hand, is simplified, on the other hand, it uses a complex algorithm for checking check digits. On modern devices, the international mobile equipment identifier must be grouped as follows - 35 788505 145512 2:

Regardless of the IMEI writing standard, knowing the seventh and eighth digits of the identifier (except for the digits 00), you can determine the country in which your phone was manufactured. Codes with two zeros (00) are transitional between two IMEI standards and do not allow identification of the country of origin.

Determining the country of origin of the phone by IMEI

We already know which numbers of the international mobile equipment identifier indicate the country of origin. It is quite difficult to link the seventh and eighth digits of the IMEI with the real country, since there may be contradictions between the real origin of the device and the country for which the equipment was manufactured. For example, German-made mobile phones have a country code of 07, but the new South Korean Samsung Grand Prime smartphones, which were originally sent to Germany, received the same code, and then were distributed throughout Europe without any IMEI changes.

Rostest

Rostest is a sign that is placed on mobile phones legally imported into the country by the manufacturers themselves or their authorized distributors. This means that the device has the necessary certificate of conformity, is safe for use and can be serviced in all service centers of this manufacturer throughout Russia. Having bought a phone, for example, in Yekaterinburg, you can service or repair the device in Moscow or Volgograd and in any other city.

What is an IMEI number and where to find it

The “Have” code is a 15-digit unique number that identifies each released smartphone, tablet, and modem. In addition to the country of origin, you can use it to find out a lot of useful information about the device: whether it has a branded warranty, presence in the “black” sheets, software version. The IMEI identifies the gadget on mobile networks. Using this code you can also get some information about unknown phone models.

Changing IMEI is a criminal offense not only in the UK, Belarus, Latvia, but also in our country. However, this does not reduce the number of fakes, which, by the way, can also be calculated using this 15-digit number.

Before you find out the country of origin by IMEI of a Nokia, Samsung, iPhone or other gadget, you need to find this code. “Have” is usually indicated on the original packaging of the device, or under its battery. You can display this code on the screen of your smartphone by typing the command: *#06#.

Structure of the name code

Depending on the year of assembly of your device, you may see an old and a new code. Let's consider both options. The old IMEI will have the following structure: 2345-0. Let's decipher it:

Since 2004, a new number format has been used: 00-000022-333333-1. The country of origin is also encrypted here with the seventh and eighth characters. The numbers in a slightly different form mean the same thing:

If your device was manufactured during the period when FAC was abolished (2003-2004), then the 7th-8th characters of your “name” code will be two zeros (00). In this case, you will not be able to determine the country where your phone was assembled by IMEI.

IMEI Features

The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numeric identifier consists of 15 digits and is a unique identification marker for each piece of mobile equipment (phone, smartphone, tablet, modem, router) regardless of the country in which it was manufactured. By focusing on the structure of the international IMEI identifier, you can unambiguously establish not only in which state the factory is located, but also who the manufacturer of the phone is, its model, release date and serial number.

Important! IMEI is a unique identifier for each GSM and UMTS mobile phone and serves for accurate and complete identification in the cellular networks of providers. Today, many devices have been developed that can simultaneously use 2 or more SIM cards from different operators. Such devices have several IMEIs, the number of which depends on the number of SIM card slots.

Each device owner can find out their international mobile equipment identifier from four standard sources:

After this action, a 15-digit code will instantly appear on the screen. For example, for devices with two SIM cards, the representation of the numeric code may look like this:

IMEI 1: 357885051455122

IMEI 2: 357885051455130

Please note that authorized organizations and manufacturers are constantly trying to improve the protection of mobile equipment from unauthorized IMEI changes using special software. In particular, this resulted in the fact that the identifier is now stored in the gadget’s memory in a special, one-time programmable zone. In addition, in 2004 the format of the IMEI itself was changed.

How to find out the country of origin of a phone by IMEI

05, 70, 02, etc. - it is the combination of these numbers that will help you see the true country of origin of your phone. It is worth noting that corporations that produce smartphones prefer to keep data about the country of final assembly secret, so all the information provided below is unofficial. In addition, (Samsung, Sony, iPhone, Nokia, etc.) encrypt states in IMEI codes under different symbols.

Here is a summary table that tells you how to find out the country of origin of a phone by IMEI (06, 01, 07 and others), and also has some ratings from direct users.

If the country code you determined by IMEI conflicts with what is written on the box or under the battery of the device, then there is a chance that the phone you are holding in your hands is a fake.

Alternative methods

In addition to IMEI, you can calculate the manufacturer of your smartphone by S/N - the serial number of the device. It is also indicated on the box or under the battery next to the “have” code. You can determine the final country of assembly by this number by going to one of the popular services that specialize in providing such information.

The next option is to determine the manufacturer by the number under the barcode, also printed on the original packaging of the device. In this case, you need to pay attention to the first numbers. Here is a table with the most likely codes.

That's all the methods that tell you how to find out the country of origin of a phone by IMEI, as well as using the serial number and barcode on the box. The coincidence of all results, including the name of the country of assembly indicated on the box, is a guarantee that this is a branded device.

Where to complain?

Of course, when ordering a mobile phone from an online store, you need to carefully examine it in the presence of the courier and, if there is something in the product that worries you or is not satisfactory, refuse to receive it. But what to do if you managed to find the forgery only some time after the purchase? Many believe that in this case it will not be possible to return their money: the dishonest seller will no longer be detected, all that remains is to accept it. This is not so: a duped client is allowed and must fight for his rights. The first thing to do in case of purchasing a counterfeit mobile phone is to write two copies of the complaint, in which you need to indicate the essence of the complaint, the date of purchase of the phone, and on the basis of Article 495 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, Articles 12 and 22 of the Federal Law “On the Protection of Buyers’ Rights” require the return of money paid for goods of inadequate quality. One copy of the complaint is given to the seller, the other remains with the duped client. The law obliges the manufacturer to respond to this requirement within 10 days. If a dishonest seller does not accommodate the client and does not return the money within 10 days, you must file a complaint with the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights and Human Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor), the authorities responsible for combating counterfeit products, or the prosecutor’s office . Without remaining indifferent, you can not only return your personal money, but also help other people avoid becoming victims of forgery or fraud.

The abbreviation IMEI translated into Russian means nothing more than the International Mobile Equipment Identifier. This is a unique number consisting of 15 digits. Every mobile phone has it.

The first two digits help identify the country of origin, the next six give an idea of ​​the unit's model code, the next six are assigned to the entire unit individually, and the last is a backup identifier.

Source

Certified product, contraband or counterfeit?

However, there may be other, much less glorious, reasons for such cheapness. The first thing you should beware of when buying online is counterfeit. A fake phone may outwardly completely imitate the original, but the quality and safety of such a gadget will inevitably disappoint a naive client. As usual, a careful inspection of the product helps to identify a counterfeit: unlike the original, a “singed” mobile phone is assembled from low-quality materials, there are nicks and unevenness on the body, and even with a slight pressure on the phone you can hear crunching and crackling noises. But the surest way to ensure the originality of the product you are purchasing is to ask the manufacturer himself. On the body of the entire phone there must be an identification number, which can be found if you open the back cover of the phone and remove the battery. Under the battery there will be a white sticker with black inscriptions, among which you need to find numbers with the letters SN - this is the serial number. It must be indicated by calling the hotline or contacting through the manufacturer’s formal website. If these numbers are not in the manufacturer's database, it is a fake. But even a genuine phone can cause a lot of trouble for the client if it is not certified for sale in Russia. Such phones were assembled at an official manufacturing plant, but were imported into Russia illegally, through smuggling. If such a unit breaks down, you should not count on warranty repairs. In addition, a smuggled phone may not be Russified. In order to avoid becoming a victim of smugglers, you need to check whether your phone has a PCT (RosTest) or CCC (Svyaz certification system) sticker. The absence of such a sticker indicates that the phone is “gray”.

Source