Firmware version and manufacture date

[Str132]

I recently bought S23 ultra and found out that the firmware version is One UI 7 (built in April 2025), and the smartphone was manufactured in December 2024. Is it possible that the firmware version is newer than the manufacture date? It's so strange...

[keith30]

Not necessarily

[Joeeye]

Firmware version has nothing to do with the phones manufactured date. Firmware is simply a form of software that is kept permanent within your device and can be updated later in time. It's essentially like a mini OS that instructs your phone how to function. In PCs this is known as a BIOS.

[Moiramon]

It's showing that the software was updated to One Ui 7 in April 2025. When it was manufactured it would have been on One Ui 6. What's strange is that it was manufactured in December 2024 as the S24 ultra was released in January 2024.

[samfan124325]

They usually produce previous phones for months after the release of the new model. They don't stop producing old model soon as new one is launched

[Joeeye]

But it's unlikely they manufactured S23's in December 2024, nearly 2 full years from it's initial launch.

[samfan124325]

Not impossible at all I had an a10 that was produced nearly 2 years from launch.

[Joeeye]

How do you know when it was manufactured?

It is unlikely because during the last 6 years, all latest chips used in the S series devices have been manufactured using the latest cutting edge process from TSMC or Samsung. They've both been so efficient in these years that producing older designed chips would be unlikely after a given point in time. I never said it was impossible, but given the rate that devices upgrades have occured (in the premium smartphones at least) it's very unlikely Samsung would've manufactured an S23 in December 2024. There's no financial incentive or gain for one.

[samfan124325]

It said month and year of manufacture on the box label if I remember

[Joeeye]

If you're certain I won't argue. However my initial statement still stands, especially as a premium smartphone. It's unlikely Samsung would manufacture any S series phone post 12 months. There are no benefits to it. Sales beyond this point would likely be refurbished or unsold, but older goods.