Buyer Education

Pre-Owned iPhone Grading Explained: A Complete Glossary

Grading is the language of the wholesale market — and dialects vary. Here is what the terms actually mean when you are buying in volume, and how to protect yourself.

Why grading standards vary across suppliers

There is no single global grading authority for pre-owned phones. Each exporter, carrier trade-in program and regional hub has its own scale, and two suppliers selling the same "Grade A" iPhone 13 can be describing visibly different devices. That is not fraud — it is a definition gap, and the buyer who does not close the gap pays for it. The rule that protects you: always demand the supplier's grading criteria in writing, and attach it to the purchase order.

The grades, defined as working references

Grade	Cosmetic condition	Function	Battery	Best channel
A+ / Open Box	Near flawless; at most faint micro-scratches invisible at arm's length	100% tested, all original parts	≥ 90%	Premium retail, gifts, corporate
A	Light wear: fine scratches, no dents or chips	100% tested	≥ 85%	Mainstream retail, e-commerce
B	Visible scratches, possible small dents; no cracks	Fully working; may include minor repaired parts, disclosed	80–89%	Value retail, secondary markets
C	Heavy wear, possible housing damage	Working; repairs likely, parts disclosed	variable	Price-sensitive markets, refurbishment input
D / Parts	Damaged	Non-functional or partial	n/a	Parts harvesting only

Functional grading vs cosmetic grading

Crucially, most disputes are about the difference between the two. A unit can be "cosmetically A but functionally B" — flawless body, but a display with an aftermarket panel. Serious suppliers grade the two dimensions separately and state both in the listing. When a quote seems too cheap for the stated grade, ask one question: "cosmetic A, or functional A?" The hesitation in the answer tells you everything.

OEM vs aftermarket parts: how to spot and disclose

Aftermarket parts are common in the used market and are not automatically bad — but they must be disclosed, because they change resale value:

Display: aftermarket panels often lose True Tone (the toggle disappears) and Face ID may fail. Check Settings → Display for True Tone availability.
Battery: a non-genuine battery triggers the "Important Battery Message" in iOS and may throttle performance. Check Battery Health for the message.
Camera: replaced cameras usually work, but check for dust inside the lens and color shifts between the two lenses.
Housing: swapped housings are detectable via the IMEI on the SIM tray versus the on-screen IMEI.

Warranty implications by grade

Warranty expectations should scale with grade: A+ and A stock typically carries DOA coverage plus a 7–30 day functional window; B and C stock may carry DOA only. Whatever the grade, the warranty terms belong in writing, including who pays return freight and how a "defect" is proven (photo/video evidence standards). A supplier with a written, time-bound dispute process is worth a premium.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an international grading standard?
Not a binding one. The closest are the scales used by major carriers and trade-in programs, which most serious exporters now mirror. Always compare each supplier's written definition, not just the letter grade.

Should I pay more for Grade A+?
If you sell into premium retail channels where returns are costly, yes — the failure rate is meaningfully lower. For price-sensitive markets, Grade A at the right price is usually the better margin.

What does "fully tested" actually include?
At a minimum: IMEI/FMI check, display, all cameras, Face ID, battery health, microphones/speakers, buttons, charging port, Wi-Fi/BT, and sensors. Ask for the supplier's QC checklist — the length of the list is a good signal.

One written standard, every order

AppleUsed grades each dimension separately — cosmetic, functional, battery — and ships every order with per-IMEI QC reports.

Request Our Grading Sheet

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