The Six Variables Behind Every Quote
Every used iPhone wholesale quote is the output of six variables: model and year, cosmetic grade, battery health, network and lock status, quantity, and destination market. Change any one of them and the price moves. A quote that does not state these variables explicitly is not a quote — it is a conversation starter. Professionals compare quotes variable by variable, not headline number to headline number.
Model and Year: The Base Layer
The model sets the price floor. Newer models cost more to acquire and resell higher; older models are cheaper per unit but thinner on margin. The year matters because it drives remaining useful life and expected battery wear. For the current demand picture by model, see our wholesale model pages — each page lists specifications and where each model fits in the market.
Grade: Where Most of the Margin Lives
Grade is the largest single price variable between quotes for the same model. A-grade stock (no visible defects, battery typically 90%+) commands a clear premium over B-grade (light wear, 85-90%) and C-grade (visible wear, 80-85%). The trap is grade inflation: a seller's B described as A. The defence is a published grading scale and a grade mix agreed in writing. See our grading systems guide for how the letter systems map to cosmetic condition.
Battery Health: The Number Under the Number
Battery health moves price non-linearly. Dropping from 100% to 95% costs little; dropping from 85% to 80% costs significantly, because buyers anticipate imminent replacement. Per-unit battery health reporting is the difference between a lot you can price confidently and a lot you are gambling on. Our battery health guide explains the thresholds and how to floor-agree them in a contract.
Lock Status: Zero-Tolerance Variable
iCloud activation lock, carrier lock and IMEI blacklist status are binary: a locked or blacklisted unit is worth a fraction of a clean one, and in many markets it is unsellable. This is a zero-tolerance variable — a supplier who does not screen and report it per unit is exporting risk to you. See why B2B buyers must check iCloud lock.
Quantity and Market: The Commercial Layer
Quantity moves price through logistics efficiency and supplier priorities, not through a public price list. Destination market moves price through currency, duties and local demand mix — the same lot can price differently into Jakarta than into Accra. That is why our regional pages (Southeast Asia, Middle East, Latin America, Africa) exist: region matters to the quote.
How to Compare Quotes Like a Professional
When you hold two quotes, compare them line by line: same model? Same grade definition? Same battery floor? Same lock screening? Same incoterms and shipping responsibility? If any line is missing from a quote, ask before comparing prices. A cheaper quote with a vague grade definition is usually the most expensive lot you will ever buy.