How we grade

Each grade is defined by the distance at which a mark becomes visible. We use distance rather than words like “light wear” because two members of staff grading the same handset should reach the same answer, and because you can check the claim yourself with the phone in your hand.

Pristine

No visible marks at any distanceAlso needs battery health of 90% or more.

Excellent

Micro-scratches, not visible from 20 cm

Good

Light marks, not visible from 50 cm

Fair

Visible scratches or small dents; function unaffected

Battery health is its own number on every listing, separate from the cosmetic grade. A handset needs at least 80% before we will publish it at all, and a Pristine grade needs 90% or more.

They are kept apart because they wear independently and buyers weigh them differently — some will take a Fair body with a 95% battery over a Pristine one at 81%. Folding the battery into the grade would take that choice away. Where a battery has already been replaced, the listing says so.

Every listing states whether the parts are genuine, unknown, or unverified. The check follows Apple’s Parts and Service History where the handset reports it, and is recorded as one of those three values rather than as a yes-or-no — because “we could not tell” is a different statement from “we checked and they are not”.

A handset can look perfect and still be locked to a network, imported, or unregistered with the PTA. Those are recorded separately and shown on the listing before you can add anything to a cart — PTA and IMEI explains what each one means for you.