Direct answer
A bulk phone QC checklist is the same test run on the sample and the lot. Each line is Accept, Clarify, or Reject. If a field has no evidence, it is Clarify. If it contradicts the quote, it is Reject. Do not average a locked phone into a 95% pass rate.
Key takeaways
- Use one checklist for sample and lot.
- Identity and locks fail the unit, not the carton average.
- Record the method, not only pass or fail.
- Use the Tools QC form to fill or print. This page is the method.
- Official lock and IMEI sources beat informal "clean" messages.
This page is the method. The QC tool is the printable or interactive copy. Use both. Do not replace this page with a download button.
How to use Accept / Clarify / Reject
| Status | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Accept | Evidence matches the quote | Carrier Lock shows No SIM restrictions as promised |
| Clarify | Evidence is missing or partial | IMEI check not run yet |
| Reject | Evidence contradicts the quote | Device shows Locked to Owner |
Do not convert Reject into a discount unless the contract already allows that path.
Identity
- Model, storage, color versus packing list
- IMEI and serial readable on device and list
- For Android, Play Protect certification if you will sell Google-app markets
Locks and accounts
- Carrier lock. On iPhone, Settings > General > About.
- Activation Lock or equivalent account lock. Apple says not to take a device still locked to an owner.
- MDM or supervision. Ask who can release it.
- SIM trial if the quote claims unlocked and Settings are unclear.
IMEI status
Query a named service. GSMA Device Check reports whether the IMEI is flagged on the GSMA Block List. Record the service, date, and result. A clean GSMA result does not prove the phone is genuine or unlocked.
Battery and function
- Battery health reading where the OS provides one
- Charge, display, touch, cameras, radios, mics, buttons, biometrics, ports
- For iPhones, Parts and Service History when the OS shows it
Data
- Confirm the device is erased
- If a customer or regulator needs sanitization evidence, a reset note is not a NIST SP 800-88 program. Ask for the method.
Sample inspection record
Write, per unit:
IMEI / serial / model / cosmetic / function / lock / IMEI check / battery / decision / photo IDs
If you cannot fill that line, you did not inspect the unit.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How many units should I inspect?
Inspect every unit for identity and locks if the lot is used. Function and cosmetics can start as a sample, then expand if the sample fails. Write the sample size in the order.
Is a factory reset a QC pass?
No. Reset is one data step. It does not prove IMEI, locks, battery, or function.
Sources and methodology
- Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad — Apple Support Accessed August 22, 2026.
- How to unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier — Apple Support Accessed August 22, 2026.
- GSMA Device Check FAQs — GSMA Accessed August 22, 2026.
- NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 — National Institute of Standards and Technology Accessed August 22, 2026.
- Check and fix Play Protect certification status — Google Play Help Accessed August 22, 2026.
Update history
- — First published. Official sources on this page were accessed on this date unless a later note says otherwise.
Factual corrections after publication are listed on the corrections page. There is no separate reviewer identity on this desk. See the editorial policy.