Direct answer
Wholesale phone grading is a written agreement about cosmetics and function. Letter grades are marketplace shorthand, not a single official scale. If the quote says Grade A, it must also say the test, the photos, the battery rule, and the lock rule.
Key takeaways
- There is no one public A/B/C law for used phones.
- R2v3 is a facility reuse standard, not your lot's cosmetic scale.
- Split cosmetic grade from functional grade.
- Keep locks and IMEI out of the cosmetic letter.
- Attach photos of the agreed grade, not a marketing collage.
Grading is how two people agree what a used phone looks like and whether it works. It is not a brand.
Cosmetic versus functional
| Axis | Answers | Does not answer |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic | Housing, glass, paint, frame, ports | Whether the radio works |
| Functional | Calls, charge, cameras, buttons, biometrics | How deep the scratches are |
| Identity | IMEI, serial, model | Beauty |
| Locks | Carrier, account, MDM | Beauty |
| Battery | Health reading or runtime | Paint |
A Grade A letter that silently includes “must be unlocked” will fight with a Grade A letter that only means “light marks.” Write both axes.
A repeatable cosmetic scale
Use your own labels if you must, but define them:
| Label | Example meaning | Photo rule |
|---|---|---|
| A | Light marks, no cracks, no missing parts | Front, back, sides, ports |
| B | Visible wear, no glass cracks unless stated | Same plus damage close-ups |
| C | Heavy wear or stated cracks | Damage mapped on a diagram |
If a supplier uses AAA or “super A,” ask them to map it onto the table above. If they cannot, the grade is decoration.
Functional grade
List the tests. A useful minimum:
- Powers on and holds a charge
- Display and touch
- Front and rear cameras
- Cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Microphones and speaker
- Buttons and biometrics
- Ports and charging accessories you will ship
Record pass, fail, or not tested. “100% working” is not a test list.
What must stay outside the letter
- IMEI block-list status
- Activation Lock or account lock
- MDM
- Battery below a stated floor
- Unknown or unverified parts on iPhones
Those items are accept/clarify/reject fields. Mixing them into Grade B hides the expensive failures.
Accept / Clarify / Reject
| Claim | Accept | Clarify | Reject |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Grade A” | Written cosmetic scale plus photo rule | Letter only | Letter that silently includes locks or IMEI |
| “100% working” | Named test list with pass / fail / not tested | Function claimed, no tests | Failed radio sold as cosmetic Grade B |
| “Same as last lot” | Scale attached again | Verbal “you know our A” | New letter with no map |
| Mixed carton | Counts by cosmetic and functional grade | “Mostly A” | One letter for mixed damage |
| Refurbished Grade A | Process plus grade | Grade used as the process | Apple Certified language on a third-party lot |
Sample inspection record
Use one row per unit. Copy the same columns onto the QC tool.
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Lot / carton | HK-14-2208-A |
| IMEI / serial | Record both if the device shows both |
| Cosmetic grade | B — visible frame wear, no glass cracks. Photos 3–6. |
| Functional grade | Pass on the written list except rear camera AF fail |
| Locks | Carrier: No SIM restrictions. Account: off. MDM: none. |
| Battery | 86% maximum capacity |
| IMEI check | Named service, clear |
| Unit decision | Reject — camera fail is a function fail, not a cosmetic B |
The carton decision is not an average of letters. One identity or lock Reject fails that unit. A function fail is a function fail even if the housing is Grade A.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is Grade A the same as refurbished?
No. Grade A is usually a cosmetic claim. Refurbished is a process claim. A Grade A used phone can be unrepaired. A refurbished phone can still show wear if the process allows it.
Can I use the seller's grade without inspecting?
Only if you accept their scale in writing and still sample it. Two sellers' Grade B can differ on scratches, battery, and function.
Sources and methodology
- Welcome to R2v3 — Sustainable Electronics Recycling International Accessed August 22, 2026.
- iPhone Parts and Service History — Apple Support 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.