Direct answer
Unused, used, and refurbished are three products. Unused means no prior user, not “looks new.” Used means prior use plus grade, locks, battery, and IMEI. Refurbished is a process claim about work after use. A single unit price for all three hides the expensive devices.
Key takeaways
- Split the three states on the quote and in the warehouse.
- Unused stock can still be the wrong version.
- Used lots fail on locks and identity more than on paint.
- Refurbished without a process is used stock with a nicer word.
- Apple Certified Refurbished is one program, not a generic adjective.
The inventory word on the invoice decides which checklist you run. Do not let a photo of a box choose it for you.
Who this guide is for
Buyers who are offered “new,” “like new,” “refurbished,” and “Grade A” in the same chat. Pick a state, then open the matching hub.
The three states
| State | Means | Still check | Hub |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unused / new lot | No prior user claimed | Version, lock, seal, date, lithium ship | Wholesale phones |
| Used | Prior user | Grade, function, battery, IMEI, locks, parts | Used phones |
| Refurbished | Named work after use | Process, parts, tests, wipe, warranty | Refurbished phones |
Apple describes Apple Certified Refurbished as its own tested process, parts policy, and one-year limited warranty. A third-party lot is not that program because someone used the word refurbished.
R2v3 is a facility reuse standard. It is not your carton grade.
NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 treats sanitization as making target data infeasible to recover for a chosen effort. “Reset” on a used or refurbished line is not automatically that program.
Accept / Clarify / Reject
| Label | Accept | Clarify | Reject |
|---|---|---|---|
| New / unused | Sealed story + version | Open-box in the same line | Used IMEI history on “new” |
| Used | Grade and lock fields | “Like new” only | Locked sold as clean |
| Refurbished | Process written | Badge, no steps | Used price plus the word |
| Mixed carton | Counts by state | “Mostly new” | One price for three states |
Apple’s used-device advice is not to take an iPhone still protected by Activation Lock. That rule sits on used and on poorly processed refurbished units.
How to buy when the seller mixes words
- Force one state per RFQ line.
- Run the unused sequence on unused lines.
- Run the QC checklist on used lines.
- Buy refurbished only if the process is written.
- Keep the three states on separate shelves and in separate books. See inventory planning.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is open-box unused or used?
Write it. Seal broken with no user data is still not factory-sealed unused. Treat it as a fourth line if you buy it, and inspect like used for accounts and function.
Can a used phone become refurbished if I replace the screen?
Not by that act alone. Refurbished should mean a defined process, tests, parts policy, and warranty. One repair is a repair.
Sources and methodology
- Why Refurbished — Apple Accessed August 22, 2026.
- Welcome to R2v3 — Sustainable Electronics Recycling International Accessed August 22, 2026.
- NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 — National Institute of Standards and Technology Accessed August 22, 2026.
- Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad — 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.