Phone and Tablet Refurbishment Process & Grading Explained

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How We Refurbish Phones & Tablets

Every phone and tablet we sell goes through a structured refurbishment process handled by trained technicians. To see how we refurbish & grade computers, read our full guide here. 

  1. Intake & verification – visual inspection, serial/IMEI check, blacklist check, MDM/corporate supervision removed.
  2. Secure data wipe – certified erasure to factory state.
  3. Diagnostics – automated + manual testing of screen, touch, buttons, speakers/mics, cameras, sensors, ports, Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth, cellular, GPS, Face/Touch ID (if applicable).
  4. Battery & power – health reading and cycle count reviewed; batteries that don’t meet our thresholds are replaced.
  5. Cosmetic assessment – enclosure and display checked under bright light against our grading standards below.
  6. Parts & assembly – only quality parts used; device reassembled and re‑tested.
  7. Final QA – OS updated, accessories added, device cleaned and packaged.

What’s Included With Every Device

  • 12‑Month Warranty (see Warranty & Returns)
  • Free shipping Australia‑wide on most orders
  • Charger/cable 
  • Cleaned & sanitised device, professionally packaged

Cosmetic Grading

Grade Former label What you should expect
Very Good Previously A Grade Light, normal signs of use. Minor body/scuff marks only visible at certain angles. Screen may show 1–3 faint hairline marks that you cannot feel with a fingernail and aren’t visible when the display is on. Battery meets our threshold of 80%+ health.
Good Previously B Grade Clearer signs of prior use. May include moderate scratches or small dings on body, and up to 3 short or 1 longer light mark on the screen. Nothing that impacts touch performance or normal viewing. Battery meets our threshold of 80%+ health.
Fair New category (no previous label) Heavier cosmetic wear from normal use. Noticeable scratches, scuffs and small dings on the body; finish wear or shine may be present. Screen can show multiple light marks or surface scratches, potentially visible when the display is on, but no cracks, chips, pressure spots or dead pixels. Touch and functionality unaffected. Battery meets our minimum threshold of 80%+ health.

Functionally, all grades meet the same performance standards. Grading is purely cosmetic.

Very Good Phone Example

These are real examples of a Very Good Apple iPhone – minor cosmetic wear, clean overall condition, and fully functional.

Very Good – Side View Very Good – iPhone Front View Very Good – iPhone Screen On Very Good – iPhone Rear View  

We grade across consistent categories. A device must meet all criteria to qualify.

1) Overall condition

  • Very Good: Some signs of wear; no cracks; no dents beyond hairline scuffs; frame retains original shape.
  • Good: Moderate wear; may include small dings < 6 mm, light discolouration/shine spots; no bends or structural damage.
  • Fair: Heavier cosmetic wear from everyday use; visible scratches, scuffs and finish wear; multiple small dings; still structurally sound (no bends/warps).

2) Physical – enclosure & ports

  • Very Good: Light body marks only; corners tidy; ports clean with firm cable connection; SIM tray intact.
  • Good: Noticeable body marks or scuffs; up to 2 small corner nicks; ports fully functional but may show cosmetic wear.
  • Fair: Clear wear on corners/edges (rubbed paint/finish); multiple scuffs; ports function normally but may show heavier cosmetic wear.

3) Display & touch

  • Very Good: No cracks or chips; up to 3 faint hairline marks not felt with a fingernail; no screen burn or pixel defects; full brightness uniformity.
  • Good: No cracks or chips; may have up to 3 short superficial scratches or 1 longer light mark; no pressure spots; no touch dead‑zones.
  • Fair: No cracks or chips; several light/superficial scratches that can be visible on light screens; no pressure spots, ghosting, dead pixels or touch dead-zones.

4) Cameras, audio & sensors

  • All grades: Front/rear cameras focus and record; mic/speaker clear; proximity, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, ambient light sensor and rotation pass diagnostics.

5) Buttons & biometrics

  • All grades: Power/volume/mute operate correctly; Face ID / Touch ID passes setup and unlock on supported models (unless the product page explicitly states otherwise).

6) Connectivity

  • All grades: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, mobile data and hotspot operate normally; SIM/eSIM detection OK; device is carrier-unlocked unless specified.

7) Battery & charging (see policy)

  • Very Good / Good / Fair: Battery health meets our threshold; device holds charge normally; charging port and wireless charging (if equipped) verified.

    Note: Fair devices may show more cosmetic wear around the charging port, but must still meet the same performance threshold.

8) Parts & accessories

  • All grades: Devices may include OEM or high-quality replacement parts that pass our QC. Supplied charger/cable is new and safety-compliant.

9) Packaging

  • All grades: Clean, secure packaging (not retail box unless stated); protective sleeve or wrap included.

Functional checklist (every device must pass)

All phones & tablets must meet every item below to qualify for sale:

  • Functional Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
  • Functional accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity and ambient sensors
  • Functional microphones & speakers
  • Functional screen rotation and vibration
  • Functional front & rear cameras and flash
  • Functional volume, lock and home buttons (where applicable)
  • Functional OS with no activation or MDM/corporate supervision locks
  • Functional SIM/eSIM, network connectivity and hotspot
  • Functional touch/digitiser and multi-touch
  • Functional GPS & compass
  • Functional Face ID / Touch ID (if applicable)
  • Functional USB/Lightning/USB-C port; functional wireless charging (if equipped)
  • Good ESN/IMEI, not blacklisted, fully cleaned IMEI
  • Not rooted/jailbroken; OS compatible for setup

Known cosmetic benchmarks

  • Very Good: Light edge scuffs visible only at certain angles; micro-swirls under bright light.

  • Good: One or two small corner nicks (< 6 mm); a single longer but light screen mark not felt with a fingernail.

  • Fair: Multiple body scuffs/rubbed finish on corners; several light screen scratches visible on white screens; heavier wear around ports—no cracks or pressure spots.

Cosmetic defects that do not pass our grading

  • Any cracks, glass chips or bent frame

  • Deep gouges or sharp dents

  • Pressure spots, screen burn/ghosting, dead pixels or touch dead-zones

  • Liquid damage indicators triggered (unless fully restored and clearly disclosed—these are not sold here)

  • Non-functional cameras/flash/biometrics/buttons/ports/speakers

Note: “Fair” is still a fully functional grade—issues above would exclude a device from sale.

Battery & parts policy

  • Battery health threshold: We target ≥80% maximum capacity (Apple) or equivalent health on Android (based on OEM diagnostics and/or cycle count). If a device falls below our threshold during refurb, we replace the battery.
  • Performance expectation: Battery should comfortably support a normal day’s use under typical settings. Heavy gaming/streaming/GPS may reduce runtime.
  • Screens & parts: Devices may include OEM or high‑quality replacement parts that meet our quality standards. Any part that impacts function or safety is replaced.
  • Chargers & cables: Safety‑compliant and in good condition.

FAQ's

What’s the difference between Very Good and Good and Fair?

Cosmetics only. Very Good shows light wear; Good shows moderate, more visible wear; Fair shows heavier cosmetic wear from prior use. All three pass the same functional tests and battery threshold.

Why might a device be graded Fair?

It has heavier cosmetic wear—e.g., multiple scuffs or rubbed finish—but no cracks, bends or display defects. Function and battery still meet our standards.

Is Face ID/Touch ID guaranteed?

Yes, on supported models—unless a product page clearly states otherwise (rare). We test biometric setup and unlock.

Are devices unlocked?

Yes, unless the listing specifies a network lock. We verify clean IMEI/ESN and that the device is not blacklisted.

Do you use original screens and parts?

We use OEM parts where available and high‑quality replacements where appropriate. All parts must pass our quality tests.

What’s included in the box?

A clean device, compliant charger/cable, and secure packaging. Retail boxes are not supplied unless stated.