Why condition grades matter
A grade is a shorthand that lets you and ReDevice talk about the same thing before the device is in front of us. Model and storage set the starting point, and condition is what moves the estimate from there. The grade you choose on WhatsApp is only a starting description, though. The final offer is confirmed after a physical and function inspection, and we explain what affected it. That's why an honest grade up front gives you an estimate that stays close to the final number, while an optimistic one usually just means a bigger adjustment later.
Excellent: no visible wear, strong battery
Excellent means no visible wear, fully functional, and strong battery health. In practice, that's a phone that looks close to new when you hold it under good light with the case off: no scratches you can see on the screen or back, no scuffs on the frame edges and no dents at the corners. Every function works, from Face ID or the fingerprint sensor to the cameras, speakers and charging. Battery health is part of this grade too, so a spotless phone with a noticeably worn battery doesn't belong here. Phones that lived in a case with a screen protector from day one tend to be the ones that qualify.
Good: light cosmetic wear, fully functional
Good covers phones with light cosmetic wear that are still fully functional. Think fine hairline scratches on the screen that you only notice at an angle, small scuffs on the frame, or light marks around the camera bump from daily pocket and table use. Nothing is cracked, nothing is deeply dented, and every feature works normally. Plenty of well-kept phones end up here after a year or two of normal use, even with careful owners. If you have to hunt for the marks, Good is usually the honest choice. If the wear catches your eye straight away, read the Fair description before you decide.
Fair: visible wear or reduced battery health
Fair means visible wear and/or reduced battery health, but the phone is still fully functional. Visible wear is the kind you notice without looking for it: deeper scratches across the screen, scuffed or chipped frame edges, or dents from drops. A phone can also be Fair with an almost perfect body if its battery health has dropped noticeably, because a worn battery means the next owner will likely need a replacement sooner. The key word is functional. A Fair phone still turns on, charges, takes photos, makes calls and unlocks the way it should. Once something stops working or the glass is cracked, it moves to Damaged.
Damaged: cracked glass or faults, still buyable
Damaged covers cracked screens or back glass, and functional faults such as a camera that won't focus, Face ID that has stopped working, a dead speaker or a charging port that no longer connects. Damaged does not mean unsellable. ReDevice buys damaged devices, and the damage lowers the offer rather than ruling the sale out. The extent matters: a small corner crack with working touch is very different from a shattered display with dead zones. Phones that don't power on at all are assessed case by case. Tell us exactly what's wrong on WhatsApp so the estimate reflects the damage from the start.
What usually moves a phone between grades
Most grade changes come down to a few things. Screen condition carries a lot of weight, because scratches you can see with the display on affect daily use more than marks on the back. Frame dents and back glass damage come next, then battery health, which can pull an otherwise clean phone down to Fair. Any functional fault or cracked glass moves a phone to Damaged, however good the rest of it looks. Some things sit outside the grade but still count: lock and account status must be cleared before any sale, and replacement parts, such as a non-original screen or battery, are noted during inspection and explained as part of the offer.
What about "Grade A", "Grade B" and "Grade C"?
You'll often see used phones listed as Grade A, B or C, or with labels like A+ and "like new". These labels are not an industry standard. Each seller or platform decides what they mean, so a Grade B phone from one shop may look quite different from a Grade B phone somewhere else. Some labels describe cosmetics only and say nothing about battery health or past repairs. That doesn't make them wrong, just not comparable. If you're buying or selling with letter grades, ask what that seller's label covers: screen, body, battery and parts history. ReDevice uses Excellent, Good, Fair and Damaged, with the definitions set out above.
How to self-assess before you WhatsApp
Take off the case and screen protector, wipe the phone clean and look at it under bright light, tilting it so scratches show. Check the frame edges and corners for dents, and the back glass and camera lenses for cracks. On iPhone, open Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging (shown as Battery Health on some iOS versions) and note the Maximum Capacity. Then test the basics: Face ID or fingerprint, front and rear cameras, a quick call for the earpiece and microphone, speakers and charging. If you're torn between two grades, pick the lower one. Send the grade, model, storage and anything not working on WhatsApp for your estimated quote.
If inspection lands on a different grade
Sometimes the inspection finds something that's easy to miss at home, such as a faint dead pixel, a slight frame bend, a weak microphone or a replacement part. When that happens, the final offer can differ from the estimate, and we explain what affected it rather than just quoting a new number. You can accept or decline, with no obligation. The same inspection applies whether you walk in to either store or send the device by courier. For courier sales, the return procedure and any shipping or return costs are confirmed on WhatsApp before you ship, so you know where you stand if you decline.
