What is the difference between Grade A and Grade B refurbished?

Grade A devices show no visible signs of use — no scratches or marks, looking essentially like new. Grade B devices are fully functional but may have light cosmetic wear such as minor scuffs, which do not affect performance.

Is Grade C refurbished worth buying?

Grade C devices are fully functional but show more noticeable cosmetic wear, such as visible scratches or a worn back panel. They are the cheapest option and a good choice if you plan to use a case and prioritise price over appearance.

Does grading affect battery health?

Grading usually refers to cosmetic condition, not battery health. Reputable retailers list battery health separately, typically guaranteeing 80% or above regardless of cosmetic grade.

Do refurbished iPhones come with a warranty regardless of grade?

Most reputable UK refurbished retailers offer the same warranty length (commonly 12 months) across all grades, since the warranty covers functional performance, not cosmetic condition.

Refurbished iPhone Grading Explained: A vs B vs C

What refurbished grading actually means

Refurbished grading is a cosmetic condition scale, not a functionality scale. Every device sold as refurbished by a reputable retailer has already passed functional testing — the grade simply tells you what the device looks like.

Grade A — like new

Grade A devices show no visible signs of previous use. No scratches, no marks on the screen or back panel, minimal to no signs of wear on the frame. These are usually devices that were barely used before being traded in, or were expertly restored. Grade A commands the highest price among refurbished options but is closest to a genuinely new-feeling device.

Grade B — light wear

Grade B is the most common refurbished grade sold in the UK. These devices are fully functional with light cosmetic wear — small scuffs on the frame, minor marks that aren't immediately obvious, nothing that affects the screen's usability. Most people can't tell a Grade B device apart from new once it's in a case, which is why it's often considered the best value option.

Grade C — visible wear, lowest price

Grade C devices work exactly as well as Grade A or B but show more noticeable cosmetic wear — visible scratches, a more worn back panel, sometimes small dents on the frame. If budget is the priority and you're putting the phone in a case anyway, Grade C offers the biggest saving with no difference in day-to-day performance.

What grading does not cover

Battery health, storage capacity, and functional performance are tested and reported separately from cosmetic grade. A Grade C device can have excellent battery health, and a Grade A device is not automatically guaranteed 100% battery health — always check both figures separately when comparing.

How to choose the right grade for you

If resale value matters to you later, or you want the phone to look pristine, Grade A is worth the premium. If you want the best balance of price and appearance, Grade B is usually the sensible middle ground. If you're purely optimising for price and always use a case, Grade C offers genuine savings with zero compromise on how the phone actually works.

Compare refurbished iPhone prices across grades on GadgetRank to see the price gap for your specific model.

Refurbished iPhone Grading Explained: Grade A vs B vs C