What counts as Pristine condition for a phone?

Pristine condition means zero scratches, marks or cracks on the screen or body. The phone looks as close to new as possible, all features work perfectly, battery health is 80% or above, and there is no liquid damage.

What counts as Excellent condition for a phone?

Excellent condition means the phone powers on fully and all features work. The screen may have light scratches but no cracks. The body has visible scratches or minor dents. Battery health is 80% or above and there is no liquid damage.

What happens if I select the wrong condition?

Recyclers inspect every device they receive. If the condition does not match what you described, they will offer a revised price. If you do not accept the revised price, they will return your device free of charge.

Will a recycler buy a phone with a cracked screen?

Yes, as a Faulty device. A cracked screen typically means the phone is graded Faulty, which reduces the price significantly but does not make it worthless. Some recyclers will not accept certain faulty conditions — check before posting.

Does battery health affect the price I get?

Yes. Most recyclers require battery health of 80% or above for Pristine and Excellent grades. A battery below 80% may cause the phone to be regraded as Faulty, reducing your offer.

Phone Condition Guide: Pristine, Excellent, Poor & Faulty Explained

Q: What counts as Poor condition for a phone?

Poor condition means the phone powers on and all features work, but it has heavy cosmetic wear - deep scratches, dents or a badly worn screen - with no functional fault. Battery health may be below 80%. Not every recycler offers a Poor tier.

Why condition matters

The condition grade you select is the single biggest factor in determining how much you get for your phone. The difference between Pristine and Excellent for an iPhone 15 Pro can be £40-£80. Recyclers physically inspect every device they receive — if your phone does not match the grade you selected, they will revise the offer or return it.

Be accurate. An honest description protects you from revised offers and ensures a smooth, fast payment.

The four sell conditions

⭐

Pristine

No marks whatsoever — as new

Zero scratches, zero marks, zero cracks on screen or body. Looks as close to new as possible. All features work perfectly. Battery health 80% or above. No liquid damage.

💡 This grade gets you the highest price. Be honest — if there are any marks at all, select Excellent instead.

👍

Excellent

Fully working, light to moderate wear

Powers on fully and all features work. Screen may have light scratches but no cracks. Body has visible scratches or minor dents. No liquid damage. Battery health 80% or above.

💡 A common grade — works perfectly but shows the usual signs of everyday use.

🔸

Poor

Works but heavy cosmetic wear

Powers on and all functions work, but the device has heavy cosmetic wear — deep scratches, dents, or a badly worn screen — without a functional fault. Battery health may be below 80%.

💡 Not every recycler offers a Poor tier, so you may see no offers for some devices.

⚠️

Faulty

Powers on but has a fault

Phone powers on but has one or more faults: cracked screen, Face ID not working, camera or speaker fault, battery health below 80%, or any other functional issue.

💡 Be specific about the fault when asked. Recyclers who know the exact issue upfront are less likely to revise your offer.

Quick condition checklist

Check the screen

✓ No cracks or chips — at least Excellent
✓ No scratches visible under normal light — potentially Pristine
✗ Cracked or shattered screen — Faulty

Check the body

✓ No marks whatsoever — potentially Pristine
✓ Light scratches, minor scuffs — Excellent
✓ Deep scratches or dents, still works — Poor
✗ Bent, crushed or major damage — Faulty or cannot buy

Check battery health

✓ 80% or above — Pristine or Excellent
✗ Below 80% — may be graded Faulty by some recyclers
ℹ️ iPhone: check in Settings → Battery → Battery Health

Check it works

✓ All buttons, speakers and cameras work — at least Excellent
✗ Face ID, touch ID or camera fault — Faulty
✗ Does not power on — cannot buy

When recyclers cannot buy your device

Some devices cannot be purchased regardless of condition. If any of the following apply, recyclers will return your device without payment:

✗Does not power on
✗Liquid damaged
✗Bent, crushed, snapped or shattered
✗Missing components or parts
✗Activation locked (iCloud, Google or Samsung account still active)

Frequently asked questions

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Phone condition guide