Phone and Tablet Refurbishment Process & Grading Explained

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

Very Good Phone Example

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

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.

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.