When buying a refurbished product, one of the most important factors to consider is the cosmetic condition. Whether a refurbished iPhone, a refurbished MacBook, or any other tech item, you want to be confident that the device you’re buying doesn’t look beat up and won’t entirely fall to pieces the minute you open the box.
Keep in mind that a good refurbished product has:
- been treated right by its previous owner,
- been appropriately repaired by the retailer or manufacturer, and
- gone through a rigorous testing process before going on the market.
The good news is that there is an entire grading scale in place regarding the cosmetic quality of refurbished devices. We’ll get into the specific definitions and cover all the essential information you need to know below.
Table of contents
- The refurbished grades at a glance
- What is a refurbished grade?
- How do merchants grade their refurbished devices?
- Do refurbished products come with a warranty?
- Are the batteries of refurbished products in good condition?
- Takeaway
- Bonus: Where can you find the best discounts when buying refurbished devices?
The refurbished grades at a glance
| Refurbished grade | Description | Cosmetic condition | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade A | The best quality; near-mint condition. | Excellent; little to no signs of previous use. | Highest (although much cheaper than new) |
| Grade B | Second-best quality; light scratches or scuffs. | Good; minor signs of use, but no significant damage. | Mid-range |
| Grade C | Lowest cosmetic quality; still in working order. | Fair; noticeable cosmetic issues, including scratches and wear and tear. | Lowest |
What is a refurbished grade?
👉 A refurbished grade is a quality classification of a refurbished product regarding its cosmetic condition. It can also be called cosmetic grade or refurb grade.
The refurbished grade of a product mainly depends on three factors:
- How many cosmetic imperfections do they have (e.g., scratches, scuffs, and other marks)?
- How much has its previous owner used the product?
- What packaging does it come in?
👉 Refurbished grades are designed to give you a better idea of what to expect from a refurbished product.
It’s unlikely that refurbished retailers will count exactly how many noticeable scratches you can see on the lid of a refurbished MacBook. Still, the grade gives you as much information as possible to be confident in your purchase.
The standard system of refurbished grades runs on a scale from grade A to grade C. Grade A offers the best quality, and grade C provides the lowest quality refurbished device. Some merchants even include additional grades, such as grade D, which would be the lowest on their scale.
Let’s dive into the definitions of refurbished grades A, B, and C.
What does refurbished grade A mean?
👉 Grade A refurbished devices are in near-mint condition and are the best quality you could expect from a refurbished product.
Their cosmetic aspect is excellent, and they show next to no signs of previous use.
With a refurbished grade A cell phone, you will see minimal amounts of scuffing on the case. A refurbished grade A laptop will look like new, with minimal scuffing and marks on the lid, keyboard, and other areas.
Grade A devices will likely show typical signs of light usage (e.g., slight marks on the keys), but you shouldn’t expect to see any scratches, noteworthy cosmetic damage, or moderate blemishes.
As an example, the Apple Certified Refurbished program only sells refurbished iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads with the same high-quality standards as brand-new products and in excellent condition (grade A).
What does refurbished grade B mean?
👉 Refurbished grade B is the second-best cosmetic quality you can get from a refurbished device and features some light scratches or scuffs.
These minor imperfections refer only to a cosmetic condition, and it’s usually the only difference with grade A devices. Grade B laptops and phones are tested thoroughly and are perfectly functional.
Because of these minor signs of use, grade B products are more affordable than refurbished grade A devices. If you have a limited budget, this might help.
What does refurbished grade C mean?
👉 Refurbished grade C is the lowest cosmetic quality of a refurbished phone or laptop that is still in working order.
Although refurbished grade C devices have been tested, cleaned, and confirmed to work, they show signs of considerable usage by their previous owner.
You will see noticeable cosmetic issues in a refurbished grade C device, including more significant scratches and signs of wear and tear on the case or lid.
Grade C devices are cheaper than grade A and grade B items, making them ideal for those who need a new phone or laptop but have less money to spare.
How do merchants grade their refurbished devices?
Refurbished grades A, B, and C are the most commonly used ways that refurbisher retailers tell you about the cosmetic quality of their products.
However, not all retailers use this lettered grading system. Let’s see some popular examples.
RefurbMe
Because our refurbished retail partners use so many different terms, on RefurbMe, we list three cosmetic conditions: Excellent, Good, and Fair.
- Excellent (grade A) devices are like new ones.
- Good (grade B) devices are in working condition but have light cosmetic issues.
- Fair (grade C) devices have light but visible scratches on the body.
All of the devices that we list work perfectly. Our “excellent,” “good,” and “fair” ratings are there to make buying refurbished products more accessible and intuitive than the grading system.
Back Market
Back Market uses three different grading terms:
- Premium (grade A): Premium classifications on Back Market are only available for some products, and they go a step beyond by containing genuine manufacturer parts and batteries with the product showing no signs of use.
- Excellent (grade A): The product’s appearance is like new, and there are no scratches on the screen.
- Good (grade B): The devices present signs of use with light signs of wear but no scratches on the screen.
- Fair (grade C): There will be visible signs of use or moderate cosmetic defects. It still complies with Back Market’s quality standards.
👉 Learn more: Is Back Market Legit? A Complete Review and Guide
Amazon Renewed
Amazon Renewed sells refurbished products via third-party sellers on its platform. They classify their products in four cosmetic conditions, as we’ve explained in our complete Amazon Renewed review:
| Cosmetic condition | Visible damage | Battery capacity | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium (grade A) | No signs from 12 inches away | >90% | 1 year satisfaction guarantee |
| Excellent (grade A) | No signs from 12 inches away | >80% | 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee |
| Good (grade B) | Visible minor imperfections from 12 inches away | >80% | 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee |
| Acceptable (grade C) | Visible scratches and perceptible to touch | >80% | 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee |
Gazelle
Gazelle lists three different refurbished grades:
- Excellent (grade A): The screen and the device’s body are in excellent condition.
- Good (grade B): A very good condition, although with light aesthetic blemishes. The functionality is the same.
- Fair (grade C): A good condition with visible wear and tear.
Mac of All Trades
Mac of All Trades lists five cosmetic conditions for its refurbished MacBooks:
- Excellent (grade A): Possible signs of minimal wear.
- Very Good (grade B): Light signs of physical wear and no visible defects when the screen is on.
- Good (grade B): Moderate blemishes and apparent signs of use based on the product’s age.
- Fair (grade C): Important signs of use or imperfections.
- Vintage: They refer to functional products that can’t run the latest OS and thus may be incompatible with newer apps and features.
Do refurbished products come with a warranty?
Yes. When buying a refurbished product—of any grade—it’s crucial to get a warranty.
While refurbished devices are typically tested thoroughly, a warranty will protect you if anything goes wrong or if the refurbished device you’ve purchased doesn’t have the cosmetic quality you expected.
It’s worth noting that every device listed on RefurbMe comes with a minimum 30-day warranty, although most have one year or more coverage. This includes refurbished iPhones, MacBooks, Apple Watches, iPads, and iMacs, among others.
Several retailers will also have no-hassle money-back or return policies, allowing you to return a device or get a replacement if needed.
Warranties and refurbished grades help you feel confident that you’re getting a quality product along with a good discount. These indicators tell you that you’re paying for a reliable device supported by the warranty period.
Are the batteries of refurbished products in good condition?
Yes. The condition of the batteries of refurbished devices depends on every merchant or refurbished.
Still, the batteries will usually be replaced if their health is below 80% in the refurbishing process and they are in good working condition.
Other merchants, such as Apple, always replace the batteries of their iPhones and iPads regardless of battery health. For instance, on RefurbMe, we only compare products that have 80% minimum battery capacity, including Apple.
Takeaway
To sum up:
- Refurbished grade A: The best quality of a refurbished device. Near-mint condition, excellent cosmetic level, and little to no signs of previous use.
- Refurbished grade B: The second-best quality of a refurbished device. There is light scuffing on the bezel and minor scratches on the case. It can be on the body as a result of gentle use.
- Refurbished grade C: The lowest cosmetic quality of a refurbished device. It is in perfect working order but will show more scratches and signs of wear and tear due to intense or long-term use.
Bonus: Where can you find the best discounts when buying refurbished devices?
Buying refurbished devices is easier than before if you have a comparison platform that does all the work for you. There are many reliable sellers out there, and comparing not only the refurbished grades but also any other specification can take you a while.
On RefurbMe, we specialize in comparing hundreds of refurbished Apple products from multiple certified refurbishers. They all offer a warranty and a wide variety of devices to choose from at competitive prices.
Our platform is completely free to use, and you can also set price drop alerts to get your device at the lowest price possible.
Have a look at our most popular refurbished products in real time below, and don’t hesitate to browse our site to find more special deals.
64GB storage
Space Gray
64GB storage
Space Gray
64GB storage
Silver
Happy shopping! 🛍️
