Phone Condition Guide

A clear phone condition guide helps you describe a handset in a way that can be checked when it arrives. Condition is not only about scratches. A phone can look clean but have a charging, camera, battery or display problem, while another phone may have visible wear but still work normally. The best grade is the one that most closely matches both the physical and functional state of your device.

Why phone condition affects trade-in value

Used phones are assessed according to their ability to be reused, refurbished, repaired, used for parts or recycled. A clean fully working handset normally requires less remedial work than a device with a cracked display or major functional fault, so condition can have a meaningful effect on the final valuation. The exact model and storage still matter, but condition explains why two otherwise identical phones may receive different assessments.

Excellent condition: very clean and fully working

An excellent-condition phone should power on normally and perform the functions expected of the handset. The display should be free from cracks and significant marks, the frame and rear housing should not have notable damage, cameras should work, and charging and buttons should operate correctly. Very light evidence of careful use may exist, but the device should present close to a well-kept example. Do not select the highest grade if there is a functional issue simply because the exterior looks clean.

Good condition: working with light signs of use

A good phone is still a reliable working device but may show normal signs of ownership. Small cosmetic marks can be consistent with this level provided there are no significant cracks, major housing damage or important faults. Battery performance should be considered as part of the overall description rather than ignored. If the screen has deep damage, a camera is faulty, charging is unreliable or another feature does not work, a lower or faulty condition is more appropriate.

Poor condition: visible wear but still broadly usable

Poor-condition phones can have obvious scratching, chips, worn finishes or other visible signs of use. The key point is accuracy. If the handset still powers on and most functions work but the physical condition is clearly below a normal good example, choose the lower grade rather than hoping the wear will be overlooked. If there are functional faults as well as cosmetic wear, describe those faults in the valuation request because they can affect the assessment independently.

Faulty or damaged condition

Choose a faulty or damaged condition when a significant issue affects the handset. Examples can include a cracked or non-responsive display, serious back-glass damage, camera failure, charging faults, liquid damage, major frame damage or a phone that does not power on. A fault does not automatically mean there is no value. Visit our sell a broken phone page to see why damaged phones can still be relevant for repair, parts or recycling routes.

Screen, display and glass checks

Look at the screen with the phone both on and off. Check for cracks, deep scratches, pressure marks, lines, patches, flickering, image burn, dead areas or touch problems. Also inspect camera-lens glass and rear glass where applicable. A tiny cosmetic mark is different from a crack that compromises the glass. Foldable phones need extra care because inner displays and hinge areas are part of the condition assessment. Do not press or flex a damaged display simply to test it.

Battery and charging condition

Battery condition can affect how practical a used phone is. If your device provides a battery-health indicator, use it as useful supporting information, but also note real-world symptoms such as unexpected shutdowns, swelling, overheating or very poor runtime. Test wired charging and any normal charging connection the phone relies on. A phone that only charges intermittently should not be described as fully functional. If you suspect a swollen battery, stop using or posting the device until you have obtained appropriate safety advice.

Cameras, speakers, microphones and buttons

Open the camera and check front and rear lenses, focus and basic image capture. Test the earpiece and loudspeaker, make sure microphones pick up sound, and check side buttons and any home button or fingerprint sensor where applicable. You do not need to perform destructive testing. The purpose is simply to report obvious faults you already know about so the valuation reflects the handset you are actually selling.

Account locks and network status are separate from cosmetic condition

A phone can be physically excellent and still be difficult to process if an activation lock, cloud account, device-management profile or other security restriction remains. Before sending, follow the data wipe and account-removal guide. If you know the phone is network locked, financed, managed by an organisation or otherwise restricted, tell us before sending so the situation can be considered correctly.

Photograph the phone before packing

Taking clear photographs of the front, back and sides before postage gives you your own record of the condition at the time it left you. This is sensible for any valuable device. Then package the handset securely using the postage and delivery guidance. If you are still uncertain which grade fits your phone, contact us with the exact model and a short description rather than selecting a grade at random.