iPhone grades A1, A2 and A3 explained — what each one means

"Grade A" is the most argued-over phrase in used phone wholesale. One supplier's A is another supplier's B. The fix is not a better word — it is a written definition you agree on before the money moves.

Here is how we grade, and how to compare any supplier's grades against it.

The three A grades we sell

Every unit is IMEI-checked and fully tested before it gets a grade. The grade only describes the cosmetic condition — function is a separate pass/fail.

A1 — Like New. Flawless frame, flawless back, perfect screen. Hard to tell from a new phone at arm's length.

A2 — Excellent. A couple of light marks on the frame. Great back, perfect screen.

A3 — Good. A few visible marks on the frame. Still a great back and a perfect screen.

Notice what stays the same across all three: the screen is perfect and the back is great. The difference between A1 and A3 lives on the frame — the metal or titanium edge — which is the part customers notice least once a case goes on.

You can turn each grade 360° in the viewer on our homepage, and the full written standard is in our grading PDF.

Why the definition matters more than the letter

A trade case study from TG Wireless describes a school district stuck with phones the supplier still called "excellent" — vague grading let the seller argue, and the buyer had no refund. The letter on the invoice protected no one.

Before your first order with any supplier, get answers to four questions in writing:

1. Frame: how many marks, how deep, visible at what distance?
2. Back: any scratches, cracks or replaced glass allowed?
3. Screen: scratches, burn-in, dead pixels, original or replaced?
4. Function: is "tested" every port, camera, Face ID and speaker — or just "powers on"?

If the answers are not on paper, the grade is an opinion.

How to compare two suppliers' grades

Ask both for 5 photos of the same model at the same grade — front, back and both sides, in daylight. Put them side by side.

You will often find one supplier's A2 matches another's A1, and the price gap disappears. Or the cheaper "A" lot turns out to have marks on the back glass — which our A grades never have.

Compare the condition, then the price. Never the other way round.

Which grade fits which buyer

This depends on your market, not on us. A common pattern in the trade:

• A1 sells as "like new" in shops where customers inspect the phone in person.
• A2 is the volume grade — the best balance of price and condition for most retail.
• A3 suits price-sensitive markets and buyers who sell with a case already fitted.

Mixing grades in one order is normal. Ask for the split by grade on the invoice, with the IMEI next to each line, so a dispute is one IMEI — not the whole lot.

The IMEI ties the grade to the phone

A grade means nothing if you cannot tell which phone it belongs to. Every line on our invoices carries the IMEI and the grade together. When a unit arrives different from its grade, that line is the evidence.

Ask any supplier for the same. If they cannot give you a per-IMEI grade list, assume the whole lot is graded at the lowest condition inside it.

A message you can send any supplier

Copy this before your first order and ask for the answers in writing:

• Send your grade definitions for A1, A2 and A3 — frame, back, screen.
• Send 5 daylight photos of one unit at each grade you are quoting.
• Is every unit fully tested — ports, cameras, Face ID, speakers?
• Will the invoice show model, storage, color, grade and IMEI on every line?
• What is the process if a unit arrives below its grade?

A supplier who answers all five in one message is a supplier worth a test order. One who answers none of them has told you what you need to know.

Questions buyers ask us

Does the grade include the battery?

No. The A grades describe the outside of the phone — frame, back and screen. Battery health is a separate number. If battery matters for your market, ask for it per IMEI on the invoice rather than assuming a grade covers it.

Is A3 a "bad" grade?

No. A3 still has a perfect screen and a great back — the difference is visible marks on the frame. For buyers who sell with a case already fitted, A3 is often the smartest money in the lot.

Why do two suppliers price "Grade A" so differently?

Because they are not selling the same thing. One supplier's A allows marks on the back glass; another's does not. Until you compare photos side by side, the price difference tells you nothing.

Can I mix grades in one order?

Yes, and most buyers do. Ask for the split by grade on the invoice, with each IMEI on its own line, so you know exactly what you paid for at each condition.

What happens if a phone arrives below its grade?

Report it with the IMEI and photos. With a per-IMEI invoice, the problem is one line and one decision — replace, credit or adjust — instead of a dispute about the whole lot.

The short version

• A1 — Like New · A2 — Excellent · A3 — Good. Screen perfect and back great on all three.
• The frame is where the grades differ.
• Get every supplier's definitions in writing before the first order.
• Compare photos, not letters.
• Grade + IMEI on every invoice line.