How we check a refurbished iPhone before it ships

A refurbished iPhone can look almost new and still hide what matters: a microphone that crackles, a lock tied to a stranger's Apple ID, a battery near the end of its life. None of that shows up in a photo. Here is what we check on every iPhone before it ships, why each check is there, and what a checklist cannot promise.

Every function is tested

Each phone is tested in full, not sampled from a batch. The checks cover:

• Calls, so you know you can hear and be heard.
• Speakers and microphones.
• Every camera, front and rear.
• Face ID, which every model we sell uses to unlock.
• The touch screen across the whole panel, so there are no dead zones, and the display itself for dead pixels and burn-in.
• All the buttons.
• Charging, both with a cable and wirelessly.
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Is it stolen, locked or still someone else's?

The most expensive problems with a second-hand iPhone are not faults at all. Before a phone is listed:

• Its IMEI is checked against blacklist, lost and stolen databases, so you know it has not been reported lost or stolen.
• iCloud and Activation Lock are confirmed removed, so no previous owner's Apple ID is attached.
• All data is wiped and the phone is reset, so it starts at the set-up screen like a new one.
• It is network unlocked, so it works on any UK network.

Buying privately instead? Our guide to checking the IMEI and Activation Lock shows how to run these checks yourself.

Battery: at least 85%, or a new battery

Every phone ships with a battery health of at least 85%, and many are above 90%. If a battery measures below 85%, a new replacement battery is fitted before the phone is sold. That battery is not made by Apple, so the phone may show 100%, or iOS may say it cannot verify the battery. Both are expected, and the listing says so. The full rules are on our battery standards page.

Cosmetic grade: Premium only

Every iPhone we sell is graded Premium: near-mint, with no visible marks, and at most very faint marks that you would only find under strong light. We do not sell iPhones in lower grades, so there is no lottery between listings. Our condition grades page explains the standard.

Replaced parts are stated, not hidden

Besides batteries, screens and housings may have been replaced with non-Apple parts. When that is the case it is written on the listing, so you know before you buy. A phone that has been opened gets a new adhesive seal when it is closed again.

What arrives, and when

The phone ships in our own packaging with a charging cable. There is no original retail box and no charger. Orders are dispatched within 1 working day from the UK, and UK delivery is free.

The checks at a glance

So, is it safe to buy a refurbished iPhone?

For the risks that make people nervous, yes. A tested, unlocked phone with a clean IMEI, no Activation Lock and a known battery figure removes most of what can go wrong with a second-hand purchase. But a checklist describes the phone on the day it leaves, and there are two things it cannot promise:

• The battery keeps ageing. Every lithium-ion battery loses capacity with use and time, so a phone at 88% today will read lower in a year. That is why our warranty covers a battery that drops below 80% within 12 months.
• Water resistance is not guaranteed. Apple's IP68 rating describes a new phone tested in laboratory conditions, and Apple itself says resistance is not permanent and may decrease with normal wear. Even with a new seal, water resistance is not guaranteed after refurbishment, and liquid damage is not covered. Our article on whether refurbished iPhones are still water resistant explains why.

For everything else there is a safety net: 30 days to return the phone for any reason, with free tracked return shipping, and a 12-month warranty against hardware faults, on top of your rights under the Consumer Rights Act. Our warranty guide sets out what is covered.

A refurbished iPhone suits you if...

• You want a tested, unlocked phone and do not mind that it has had an owner before.
• You value a warranty and a return window over the lowest possible outlay.
• You are comfortable with a non-Apple battery, screen or housing where one is fitted and stated.
• You treat water resistance as a bonus rather than something you rely on.

When your phone arrives, our first-day checklist walks you through a quick check of your own. To choose a model, browse the refurbished iPhone collection, or read more about us.

Common questions

Do you test every phone or only a sample?

Every phone goes through the function tests, the IMEI and Activation Lock checks, the data wipe and the battery check before it is listed.

Why does my refurbished iPhone show 100% battery health?

Because it has a new non-Apple replacement battery, fitted because the old one measured below 85%. It can read 100%, or iOS may say it cannot verify the battery. The listing states it.

Is a refurbished iPhone still water resistant?

Do not rely on it. An opened phone gets a new adhesive seal, but water resistance is not guaranteed after refurbishment and liquid damage is not covered by the warranty.