Refurbished iPhone condition grades explained: Premium, Excellent, Good and Fair

Two refurbished iPhones of the same model can look very different: one could pass for new, the other has clearly lived in a pocket with keys. A grade is simply a short, honest label for that difference. It tells you what to expect from the glass, the frame and the back before the box is opened, and nothing more.

The grade describes looks, not function

This is the point that matters most. A grade says nothing about how well a phone works: a Fair-grade phone is not slower or less reliable, it simply has more marks on the outside. At Rainbowmobile every iPhone goes through the same workshop tests: calls, cameras, buttons, wired charging, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and wireless charging. Every phone is data-wiped, reset, network-unlocked and shipped with at least 85% battery health, and every phone gets the same 30-day returns and 12-month warranty.

The four grades

Premium

Near-mint. These are phones that were kept in a case from day one or barely used. You would struggle to tell one from a new device. Every iPhone we sell is Premium.

Excellent

Light cosmetic wear. Under strong light you may find a faint hairline scratch on the back or a tiny mark on the frame. With the screen on, nothing is visible. In our shop you will see this grade on refurbished AirPods only; our iPhones are all Premium.

Good

Moderate wear on the frame or back, sometimes a small chip on a corner of the aluminium or a few light scratches on the screen that disappear in use. Fully tested; at shops that sell several grades, it is the usual middle ground for buyers who use a case.

Fair

Clearly used. Scratches on the screen and body are visible without looking for them, and there may be a dent on the frame. Nothing is cracked, and everything works. Shops that sell this grade usually offer it as the budget option for a spare or a work phone that lives in a rugged case.

What is never allowed, in any grade

• Cracked glass on the screen or the back.
• Dead pixels, screen burn-in or a screen that has been replaced with a poor-quality part.
• A battery under 85% (batteries below that are replaced before sale).
• Any function that fails our tests: a camera that does not focus, a button that sticks, a port that does not charge.
• Any lock: activation lock, network lock or a phone reported lost or stolen.

How we grade

Grading is done by our own team, not by the supplier. Each phone is cleaned, inspected under a bright light from several angles, and photographed. The grade we assign is the grade you receive. If you think a phone has been graded too generously, our 30-day returns policy applies: send it back with free tracked shipping and we refund in full.

Which grade will you get?

• An iPhone from Rainbowmobile: Premium, always, so there is no grade to choose.
• Refurbished AirPods from us: Premium, Excellent, Good or Fair, shown on each listing.
• A phone from another shop: read that shop's own definitions; its Excellent may be closer to our Good.

Every model in our refurbished iPhone range is listed in Premium condition. For the rules in short form, see our condition grades page; for what the battery figure means, see battery health standards.

Common questions

Are grades the same at every shop?

No. There is no industry standard, and one shop’s “Good” can be another’s “Fair”. Always read the seller’s own definitions, which is why we publish ours.

Does a lower grade mean a shorter warranty?

No. Every grade has the same 12-month warranty and the same 30-day returns.

Do you sell iPhones below Premium?

No. Every iPhone we sell is Premium. Phones with cracks, faults or locks are repaired to standard or not sold at all.

Can I see the exact phone before I buy?

Listings use representative photos for each grade. If a specific phone has a mark worth mentioning, we say so in the listing.