Grade A vs Grade B Refurbished: What's the Real Difference?
Condition labels vary wildly between retailers. Here's how Wahat Al Tiqniah grades Excellent, Good, and Fair devices — and what to expect from each.
There is no international standard for refurbished grading. 'Grade A' on one site can mean 'like new' and on another can mean 'may have visible scratches'. This makes it genuinely hard to compare prices across sellers.
We use three grades — Excellent, Good, and Fair — and we publish exactly what each one means. Here's the breakdown.
Excellent
No visible signs of use from 30 cm under typical room lighting. Screen and back glass are free of scratches. Chassis is free of dents, dings, and discoloration. Battery health 90% or above on phones, 85% or above on laptops. All functions pass our 50-point inspection.
Excellent devices are typically indistinguishable from new in daily use. They carry a small premium over Good grade.
Good
Light scratches or micro-abrasions visible only in direct light at an angle. No damage visible when the device is in use at normal viewing distance. Chassis may have very minor rub marks on corners. Battery health 85% or above on phones, 80% or above on laptops.
Good is the sweet spot for most buyers. You save 10–15% over Excellent and almost no one notices the difference once a case goes on.
Fair
Visible scratches or small dents on the chassis. The screen remains free of deep scratches — anything that would affect viewing is disqualifying. Battery health 80% or above on phones, 75% or above on laptops. All functions still pass the 50-point inspection.
Fair is the best-value grade. Save 20–25% versus Excellent if cosmetics aren't your priority. Common pick for kids' devices, work phones, or anyone who immediately applies a case and screen protector.
What we never grade
Devices with cracked displays, non-original screen replacements, failing batteries, water damage indicators triggered, any software or functional fault, or anything that fails our 50-point inspection do not get graded. They are either repaired to pass, or they are recycled. We do not sell them as 'Fair' with asterisks.
Warranty covers every grade
All three grades carry the same 12-month hardware warranty and the same 10-day no-questions return window. Fair is not 'sold as is'. The cosmetic compromise is the only real difference.
