Used Phone Condition Grades: What 10/10 and A Grade Mean

Scroll through used iPhone ads on OLX or a Hafeez Centre shop's WhatsApp status and you will see the same shorthand again and again: "10/10", "lush condition", "A grade", "kit only", "non-active". These used phone condition grades feel precise, but there is no official standard behind them. One shop's 10/10 is another shop's 9/10.

This guide explains what each label usually means in Lahore, what it tends to hide, and how to turn a vague grade into a written description of the exact phone you are buying.

Apple does not grade used phones, and neither does PTA. Large refurbishers abroad use their own grading scales, but those do not carry over to local sellers. In Pakistan, a grade is simply the seller's opinion of how the phone looks.

Three problems follow from that:

• Grades describe the outside. Most labels are about scratches and dents. They rarely say anything about the battery, replaced parts or Face ID.
• Grades drift upward. Sellers know a 10/10 sells faster, so borderline phones get rounded up.
• Grades are not portable. An "A grade" from a wholesaler buying lots from Dubai may mean something different from a shopkeeper's "A grade" for a local trade-in.

Treat a grade as a starting point for questions, not as a description you can rely on.

The out-of-ten scale is the most common on OLX and Facebook groups.

• 10/10 condition. What it usually means: no visible scratches on the screen or body when viewed normally. What it does not guarantee: original battery, original screen, no previous repairs, or that the phone was never opened. "10/10 condition iPhone" is about looks, not health.
• 9/10. Light hairline scratches you see only under a light or at an angle, often on the frame or back glass.
• 8/10. Visible marks, small dents on corners, scuffs on the camera ring. Fully usable, priced lower.
• 7/10 and below. Deep scratches, dents, cracked back glass or screen marks. Sometimes the phone has a known fault that the ad mentions in passing.

"Lush condition" or "lush 10/10" is a local flourish and adds no information. Ask the same questions you would ask about any other phone.

Letter grades are more common with dealers who buy phones in bulk, including imported used stock.

• A grade iPhone. Very light signs of use. Often described as "like new". Some dealers also use A grade for phones that have had a screen or battery replaced, as long as they look clean.
• B grade. Noticeable scratches or scuffs on body or screen, still fully working.
• C grade. Heavy wear, possible cracks, sometimes minor faults. Priced to sell.

You may also see "A+" or "AA", which simply mean the seller thinks it is better than their own A. Ask what the difference is in that shop's terms.

These describe what comes with the phone rather than its condition.

• Kit only. The phone alone. No box, no cable. Cheaper, and harder to resell later.
• With box. The original box is included. Check that the IMEI on the box matches the phone (dial *#06# and compare). A mismatched box adds nothing and can be used to make a phone look more legitimate than it is.
• Complete box or full box. Box plus the cable that came with it. iPhones since the iPhone 12 ship with a cable but no charger, so a "complete box" will not include a power adapter.

"Non-active" is one of the most confusing terms in the local market. Sellers usually mean the iPhone has never been activated with Apple: it is new, but the box may have been opened. Some use it more loosely for phones that have been opened, checked and reset.

The difference matters because Apple's warranty usually starts from first activation or purchase. You can check what Apple shows for a serial number on Apple's coverage page before you pay. A genuinely non-active phone is not the same as a sealed one, and neither label says anything about PTA status. Our post on sealed, open box and activated iPhones explains how those labels compare.

Whatever the label, ask about the things that change value the most:

• Battery health. Settings, Battery, Battery Health. On newer models you can also see cycle count. See our iPhone battery health guide for what is acceptable.
• Replaced parts. Settings, General, About, then Parts and Service History on supported models. An "Unknown Part" or non-genuine display message affects value even on a 10/10 phone.
• Face ID and True Tone. Both should work. Either failing often points to a past repair.
• PTA status. Check the IMEI with PTA; a grade says nothing about it.
• iCloud. Find My must be off and the phone signed out before you pay.

A grade is easy to argue about later. A written description of the exact unit is not. Before you pay, ask the seller to send:

1. Photos of the exact phone, front, back and all four edges, in daylight, with today's date written on a paper beside it.
2. A screenshot of Battery Health, and of Parts and Service History if the model shows it.
3. The IMEI and serial number, so you can check PTA status and Apple coverage yourself.
4. A short written line describing any repairs, scratches or faults, in their words.
5. The warranty and return terms for that unit, if any, in writing.

If a seller says "10/10, no need for pictures", ask for the pictures anyway. The phone you receive should match what you were shown.

Keep the WhatsApp chat. If the phone arrives with a crack the photos did not show, that thread is your evidence. Our used iPhone Lahore buyer's guide covers the full inspection on the day.

Grades are useful for filtering a long list of ads, not for deciding what to pay. On MacVault iPhone listings, each unit shows condition, PTA status, battery details and package contents where available. Message on WhatsApp to get current photos of the exact phone, and read the returns page so you know where you stand before paying.