Use our definitions
Condition labels can mean different things elsewhere. Choose from the four descriptions used by We Buy Back.
BEFORE YOU CHOOSE A GRADE
See how condition affects your phone's value.
Compare our four grades, check your phone carefully, and see how inspection can affect your quote.
The same grades used for your quoteDamaged can still have valueA clear answer if something differs
START WITH OUR DEFINITIONS
Grade the phone in front of you.
Condition labels are not identical everywhere. For a We Buy Back quotation, use the descriptions shown here and during valuation.
Look beyond the first glance
A clean screen can still reveal marks when it is switched off and viewed in good natural light.
Include how it works
Very Good and Average phones must be fully working. A functional fault belongs in Damaged.
THE FOUR WBB GRADES
Four conditions. Clear differences.
Select a grade to read the exact definition used in our selling journey, along with everyday examples that make the boundary clearer.
THE EXACT WBB DEFINITION
Brand New
An unused and unopened device in its original factory-sealed box, with all original accessories included and no damage.
What fits this grade
- The original manufacturer seal is untouched
- The device has never been opened, set up or switched on
- The original accessories remain inside the retail box
What points somewhere else
- The seal has been opened or replaced
- The phone was switched on, even only to check it
- It arrived as a replacement in plain packaging
THE EXACT WBB DEFINITION
Very Good
A fully working device in excellent condition, with no signs of use and no cracks or major damage.
What fits this grade
- Every relevant function works as expected
- The screen, back and frame look almost unused
- There are no cracks or obvious marks in normal light
What points somewhere else
- Scratches or scuffs are clearly visible
- A crack, chip or dent is present
- A button, camera, speaker or charging function has a fault
THE EXACT WBB DEFINITION
Average
A fully working device with visible scratches, scuffs or small cosmetic marks from regular use, but no serious physical damage.
What fits this grade
- Every relevant function still works
- Scratches, scuffs or small marks show normal use
- The phone is worn rather than physically broken
What points somewhere else
- The screen, back or camera glass is cracked
- The frame has heavy damage or a clear bend
- Any relevant function works poorly or not at all
THE EXACT WBB DEFINITION
Damaged
A device with cracks, heavy wear, physical damage or one or more functional faults, subject to final inspection and testing.
Damaged is a real condition grade. It does not automatically mean the phone has no value.What fits this grade
- The screen, back or camera glass has a crack
- The body has heavy wear, dents or physical damage
- One or more relevant functions have a fault
What points somewhere else
- A swollen, leaking or overheating battery is unsafe to post
- An account lock must be removed before sending
- An ownership or device-history concern is not solved by choosing Damaged
A FIVE-MINUTE CHECK
Look closely before you choose.
Most uncertainty comes from something small being missed. A quick check without the case can make scratches, cracks and intermittent faults much easier to notice.
Remove the case and gently clean the screenCheck the screen switched off in good natural lightLook around the frame, corners, back and camera glassTest touch, cameras, buttons, speakers and chargingNotice anything that works only sometimes
WHEN TWO GRADES FEEL CLOSE
The line becomes clearer when you know what changes it.
Use these comparisons for the situations that create the most uncertainty. A visible mark is different from a crack, and cosmetic wear is different from a functional fault.
Very Good or Average?
Very GoodThe phone looks almost unused in normal light and has no clear scratches, scuffs or cracks.
AverageThe phone is fully working, but ordinary scratches, scuffs or small marks can be seen.
Average or Damaged?
AverageVisible wear is cosmetic. The screen, housing and relevant functions are not physically broken.
DamagedA crack, heavy physical damage or any relevant functional fault moves the phone into Damaged.
Working or faulty?
Fully workingCharging, buttons, touch, cameras, speakers and the other relevant functions work consistently.
Functional faultIf something works only sometimes, needs repeated attempts or does not work normally, treat it as a fault.
Notice real battery symptoms
Choose network separately
CONDITION IS ONE PART OF THE ANSWER
Some details sit beside the grade.
Do not try to squeeze every phone detail into Brand New, Very Good, Average or Damaged. Battery behaviour, network status and account locks each need their own honest answer.
Battery behaviour
A battery warning, unexpected shutdown or charging fault is useful information. Do not guess from a percentage alone.
Mobile network
Where the valuation asks for a network, choose the real network or Unlocked option separately from condition.
Account locks
An Apple, Google or other owner lock does not make the phone Damaged. It must be removed before you send it.
IF SOMETHING LOOKS DIFFERENT
An honest mistake still gets a clear explanation.
If the received phone does not match the selected condition, the reason and the next available choice should be clear before the order continues.
We compare it with the order
The model, specification, selected grade and relevant functions are checked against what was entered.
We record a genuine difference
If something does not match, the finding is connected to the phone and the order.
We explain what changed
You receive a clear reason and any updated quotation or next option that applies.
You see the available choice
The order does not quietly move ahead on a different description without the next step being made clear.
FIND THE EXACT MOBILE PHONE
Model and condition shape your phone's value.
Search for the exact model, storage and network variation. The valuation will show the condition options and quotation currently available for that phone.
A missing condition is not a website errorCONDITION QUESTIONS
Questions people ask before choosing a grade.
Use these answers before requesting a quotation or after receiving an inspection update. If your phone has an unusual fault, ask us rather than guessing.
Ask us about an unusual conditionWhat is the difference between Very Good and Average?
Both grades require the mobile phone to be fully working. Very Good should look almost unused, while Average can have visible scratches, scuffs or small marks from ordinary use.
Is a cracked screen always Damaged?
Yes. A crack in the screen, back glass or camera glass is physical damage, even when the phone still switches on and seems to work normally.
Can a Damaged phone still have a cash value?
Yes, when the exact mobile phone supports a paid Damaged quotation. Search for the model and choose Damaged to see the live option. Some older or heavily damaged phones may instead show free recycling or no available option.
What if one function only works sometimes?
Treat an intermittent problem as a functional fault. A charging port that needs repeated attempts, an unreliable button or a camera that sometimes fails does not meet a fully working grade.
Does battery health affect the grade?
Do not choose a grade from one battery percentage alone. Pay attention to battery warnings, unexpected shutdowns, charging faults or unusual heat and describe any known problem honestly. Never post a swollen, leaking or overheating battery.
Is a network-locked phone considered Damaged?
No. Network status and physical condition are separate selections. If the valuation asks for a network, choose the real network rather than changing the condition grade.
Why can I not select every condition for my phone?
Available outcomes depend on the exact model, variation and live quotation options. A condition may show as not currently accepted. Search for the exact phone to see the current result for every condition.
What happens if inspection finds a different condition?
We compare the phone with the order and explain any genuine difference that affects the quotation. You are then shown the updated quotation or next option that applies before the order continues.