How we grade

Our grading

How we grade every device

30 inspection points. 4 honest grades. Zero surprises at delivery.

Like New

Barely used. No marks.

Excellent

Light wear. No dents.

Good

Visible wear. Works perfect.

Fair

Heavy wear. Works perfect.

The 30-point inspection

Every device that lands at IO Circle goes through a checklist no one else publishes. Functionality is identical across all four grades — the difference is purely cosmetic. If a device fails any functional test, it does not enter the catalog.

Hardware checks

  • Battery cycle count + health %
  • All ports tested (USB-C, Lightning, MagSafe)
  • Wi-Fi 5 GHz + Bluetooth pairing
  • Speaker output (left, right, balance)
  • Microphone clarity
  • Camera focus + Face ID / Touch ID
  • All buttons + Apple Pencil pairing
  • Cellular signal (where applicable)
  • GPS lock test
  • Charging at rated wattage
  • Thermals under load
  • Storage SMART status

Cosmetic checks

  • Display: scratches, dead pixels, burn-in
  • Body: dents, scuffs, cracks
  • Hinges + keyboard travel (laptops)
  • Trackpad click feel (laptops)
  • Screen oleophobic coating
  • Port cleanliness
  • Logo + paint condition
  • Original packaging (where supplied)
  • Engraving / personalisation removal
  • iCloud + Find My fully unlinked
  • OS reset to factory
  • SSD wiped to DoD spec

Battery health policy

iPhones & iPads: minimum 85% battery health across all grades. MacBooks: cycle count below 500 for Like New / Excellent, below 800 for Good / Fair. We disclose exact battery health on every unit before shipping.

Still doesn't match? Send it back.

Our delivery agent waits while you inspect. If a device doesn't match its grade, refuse it — no questions, no fees.

How door inspection works →