How Are Refurbished Phones Tested?

When you buy a refurbished phone, it undergoes a meticulous inspection to ensure that it can be restored to its original factory condition as closely as possible- sometimes they even exceed manufacturer standards! 

Almost all of the tech we sell here at The Big Phone Store is already in pristine or “like-new” condition, anything that doesn’t fit these guidelines gets professionally replaced by our refurbishment team, meaning we only sell the highest quality, fully-working devices. 

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But what does this inspection involve? How do we make sure the phone meets high standards? What tests are carried out, and who handles them? Let’s explore the process behind refurbished mobile phones.

What Happens During The Refurbishing Process?

When you buy a refurbished phone from The Big Phone Store, we do 90+ point quality test on every device to ensure they perform precisely like new phones.

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We only sell refurbished phones which have been thoroughly inspected by our team of experts and then passed our rigorous testing process, using Phonecheck.

The testing process involves identifying genuine parts, phone functionality tests, and visual inspection. 

The Big Phone Store's Testing Process

We use a range of tools to evaluate every aspect of the phone, from battery life to volume controls. Our engineers thoroughly inspect each device for any signs of damage or wear. They perform a series of basic tests to ensure the phone’s essential functions work properly, and they also conduct more advanced tests to check for any hardware issues.

To ensure the highest quality, we use Phonecheck, a specialised diagnostic software, to perform a full hardware scan. This comprehensive process guarantees that every refurbished phone meets our strict standards before it reaches you.

Phonecheck delivers fast and effective data analysis for smartphones and tablets. It also helps detect any smartphone faults. Thus allowing us to identify potential issues and problems that may arise during use.

What Tests Do We Run on our Refurbished Phones?

Checks the model number, serial number, manufacturer name, firmware version, screen resolution, processor speed, storage space, memory size, RAM, battery capacity, camera type, and sensor resolution.

Checks the status of the battery, charging state, charge level, temperature, current consumption, voltage, and remaining time. At TBPS, almost all of our devices are guaranteed to have at least 85% battery health!

Checks whether the device is jailbroken or rooted. This means the user has installed custom applications and modified the operating system.

Checks the physical appearance of the phone, including the case, buttons, ports, speaker, microphone, cameras, LED lights, headphone jack, SIM card slot, and other components.

Checks all hardware keys, including home key, back key, menu key, search key, power button, volume up/down, camera shutter, and lock key.

Checks the sound output quality of the speakers, earphones, and microphones.

Checks the camera lens, flash, light sensitivity, image stabilisation, autofocus, focus distance, exposure compensation, white balance, ISO, and video recording mode.

Checks the camera settings such as picture quality, resolution, shutter speed, flash setting, frame rate, flash mode, face detection, touch focus, and HDR.

Checks Touch ID functionality and security features also the fingerprint scanner and sensors.

Checks audio call quality and voice recognition.

Checks network connectivity, signal strength, WiFi connection, Bluetooth connectivity, GPS, functioning of the built-in apps, etc.

Final Inspection

Once the phones pass diagnostic testing, they move on to the refurbishment process. Our technicians perform a complete factory reset, removing all previous owner data, unlocking any PINs, and unlinking user accounts, including from iCloud.

The phone is then unlocked, making it compatible with any network. We also check the IMEI number against a stolen and lost device database to ensure the phone comes from a reliable source.

This thorough process guarantees that the phone you receive is fully functional and ready to use. In addition to rigorous performance and functionality testing, we also grade each refurbished phone based on its cosmetic appearance.

Cosmetic Grading

Not all refurbished phones look the same. Some have better finishes. Others may have scratches, dents, or other cosmetic blemishes.

We take into account these factors when grading our products. We use the following criteria to determine the cosmetic grades of the refurbished phones.

 Like New– Almost New (Out of Box). This is our best-refurbished condition, and the device has no cosmetic damage. Besides not being in the original box, this device is essentially brand-new!  

 Pristine– Very Slight Signs of Use. With our pristine phones, it’s clear that the previous owner has taken great care of their device, so while there may be some minor cosmetic imperfections, 99% of the phone is in perfect condition. 

Very Good Light Signs of Use. These phones show light signs of usage and may have visible cosmetic marks, but they won’t be visible when the screen is on. Buying ‘Very Good’ is ideal for those who are budget-conscious and don’t mind a few imperfections.   

 

Good– Medium Signs of Use. These are phones that have had a few bumps! There are visible cosmetic marks, and the device shows medium signs of use, but its functionality is completely unaffected!  

Poor– Heavy Signs of Use. Fully tested and in perfect working order, these phones are the cheapest way to get the model you want at the cost of cosmetic quality. Scratches, cracks, and screen burns are all possible.   

The functionality of all these graded phones remains unchanged. These grades only reflect the appearance of the phone.

Cosmetic grading can be helpful if you are on a stringent budget but still want to acquire a high-end smartphone. The grading system can help you choose between similar models with different price tags. 

Test of Authenticity: Phonecheck

With so many retailers selling cheap refurbished phones, it is essential that buyers can trust that the devices are genuine.

Many smartphones are being repaired with either cheap or non-genuine parts, which leads to poor performance and longevity.

PhoneCheck helps us identify that the parts used inside the phone are of the highest quality and meet the manufacturer’s specifications.

The tool examines the phone for any signs of tampering and detects faulty parts. This allows us to verify the integrity of the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) components used in the phone.

All of this ensures that you receive a reliable phone that functions just as well as a new device.

You can feel confident in knowing that when you purchase from us, your refurbished phone has been checked and verified to be genuine.

Why Choose The Big Phone Store?

With over 5 million devices sold, The Big Phone Store is committed to offering only refurbished phones that meet our high standards for functionality and reliability. If a phone doesn’t pass our rigorous checks, it simply won’t be sold.

When you buy from us, you’re not just saving money—you’re also getting a top-quality product. Every refurbished phone we sell comes with a full one-year warranty and a 14-day money-back guarantee, giving you peace of mind with your purchase.

Refurbished phones are an excellent choice for anyone looking to save money without compromising on quality. They offer significant savings and come with many benefits. We guarantee that all our products work like new and will exceed your expectations.

For more information about our refurbished phones, check out our detailed guide [here].

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