LCD/ OLED BuyBack Grading Guide

Learn how Smartgrade™ grades broken smartphone and tablet LCDs/ OLEDs, to extract the maximum value out of your damaged displays.

Smartgrade™ offers shockingly good pricing.

Sign up for a Pro Account today and a dedicated Smartgrade™ account manager will contact you directly to begin your Value Recovery Program.

More Grades. More Value.

Most companies offer higher pricing for A and B grade displays, with low or no value for more damaged displays. In reality, most screens with even heavy damage are able to be refurbished. Smartgrade™ broken screen buyback program provides you with the real value of your shipment, offering pricing for all recoverable grades.

Heavy burns

Heavy burns can represent a high percentage of your total shipment volume. Using advanced processes, some burns can be improved or corrected.

Touch failure

Touch issues are caused by a digitizer failure. Screens with a non-functional or damaged digitizer can be recovered by replacing the faulty digitizer with a new unit.

Fully broken

Even fully broken displays can have some value as some displays have expensive components such as the flex cable which can be recovered through advanced recovery techniques.

Samsung Grading Overview

An overview of Smartgrade™ grades for Samsung Screens A, B, C, D, E, F, G and Fully Broken grades.

Samsung Grade A

Grade A - Excellent

Fully functional original screen. The glass itself can have scratches, dents, scruffs and even cracks as long as the display below is not damaged.

Samsung Grade B - 2
Samsung Grade B - 1

Grade B - Light burn

Fully functional original screen with a small shadow or burn. The glass itself can have scratches, dents, scruffs and even cracks as long as the display below is not damaged.

Samsung Grade C - 1

Grade C - Moderate burn

Fully functional original screen with a moderate shadow or burn The glass itself can have scratches, dents, scruffs and even cracks as long as the display below is not damaged.

Samsung Grade D - 2
Samsung Grade D - 1

Grade D - Heavy burn

Fully functional original screen with a heavy shadow or burn. The glass itself can have scratches, dents, scruffs and even cracks as long as the display below is not damaged.

Samsung Grade E - 1
Samsung Grade E - 2

Grade E - Small black dot

Fully functional original screen with a small black dot. The glass itself can have scratches, dents, scruffs and even cracks as long as the display below is not damaged.

Samsung Grade F - 1

Grade F - Large black dot

Fully functional original screen with a large black dot. The glass itself can have scratches, dents, scruffs and even cracks as long as the display below is not damaged.

Samsung Grade G - 1

Grade G - Touch Fail

Functional display, original screen with digitizer/ touch fail. The glass itself can have scratches, dents, scruffs and even cracks as long as the display below is not damaged.

Samsung Fully Broken - 1
Samsung Fully Broken 2

Fully Broken

Display has one or more major functional issues include large black dot in excess of φ 5mm, two or more black dots, multiple serious issues or display is physically damaged causing oil leakage.

Apple Grading Guide

An overview of Smartgrade™ grades for Apple A, B, C, D, G and Fully Broken grades.

iPhone Grade A

Grade A - Excellent

Fully functional original screen. The glass itself can have scratches, dents, scruffs and even cracks as long as the display below is not damaged.

iPhone Grade B 1
iPhone Grade B 2

Grade B - Light Issues

TFT (iPhone 6-8, XR, 11,,12): Fully Functional original screen with small dead pixels, backlight shadows, or yellowing display. OLED (iPhone X and above): Fully functional with light shadows/ burns or extensive damage to corners of glass.

iPhone Grade C 1

Grade C - Moderate issues

TFT (iPhone 6-8, XR, 11,,12): Fully Functional original screen with with large dead pixel, dots, slight color distortion. OLED (iPhone X and above): Fully functional with moderate shadows/ burns.

iPhone Grade D 1
iPhone Grade D 2

Grade D - Serious Issues

TFT (iPhone 6-8, XR, 11,,12): Fully Functional original screen with 3D haptic issues, moderate color distortion. OLED (iPhone X and above): Fully functional with heavyshadows/ burns.

iPhone Grade G 1

Grade G - Touch Fail

Functional display, original screen with digitizer/ touch fail.

iPhone Fully Broken 2
iPhone Fully Broken 1

Fully Broken

Display has one or more major functional issues include large black dot in excess of φ 5mm, two or more black dots, multiple serious issues or display is physically damaged causing oil leakage.

Apple Original vs. Copy

How to quickly identify an original or copy display.

iPhone---Original
iPhone Copy

A. QR code black cover - B. Apple logo - C. Lens diffuser - D. Supplier stamp

Apple Original, New vs. Original, Refurbished

How to quickly identify an original, new or original, refurbished display.

Original, new
iPhone-refurbished

A. QR code black cover - B. Apple logo - C. Original structure/ backlight IC

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.