Buying guide
Condition grades explained
Every laptop is inspected and graded by hand before it is listed. The grade describes cosmetic condition only — every grade passes the same hardware and performance tests.
Compare grades side by side
Grades describe how a laptop looks. Every grade passes the same hardware and performance tests.
| Aspect | A+Excellent | AVery good | BGood | CFair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In short | Looks close to new. Hard to find any marks. | Light signs of use, invisible from normal viewing distance. | Visible wear, fully functional. | Heavy cosmetic wear, lowest price. |
| Cosmetic condition | No visible scratches or dents at arm's length. At most, extremely faint micro-marks visible only under direct light. | Light surface scratches or scuffs on the lid or base. The screen has no scratches that are visible when switched on. | Noticeable scratches, scuffs or small dents on the body, and possible keyboard shine. Screen may show minor marks when switched off. | Heavy scratches, dents, discolouration or small cracks on the body that do not affect use. Any screen blemishes are described on the listing. |
| Performance | Passes full diagnostics: processor, memory, storage, display, keyboard, trackpad, ports, speakers, webcam, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. | Passes the same full diagnostics as A+. Performance is not affected by cosmetic grade. | Passes the same full diagnostics as every other grade. | Passes full diagnostics. All ports, keys and components work as expected. |
| Battery | Battery health is measured and shown on the listing. A+ units typically have the highest measured battery health in our inventory. | Battery health is measured and shown on the listing so you know exactly what to expect. | Battery health is measured and shown on the listing. | Battery health is measured and shown on the listing. May be lower than other grades. |
| Warranty | Covered by the warranty period stated on the product page. | Covered by the warranty period stated on the product page. | Covered by the warranty period stated on the product page. | Covered by the warranty period stated on the product page. |
| Ideal for | Gifting, or anyone who wants a near-new feel. | Work and study — the best balance of looks and value. | Everyday use where price matters more than looks. | Students, home offices and secondary machines on a tight budget. |
Shop by grade
Choose the balance of looks and price that suits you.
- Grade A+· Excellent
Looks close to new. Hard to find any marks.
- Cosmetic
- No visible scratches or dents at arm's length. At most, extremely faint micro-marks visible only under direct light.
- Ideal for
- Gifting, or anyone who wants a near-new feel.
- Grade A· Very good
Light signs of use, invisible from normal viewing distance.
- Cosmetic
- Light surface scratches or scuffs on the lid or base. The screen has no scratches that are visible when switched on.
- Ideal for
- Work and study — the best balance of looks and value.
- Grade B· Good
Visible wear, fully functional.
- Cosmetic
- Noticeable scratches, scuffs or small dents on the body, and possible keyboard shine. Screen may show minor marks when switched off.
- Ideal for
- Everyday use where price matters more than looks.
- Grade C· Fair
Heavy cosmetic wear, lowest price.
- Cosmetic
- Heavy scratches, dents, discolouration or small cracks on the body that do not affect use. Any screen blemishes are described on the listing.
- Ideal for
- Students, home offices and secondary machines on a tight budget.
How grading works
After testing and any repairs, a second technician inspects the laptop under consistent lighting and assigns a grade against the standards above. Anything worth mentioning beyond the grade — a specific mark, a replaced part — is noted on the product page.
See our 9-step refurbishment process