iPhone refurbishing checklist

iphone_refurbishing_checklist.md

Apple iPhone refurbishing checklist

Let's assume you bought a used iPhone or just finished fixing an iPhone: This checklist will guide you through each step and help ensure you cover all essential refurbishment aspects within ~an hour.

---

1. Initial Assessment

• model name (i.e. iPhone XY A1234) : _______
• color
  • Space gray
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Rose gold
  • Black
• Storage: _______GB
• IMEI: _______
• Latest iOS installed? Version: _______
• Cosmetic inspection
  • Notes on damage (scratches, dents): _______
• IMEI/Serial number verification
  • https://www.imeipro.info/check_imei_iphone.html
  • IMEI not reported as stolen?
  • Find my iPhone (FMI) disabled?
  • iCloud lost mode disabled?
  • model details check out?
• no SIM lock? (https://sickw.com)
• 2 bottom screws still in place and tightened?

2. Screen and display

• Display Check
  • no dead pixels / color issues?
  • touchscreen
• Face ID/Touch ID
  • Touch ID working? (5s and up)
  • Face ID working? (starting from iPhone X)
  • Touch ID is on models with a home button, while Face ID is found in models with no home button.

3. Battery Check and Replacement

• Battery health (must be above 85%): _______%
• Battery replaced if needed?

4. Buttons

• volume up
• volume down
• mute switch
  • vibration motor works?
• power
• home button
  • reachability via home button double-tap (iPhone 6 and up)

5. Cameras and sensors

• rear camera tested?
  • focus, flash, and zoom OK?
• front camera tested?
• proximity and ambient light sensors: Tested by covering?
  • pay attention to the bightness slider

6. Connectivity

• insert a working SIM card and make a test call
  • earpiece speakers work?
• SIM card removed again?
• WLAN (a.k.a. WiFi)
• GPS tested via Maps app
• Airdrop, also test implicitly:
  • Bluetooth (not working well with other OSes)
  • NFC if supported (iPhone 6 supports it for Apple Pay only, 7 for AP + NFC tag reading only)
• Lightning port
  • charging possible?
  • detected by PC?

7. Speaker, microphone, and audio

• headphone jack tested?
• recording test (voice memo app) combines microphone and loud speakers / headphone jack
  • earpiece speakers already examined during test call

10. Model-specific feature checks

• 3D Touch (6s until XS Max, not SE#1, not XR) or Haptic Touch (XR, then from 11 up)
• camera (Wide/Ultra-Wide/Telephoto) mode switching OK? (iPhone 11 and up)

11. Cleaning

• External Cleaning and Polishing
  • wipe screen / surfaces with alcohol
  • charging port cleaned?
  • speaker openings cleared?
• factory reset performed?

13. Packaging

• USB to Lightning cable added?
• earphones added?

---

Model-specific tips

• iPhone 11 Pro and newer: Night mode test? _______