The things worth knowing before you buy
Including the parts other tools would rather you did not read.
What does PhoneGrade actually do?
It is a desktop application for a shop bench.
It does not sell, erase or list anything.
It runs on your computer.
How is this different from the big certification platforms?
Those platforms are built for volume certification.
PhoneGrade does not certify for a marketplace.
If you sell through those marketplaces and need their credential, you need their product.
Why is it priced per year rather than per device?
Because the real cost in a shop is the bench.
One price means re testing costs nothing.
Are the IMEI and blacklist checks included?
No, and they are not resold by PhoneGrade.
On imei.info, individual lookups start at about $0.20 depending on the check.
Most refurbishers never need them.
Where does my data go?
To your own machine.
Camera and microphone streams never leave the phone.
You can verify all of this by reading the source.
Why are some parts reported as unknown on a recent iPhone?
On iOS 15 and newer the system returns an empty property list.
PhoneGrade reports those parts as unknown rather than guessing.
A phone that withholds a serial and a phone with a replaced screen should not look the same.
Does Android get the same original parts audit as iOS?
No, and we do not pretend it does.
What Android does publish, PhoneGrade checks.
What are the system requirements?
Windows 10 or 11, macOS 11 or newer, or Linux x64.
The phone needs iOS 13 or newer, or Android 8 or newer.
The download page has the full list.
Does it work without internet?
Yes, mostly.
iPhones go over a secure tunnel instead.
Your results are queued locally and replayed.
How do updates work?
The app checks the GitHub releases feed at startup.
A portable copy does not update itself.
It is open source. What does that mean for support?
You can read everything, build it yourself, and never be locked in.
The license is AGPLv3.
Which languages does the app speak?
The desktop app is Dutch and English.
This website is available in seven languages.
Can I request a feature?
Please do, mail feedback@phonegrade.app.
If something you need is missing, that is worth saying.