Why grades are written the same way everywhere
Every product title in this store ends with a grade in brackets, and the same word always means the same thing: a Soft OLED screen for iPhone 13 is built the same way as a Soft OLED screen for iPhone 15 Pro. We do not use letter grades, plus signs or marketing adjectives, because they tell you nothing about what the part is. This page is the reference for the whole catalog; the definitions below are also repeated on each product page.
One rule applies above all others: nothing we sell is new from Apple, Apple-certified or supplied by Apple. «Original» describes where a panel or chip came from, not who sold it to us. REFparts is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc.
Screen grades
| Grade | Definition | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Original | Original panel pulled from an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch and tested | Factory colours, brightness, ProMotion where the model has it. Light wear on glass or frame is possible and is stated on the listing. Not new, not Apple-certified |
| Refurbished Original | Original OLED or LCD panel with new front glass laminated by a refurbisher | Same colours and touch as the original panel; aftermarket glass, oleophobic coating and frame adhesive. True Tone data normally retained |
| Aftermarket | Third-party replacement panel, sold in one of the three builds below | Good fit and function; brightness, colour and power draw may differ from original |
| Soft OLED | Aftermarket flexible OLED | Thin, true blacks, original bezel size. The closest aftermarket option to the original |
| Hard OLED | Aftermarket rigid OLED on a glass substrate | True blacks, slightly thicker bottom bezel, lower brightness and price |
| Incell LCD | Aftermarket LCD with the touch layer built into the cell | Budget option. No true blacks; on OLED models it uses more battery and is thicker. Normal choice on LCD models (XR, 11, SE) |
See the comparison guide on choosing a screen for the detailed table on brightness, True Tone, 120 Hz and price bands. Screens with every grade side by side are on the model pages under iPhone Parts.
Battery grades
| Grade | Definition | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Original Chip | New cell paired with an original battery management chip | Battery Health shows maximum capacity and 0 cycles without programming |
| Pre-Programmed (JCID) | Pack with a JCID-compatible chip, health data readable and editable with JCID programmers | Health data appears after programming; needs a JCID V1SE or better |
| Cell Only (No Flex) | Bare cell without a flex | Reuse the original flex or fit a tag-on flex. Spot welding or soldering needed |
| High Capacity | Cell with more mAh than the stock part; the exact mAh is stated in the title | Needs a matching flex for correct health readings; check thickness fits the bay |
| Health-Tested | Each unit checked for capacity, cycles and voltage before shipping | Applied in addition to the type; the tester reading is what we guarantee, not the absence of a parts message |
Honest note on the service message: iPhone 11 and later may show an Unknown Part or Service notice for any battery the phone does not recognise. Original Chip packs avoid it in normal cases; programmed packs depend on the iOS version. The message never affects charging or performance. Details are in the battery guide, and the tag-on flex and programmers are in Programmers & Testers.
Housing and back glass versions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| US Version | Back housing without a SIM tray slot, matching eSIM-only iPhones sold in the United States from iPhone 14 onward. Cannot be fitted with a SIM tray |
| EU (Global) Version | Back housing with a physical SIM tray, matching phones sold in most other regions |
| Back Glass (Big Camera Hole) | Rear glass with a large cut-out around the camera plateau, for laser and manual repairs that leave the camera lens and bezel on the frame |
| Back Glass with Camera Lens | Rear glass with the camera lens glass and bezel pre-fitted |
| Small Parts Pre-Installed | Housing supplied with buttons, SIM tray (EU version), power and volume flexes and other small parts already fitted; the exact list is on the product page |
Which version a phone needs is defined by the phone, not the customer’s country: an iPhone 15 bought in the United States has no SIM tray wherever it lives now. Check the frame before ordering.
Refurbishing part terms
- Front Glass with OCA: front glass with optically clear adhesive pre-applied. The brand follows in brackets: (Feaglet), (Musttby), (G+OCA Pro).
- Front Glass with OCA & Polarizer: the same, with the polarizer film attached.
- Front Glass with Frame & OCA: glass already bonded into the display frame.
- Display Frame (Bezel) with Adhesive: the frame alone, adhesive applied.
- Glass Laminating Mold and Frame Holding Mold: model-specific alignment molds.
All of these are in iPhone Screen Refurbishing.
Terms we do not use
- «OEM» or any wording that implies Apple supplied the part: we are not an authorised supplier, and no part here is sold as Apple’s own.
- Letter grades such as A, AA or triple-A: they are not comparable between suppliers.
- «Service Pack»: we only use this phrase if a part is confirmed to come from a service channel, which at present none are.
- «Like new» or «identical to original» for any aftermarket part.
How testing relates to grades
Grade describes what a part is; testing describes what we checked. Every screen is tested for image and touch, every battery for voltage, and Health-Tested batteries additionally for capacity and cycles. Testing does not change the grade: a tested Hard OLED is still a Hard OLED. If a part arrives not matching its grade, report it within the inspection window and it is replaced.
FAQ
Is «Original» the same as new?
No. Original means an original panel or chip pulled from a device and tested. It is not new and not supplied by Apple.
Which is better, Refurbished Original or Soft OLED?
Refurbished Original has the original panel and its colours; Soft OLED is an aftermarket panel that comes close. For a customer who wants the display as it was, Refurbished Original; for price, Soft OLED.
Why do you not sell letter-graded screens?
Because the term has no agreed meaning. We describe the panel type instead, so you know what you are fitting.
What does Health-Tested guarantee?
That the battery left us with the capacity, cycle count and voltage recorded by the tester. It does not guarantee the phone will show no parts notice.
Can I request a grade that is not listed for a model?
Yes. Ask us; some grades are stocked on request, and wholesale customers can reserve batches.