Cosmetic axis
Defect types, scratch levels, cosmetic values, the inspection protocol and the phone tolerance table.
5.1 Defect types
| Type | Measured by |
|---|---|
Scratch S1–S4 | Length × width and fingernail feel (5.2) |
Dent / ding DN1–DN3 | DN1 ≤ 1 mm, no visible deformation at inspection distance. DN2 ≤ 3 mm. DN3 > 3 mm, or affects fit or seal. |
Chip CH1–CH2 | CH1 ≤ 1 mm. CH2 > 1 mm (edge of glass, coating or housing). |
Crack K | Any fracture. Never permitted in a grade. |
Discolouration / wear-through X | Coating, anodising or paint loss; yellowing. Graded as minor or major. |
Missing external part M | SIM tray, button, screw, mesh, foot. Never permitted in a grade. |
Liquid-damage indicator LDI | Triggered or not. A triggered indicator is never permitted in a grade. |
5.2 Scratch levels (Figure 2)
| Level | Size (L × W) | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| S1 | ≤ 0.5 × ≤ 0.05 mm | Seen only at an angle |
| S2 | ≤ 1.5 × ≤ 0.25 mm | Visible at any angle; no fingernail catch |
| S3 | ≤ 2.0 × ≤ 0.5 mm | Fingernail catches, does not stop |
| S4 | beyond S3 in any dimension | Fingernail catches and stops |
A cluster of five or more scratches within a 10 mm circle counts as one S4.
5.3 Cosmetic values recorded on the cosmetic axis
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
S | New, factory sealed (not inspected; see §6) |
O | New, unsealed, never activated, zero defects (§6) |
A, B, C, D | Within the tolerance of grade A, B, C or D (§5.5). Append 0 when zone AA has zero defects (e.g. A0). |
K | Cracked anywhere, LDI triggered, or a missing external part, with the internal display intact. No grade. |
E | Severe damage: internal display damage, corrosion, a frame bent so that it affects fit, or several missing parts. No grade. |
N | Not inspected |
5.4 Inspection protocol (Figure 3)
Viewing conditions:
- cool-white light of at least 500 lumens;
- the grader has normal or corrected vision;
- the device is held about 45 cm (18 in) away;
- about 4 seconds per surface and 6 seconds on zone AA;
- zone AA is tilted to 45° to find cracks;
- magnify only to confirm a defect's size.
Credit: these viewing conditions follow the inspection conditions in CTIA Certification's Wireless Device Grading Scales: Criteria and Definitions v5.1, §2.5. UGP is not affiliated with or endorsed by CTIA Certification. "CTIA" is a mark of its owner, used here only to identify that document.
Camera-based (CV) grading is permitted if it is calibrated to the same defect levels. The record states method: cv or hybrid.
5.5 Phone tolerance table: maximum count per zone
A device that exceeds a column drops to the next grade. A device that exceeds D, or that has any K, M or triggered LDI, has cosmetic value K or E and no grade.
- AADisplay + camera lensesS1 ≤ 2
- AFront housingS1 ≤ 3S2 ≤ 1
- BBack, sides, buttonsS1 ≤ 5S2 ≤ 2DN1 ≤ 1
- CConnectorsS2 ≤ 3
Exceeds any zone? It drops to Very Good.
- AADisplay + camera lensesS1 ≤ 4S2 ≤ 1
- AFront housingS2 ≤ 5
- BBack, sides, buttonsS2 ≤ 10DN1 ≤ 2CH1 ≤ 1
- CConnectorsS2 ≤ 3
Exceeds any zone? It drops to Good.
- AADisplay + camera lensesS1 ≤ 6S2 ≤ 3
- AFront housingS2 ≤ 5S3 ≤ 1CH1 ≤ 1
- BBack, sides, buttonsS2 anyS3 ≤ 3DN2 ≤ 2CH1 ≤ 2X minor
- CConnectorsany; contacts undamaged
Exceeds any zone? It drops to Acceptable.
- AADisplay + camera lensesS2 anyS3 ≤ 3no S4
- AFront housingS3 ≤ 6S4 ≤ 2CH2 permitted
- BBack, sides, buttonsS1–S3 anyS4 ≤ 4DN3 if fit and seal are unaffectedX permitted
- CConnectorsany; contacts work
Exceeds any zone? It has no grade (cosmetic value K or E).
| Zone | A · Like New | B · Very Good | C · Good | D · Acceptable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA display + lenses | S1 ≤ 2 | S1 ≤ 4 · S2 ≤ 1 | S1 ≤ 6 · S2 ≤ 3 | S2 any · S3 ≤ 3 · no S4 |
| A front housing | S1 ≤ 3 · S2 ≤ 1 | S2 ≤ 5 | S2 ≤ 5 · S3 ≤ 1 · CH1 ≤ 1 | S3 ≤ 6 · S4 ≤ 2 · CH2 permitted |
| B back / sides | S1 ≤ 5 · S2 ≤ 2 · DN1 ≤ 1 | S2 ≤ 10 · DN1 ≤ 2 · CH1 ≤ 1 | S2 any · S3 ≤ 3 · DN2 ≤ 2 · CH1 ≤ 2 · X minor | S1–S3 any · S4 ≤ 4 · DN3 if fit and seal are unaffected · X permitted |
| C connectors | S2 ≤ 3 | S2 ≤ 3 | any; contacts undamaged | any; contacts work |
Every count in this table is provisional in the public comment draft. Comments with inspection data are invited (§19). Records shall carry tolerance_table: "phone-1.0-provisional" until the steward publishes the table as final. Because raw defects are stored (§4.3), a revised table recomputes grades without re-inspection.
Tablet profile: the same table with every count × 1.5, rounded down.