Component Quality Guide
At Micro Wire, technical transparency is essential. We sell components in several quality grades, for every brand and every type of part: screens, batteries, back covers, flex cables, charging ports, cameras, speakers and much more. This page explains, plainly, what you get with each grade and what you should not expect, so you can make the right choice before you buy.
The grade you receive is exactly the one stated on the product.
Every item states its quality grade in its name and/or description. That grade — and only that grade — is what we ship. Grades are not interchangeable or equivalent to one another: buying one grade never entitles you to receive another.
1. Read the title
The grade (Compatible, Premium, Service Pack, OEM, etc.) always appears in the item's name or description.
2. Not stated? It isn't.
If the product does not say Service Pack, it is not a Service Pack. The same applies to original, OEM or any other designation.
3. Unsure? Ask first.
Contact us before placing your order. We'll answer any questions with no obligation — once shipped, the grade doesn't change.
1. Quality Scale
All componentsThese grades apply to every type of part. Not every grade exists for every component — availability depends on the model and the part, and is always stated on the product.
Compatible
Entry-level aftermarket part (made by third parties). The most affordable option: it works properly and performs the function of the original part.
- ✓ Functional and tested
- ✓ Best price
- • May come without logos or brand markings
- • Finish, shades and materials may differ from the original
Premium
High-end aftermarket part. Better materials, fit and finish closer to the original. It is still a third-party part — neither original nor Service Pack.
- ✓ Superior aftermarket quality
- ✓ Usually with logos
- • May still come without logos
- • Small cosmetic differences from the original are normal
OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer. An item with the same technical specification as the original, subject to the same quality and manufacturing tests.
- ✓ Identical specification to the original
- • For legal reasons (customs and patents), may come without logos
Refurbished
A part that keeps its original main component, with only the damaged section replaced in a specialist lab. For example, a screen keeps its original display panel and only the broken front glass is replaced.
- ✓ Original image quality and brightness (screens)
- • Replaced parts (e.g. glass) are not brand parts
- • On iPhone, may require a chip transfer (see Apple notes)
Pulled (Teardown)
Genuine parts removed from new or used devices. A component 100% made by the brand, with all its factory characteristics.
- ✓ Original brand part
- • May show light signs of previous use
- • On iPhone, may require a chip transfer (see Apple notes)
Service Pack
New, official part sold directly by the brand in its sealed service packaging. 100% compatible and factory-tested, it restores and keeps all of the device's original features.
Only available for some parts — and always labelled.
Service Packs exist for certain screens, batteries, flex cables, charging ports and more. When an item is a Service Pack, the product says so. If it doesn't, the item is not a Service Pack.
| Grade | Origin | Brand logos | Available for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compatible | Aftermarket (third party) | May not have them | All components |
| Premium | High-end aftermarket (third party) | Usually yes, but may not have them | All components |
| Micro Wire Selected | Aftermarket, hand-picked and lab-validated | Depends on product | Compatible screens and batteries |
| OEM | Original specification | May not have them (legal reasons) | Depends on product |
| Refurbished | Original panel, glass replaced | — | Screens |
| Pulled | Original, from teardown | Yes (original part) | Depends on product |
| Service Pack | New, official from the brand | Yes (original part) | Only items labelled as such |
2. What You Get — and What Not to Expect
✓ Considered normal (not a defect)
- •Compatible, Premium or OEM parts without brand logos, markings or codes.
- •Slight differences in colour shade, texture, finish gloss or adhesive type compared with the original part.
- •Generic packaging on parts that are not Service Packs.
- •"Unknown part" messages on iPhone with unpaired parts (see Apple notes).
✕ Not grounds for a complaint
- •Expecting to receive a grade other than the one stated on the product ordered.
- •Comparing a Premium or Compatible part with a Service Pack or original part and treating the difference as a defect.
- •Missing logos on grades where this possibility is stated.
- •Damage caused by incorrect installation, excessive force or non-recommended procedures.
Practical examples
| You ordered | You receive | You do not receive |
|---|---|---|
| Premium back cover | High-end aftermarket cover, usually with logos | An original or Service Pack cover |
| Compatible charging port | Functional aftermarket flex, possibly without markings | A part that looks identical to the original |
| Micro Wire Selected battery | Hand-picked battery with TI chip, capable of activation via Apple Diagnostics | A Service Pack battery |
| Service Pack screen | New official part, in the brand's sealed service packaging | — |
In short: grades describe different parts, from different sources, at different prices. A Premium part is the best aftermarket option — it is not, and does not claim to be, an official part.
3. Screen Grades
All brandsFor screens, in addition to the general scale, the grade also indicates the panel technology. This determines colours, power consumption, durability and thickness.
Incell (LCD)
Budget option. On models that are originally OLED (e.g. iPhone X, 11 Pro), it converts the screen to LCD. Uses slightly more battery and has a backlight, so blacks are not absolute. Functional and affordable.
Hard OLED
OLED panel on a rigid glass base. Vivid colours and true blacks, but more fragile than Soft OLED (the internal display can crack in hard drops).
Soft OLED
The best compatible option. Flexible panel identical to the original. High impact resistance (does not crack internally easily), correct colours and correct thickness.
Refurbished
Screens with the original display panel, where only the broken front glass has been replaced in a specialist lab. Original image quality and brightness are retained.
Pulled (Teardown)
Genuine screen removed from new or used devices. A component 100% made by the brand, with all its factory characteristics.
Service Pack
New screen sold directly by the brand. 100% compatible and factory-tested; keeps features such as True Tone and all screen-specific functions.
Panel technologies
- TFT Basic, older technology. Narrow viewing angles and lower brightness. Common in entry-level devices.
- LCD / IPS The quality standard for liquid crystal displays. Good colours and excellent viewing angles. Requires a backlight.
- OLED Organic light-emitting diodes. Each pixel produces its own light, enabling vivid colours, high contrast and absolute blacks.
- AMOLED Active Matrix OLED. An evolution of OLED with smoother performance and lower power consumption. Standard on Samsung and flagship Android devices.
Micro Wire Selected
Our own line of individually selected parts, validated in the Micro Wire lab. Superior quality, very close to the original — the same parts we use for our in-house repairs.
- Superior quality, very close to the original
- 100% compatibility with the device
- Validated in the Micro Wire lab
- Able to pass Apple Diagnostics tests (where applicable)
- Ready to install, no extra setup
- Applies to compatible screens and batteries
Technical note: Micro Wire Selected batteries use the original Texas Instruments controller (TI chip) — the same one Apple uses from the factory — ensuring maximum stability in percentage and cycle-count readings.
Important: Micro Wire Selected is a top-tier aftermarket range — it is not a Service Pack or an original brand part.
5. Important Notes: Apple and Components
System Messages (Unknown Part)
On recent iPhones, several parts are digitally "signed" and paired to the device's original logic board. This does not indicate a defect in the part — it is how the system behaves.
- Pulled or Refurbished: even though they are original parts, the system may not recognise them (warning in Settings), as the part came from another device. To avoid this, the original control chip (IC) must be transferred.
- Micro Wire Selected items: can go through official activation via Apple Diagnostics. After this process, the part is recognised by the system (System Configuration) as a "Reused Part" or "Used Part", removing the error messages.
- Chip transfer: if the item is not part of the Micro Wire Selected range, check the description to see whether it supports chip transfer (structure prepared for micro-soldering).
- Compatible and Premium: unless expressly stated on the product, they should not be considered suitable for activation via Apple Diagnostics.
Batteries and TI Chip
The Micro Wire Selected designation also applies to batteries. If a battery states TI Chip, it has the original Texas Instruments controller (exactly the same one Apple uses from the factory), ensuring maximum stability in percentage and cycle-count readings.
Service Pack: where is it available?
It is the official part sold by the brand in its sealed service packaging, 100% compatible and factory-tested, which restores and keeps all original features (True Tone, Face ID or screen-specific functions).
It only exists for some parts — screens, batteries, certain flex cables, charging ports and others — and it is always stated on the product.
Note: installing Service Packs and Micro Wire Selected components requires the device to be updated to the latest iOS version, to allow correct diagnostics.
What is OEM?
Short for Original Equipment Manufacturer.
An item with the same technical specification as the original, subject to the same rigorous quality and manufacturing tests. For legal reasons (customs and brand patents), it may be sold without the brand logos printed on the part.
Warranty Periods by Component
Screens
- Service Pack (Official): 1-year warranty.
- Other grades (OLED, Incell, etc.): 6-month warranty.
Batteries
- Service Pack (Official): 6-month warranty.
- Other grades (Micro Wire Selected, TI, etc.): 3-month warranty.
The battery warranty covers manufacturing defects and premature failure. It does not cover natural chemical wear caused by charge cycles.
Other components
As stated on each product page.
Technical Warning
Removing New Apple Batteries (Debonding-on-Demand)
Batteries in new Apple devices use an electrically released adhesive. The absence of the classic pull-tabs radically changes the removal procedure.
Prohibited procedures:
Using spudgers, mechanical prying force or liquid solvents (such as isopropyl alcohol) is strictly prohibited. Forcing battery removal exposes the technician to a very high risk of fire (thermal runaway) and irreparable deformation of the chassis. Follow only the manufacturer's electrical voltage guidelines.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
I bought a Premium part. Why isn't it identical to the original? +
Because it isn't original. Premium is the high-end aftermarket range: it comes close to the original in materials and finish, but it is made by third parties. If you want an official part, choose an item labelled Service Pack (where available).
My part arrived without a logo. Is it faulty? +
No. For Compatible, Premium and OEM grades, missing logos are possible and do not affect functionality. Only original parts (Service Pack and Pulled) are guaranteed to carry brand markings.
How do I know if an item is a Service Pack? +
It is stated in the product name and/or description. If it isn't stated, it isn't a Service Pack.
Can I exchange it for a higher grade after receiving it? +
Parts are shipped in the grade ordered. Exchange requests follow our returns policy (part with no signs of installation and in its original packaging). To avoid this, check the grade before buying or contact us.
My iPhone shows "unknown part". Is the part faulty? +
Not necessarily. This is Apple's parts pairing. See the Apple notes section to learn how to avoid or remove the message depending on the grade.
Still unsure which grade is right for you?
Talk to us before ordering. We'll help you choose the right part for your device and your budget.