Refurbished iPads: where to buy and what you need to know

Buying a good second-hand or refurbished iPad is a smart choice if you pick the right retailer and know what to look for. 

There are second-hand marketplaces, such as eBay and Gumtree, where you can buy a device directly from the previous owner. Refurbished iPads are different: they've been checked over to make sure they work well, and they usually come with a guarantee. 

Below, we've chosen some of our favourite refurbished iPad retailers that balance price with quality. You can even buy one directly from Apple for extra peace of mind.

Bought new, iPads can cost upwards of £1,000, and even the cheapest one costs more than £300. Buy the best refurbished iPad and you might be able to save a hefty sum. Read on and we'll tell you which retailers to check, what to look out for when you buy refurbished and how much you could save.

Which iPad should I buy? – use our guide to help you decide between the four options, from the Mini to the Pro

Why you should consider a refurbished iPad

Where to buy a refurbished iPad

The most logical place to go would be Apple itself, but this may not be where you get the best saving, so it's worth shopping around.

Price is a big consideration, but you should check the warranty, too. Refurbished iPads have been checked over to make sure they work well and may have had some repairs done, but it's still worth trying to get the longest warranty you can. 

It's best to choose one that's not too old. Officially, Apple supports iPads with software and security updates for five years, but it often goes beyond that. If you're looking at an iPad more than four years old, we'd give it a miss – assuming you want to use it safely for more than a year.

We've listed several popular retailers below, plus the savings you should be able to make compared with the iPad's original price. Apple may seem like the best option, but if you're willing to put up with a few scuffs and dings to the case, you could save money by choosing one in slightly worse condition from a different retailer. 

Apple replaces the case and battery on all refurbished iPads, so they'll look new. Back Market, iOutlet and MusicMagpie grade their iPads by the condition they're in, so you have more options. Regardless of the appearance, the innards should be in working order.

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Buying a refurbished iPad from Apple

When you're buying a refurbished iPad, it makes sense to go to the source. Who better to refurbish an iPad than the company that made it in the first place?

The refurbished iPad section of Apple's website has a wide range of iPads for sale, from iPad minis to 12.9-inch iPad Pros. It's not exhaustive selection, though, and not every storage size is available. So, if you have a particular spec in mind, it's worth checking back periodically to see what else is available and how the prices have changed. 

Most of the iPads tend to be fairly recent generations. You won't find anything older than two or three years, but this isn't a bad thing. Older models are less likely to get software updates and may struggle with newer apps.

Unlike some other retailers, which grade iPads based on the amount of superficial damage they've suffered, Apple simply replaces the outer shell – so there shouldn't be any dents, scratches or 'Happy Birthday, Love Gran xxx' engravings on the back. The battery and screens are also replaced.

How much discount can you expect on a refurbished iPad from Apple?

There are almost 100 refurbished iPads available, so we can't list them all. But we have picked out a few, so you can see how much money you could save.

Most of the iPads up for grabs are from one or two generations before the current one, which makes sense given that Apple likely gets many of these from its trade-in programme.

• £379 iPad mini sixth generation, 64GB hard drive, wi-fi only. The latest iPad mini launched at £499.
• £639 13-inch iPad Air sixth generation, 128GB hard drive, wi-fi only. The latest 13-inch iPad Air 2025 launched at £799.

The savings are significant, though. You can expect to get up to 20% off the price of a new iPad by choosing the previous generation from Apple. To find out more about the latest ranges, see our Apple iPad reviews.

See the full range of Apple's refurbished iPads

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Buying a refurbished iPad from MusicMagpie

iPads from MusicMagpie are certified refurbished and have a 12-month warranty. What that means is the iPads go through a 70-point check to make sure they're good enough (some may have scratches, however).

It lists iPads by generation, so it's not always easy to see when each one came out. Use our free tablet security tool to check whether the iPad you're looking at is still getting security updates.

Tablets are graded 'good', 'very good' or 'pristine' – and the ratings are near enough the same across all the retailers. 

A 'good' iPad shows moderate signs of wear, a 'very good' one shows light signs of use, and a 'pristine' one is, well, pristine.

How much discount can you expect from Music Magpie?

MusicMagpie has a good range of recent iPads, so it's simple enough to compare pricing.

We've found that a pristine iPad Air 5 64GB costs £405 on MusicMagpie, while a new iPad Air 6 is £599 new, so the saving is decent.

See the full range of MusicMagpie's refurbished iPads

Buying a refurbished iPad from Back Market

The main difference between Back Market and Apple is how far back the models go. When we checked, some iPads were available on Back Market from as early as 2015. While prices are low on these models, Apple no longer supports them with software updates, and we wouldn't recommend buying them. 

Back Market doesn't do the refurbishing itself. It works with other companies and tells you which one did the refurbishing on the iPads' listing page. Some are familiar, such as Mazuma, while some aren't, such as InnoVent Leasing Limited. Back Market says it takes care in vetting these refurbishers, and only one in three makes the cut.

Back Market grades its devices by condition, so you can pay less for an iPad in 'fair' condition, a bit more for one in 'good' condition and even more for one in 'excellent' condition.

What's the difference between a fair, good or excellent-condition refurbished iPad?

Back Market's website describes the conditions as follows:

• Premium devices are the best refurbished iPads Back Market offers because they have flawless screens and bodies that show no signs of use; they contain 100% genuine manufacturer parts and batteries; and their batteries come with a minimum of 90% capacity.
• Excellent devices have almost no signs of wear. The body may have very light micro-scratches, invisible at a distance of 20 centimetres (a bit longer than a standard-sized pencil) or more. The screen will have no scratches.
• Good devices have light signs of wear. The body may have light micro-scratches, invisible at a distance of 50 centimetres (about an arm’s length) or more. The screen will have no scratches.
• Fair devices have signs of wear. The body may have a few visible scratches and dents that don’t affect performance. Screens may have light scratches that are slightly visible when the device is on.

How much discount can you expect from Back Market?

We looked at an iPad Air 2022 to see how much you could save. 

It costs £599 to buy the latest iPad Air with an 11-inch screen; an excellent-condition one from 2022 can cost as little as £363. But pricing can vary, and devices in a worse condition can sometimes be listed as more expensive.

See all the refurbished iPads available from Back Market

Buying a refurbished iPad from The iOutlet

When we checked, The iOutlet was selling some iPads that have stopped getting software updates from Apple. We don't recommend buying these, so keep an eye on the release date of the iPads while you're browsing, and use our free tablet security tool to check whether they're still getting updates if you're not sure.

The iOutlet has a large range. It grades its tablets from A+ to C, and there are plenty of models available, from very old to some of the latest models.

These A+ to C ratings are broadly the same as the ratings we saw on Back Market's listings: 

• A+ is pristine.
• A grade is near perfect condition.
• B will have some scuffs on the case with a scratch-free screen.
• C might have some bigger dings on the case and small scratches on the screen.

How much discount can you expect on a refurbished iPad from the The iOutlet?

There are several iPads available for less than £100, but many aren't supported by Apple, so we wouldn't recommend buying them.

It sells A-grade 2022 iPads for £250, which is £79 cheaper than buying the 2025 version new. We saw better savings on iPad Minis, though. The iPad Mini 7 sells for £499 new and we saw an A-grade one from the previous generation for £280 at iOutlet.

See all The iOutlet refurbished iPads

All prices correct in May 2025.

There are discounts on new tablets, too. Check our best tablet deals for our pick this month

What is the best refurbished iPad to buy?

You can already buy a refurbished iPad Air (6th generation) that came out in 2024, but discounts aren't great yet. To get a better reduction on a refurbished iPad in 2025, it's best to buy one that came out in 2022 or 2021. Ideally, you'd find a great deal on an iPad released two years ago to get a slightly newer device, but Apple didn't release any in 2023. 

The 2022 releases includes the standard iPad (10th generation), a step up in the iPad Air (5th generation) and the more premium and powerful iPad Pro (6th generation). The iPad is Apple's standard model and is powerful enough for most people; the Air and Pro are more specialised. There's also the iPad Mini (6th generation) from 2021, which has a more compact design.

Before buying a refurbished iPad, it's worth checking our iPad 2025 review to see if Apple's cheapest new iPad will fulfil your needs. Prices started from £329 at launch.

Find out more about which model suits you and where it's cheapest in our guide to the best iPads. Or head to Apple, Back Market, MusicMagpie or The iOutlet to start shopping.

What to check on your refurbished iPad

The most important things to check are are iPad's age and whether it's still supported by Apple. We recommend only buying internet-connected devices that are supported by security updates. Unsupported devices are easier to hack, which puts your data at risk. Our free tablet security tool will tell you if an iPad is still supported.

Keep an eye on the condition, too. Don't be wowed by a low price and miss that it's a low grade and likely to be dinged and scratched. If you want a refurbished iPad that looks new, then check the grade. The retailers we saw used terms such as 'A' or 'pristine' to flag new-looking tablets.

Warranty is important, too, but there seems to be a consensus that one year is the best option. All the retailers we looked at offered this on all their iPads.

Double-check that it comes with a power cable. You don't want to receive it excitedly only to realise you can't use it until you buy a charger.

• We test more than just iPads. If you prefer Android or Windows tablets, check out our tablet reviews to see what's available
• You can also explore all our tablets advice

Refurbished iPad vs second-hand

If you buy a second-hand iPad, you're essentially getting it the way the previous owner left it. It may have had some cursory checks to make sure everything's working, but there will be no repairs and no replacement parts to help it run better. Often, a second-hand device won't have a warranty, particularly if you're buying directly from the seller on an online marketplace such as eBay or Gumtree.

Refurbished tablets have been thoroughly checked by the retailer, or a refurbisher the retailer works with, to make sure they work well enough to sell. You usually get a one-year warranty. If you buy from Apple, you'll even get a new battery and body.

Refurbished tablets are often graded, so you can get a clear idea of the condition the tablet you're buying will be in.

You have extra rights when you buy online, meaning you'll be able to return the iPad if you aren't happy with it. So, you have the right to cancel and request a refund up to 14 days from the day you receive your device.

Shopping for a second-hand iPad

If you're eyeing up an iPad in a second-hand shop, such as Cash Convertors or CeX, then ask to see it and try it out. 

Retailers should make sure the devices work, but you should check a few things yourself:

• Look for small cracks or chips on the screen.
• Check that the charging port and headphone port work.
• Use it to take a picture and video to make sure the camera lenses are OK.
• Play some music to make sure there's sound coming from all the speakers.
• Check that it doesn't have someone else's iCloud account on it.

Setting up your refurbished iPad

Setting up a refurbished iPad is much the same as setting up a new one. You'll need an iCloud account to back up your data and pictures; you can set that up ahead of time or when you get your iPad.

When you turn your refurbished iPad on, it should be the same experience as with a new one. The Apple setup wizard will take you through the various steps.

The only difference may be that you need to install some software updates. As you're probably buying an older iPad, it may not have the latest version of iPadOS. 

It's always worth setting up the Find My iPad function, too. This enables you to track missing Apple devices if you lose them or they're stolen. 

How to set up Find My iPad

1. Look in your settings, tap your name then select Find My.
2. If you want friends and family to see the device, select Share My Location.
3. Next, tap Find My Device and then Find My iPad to turn it on.
4. If you want to be able to see the device when it's offline, select Find My Network.

If all this iPad info has whetted your appetite, then read our guide to choosing the best iPad to see which is right for you.