We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The best refurbished iPad deals so you can grab a high-quality tablet for less
A budget-friendly way to pick an Apple tablet
With new tech constantly dominating the news cycle and everyone’s attention, it can feel relentless (and expensive) trying to keep up with the latest devices.
Well, we’re here to tell you that the older tablet models are still just as good – most changes over the last five years have been relatively iterative and can be hard to notice. A high-quality iPad from 2021 or 2022 is still a high-quality iPad and will deliver more than enough computing power and capability for your needs.
Best refurbished iPad deals
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch 2022 (Refurbished)
Read review
Apple iPad Air (2020) 4th gen 64 GB (Refurbished)
Read review
Whether you're a professional, student, or tech enthusiast, a refurbished iPad can provide you with the powerful tools and sleek design Apple is known for, at a more reasonable price.
Some of the refurbished iPads featured here might use the older Lightning connector rather than USB-C, or they could have an older processor, older cameras and different screen tech. In some cases, however, the chip, speed and displays will match some of the best iPads.
Equipped with the M1 chip, this Air model still delivers excellent performance for the vast majority of users. It's a balanced choice between the standard iPad and the Pro line, and offers some great accessory support because it works with the 2nd generation Apple Pencil and the great Magic keyboard.
We'd recommend the 10th generation iPad for many of the same reasons we recommend the 11th generation model. It has a great display, modern design, solid power and good battery life – so it's going to work well for Netflix, online shopping, mobile games, general productivity and more.
It's a great overall pick, especially for those new to tablets –we'd go for this one if you're after reliable performance at an affordable price.
With the M2 chip, a smooth ProMotion display, and Apple Pencil hover support with the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, this premium model is still a top choice for professionals and creatives.
There are a few extras you'll get from a newer iPad Pro, like a slimmer and lighter design, and an OLED screen. But the essential core of the "Pro" experience – including its powerful performance, battery life and software – is still available in this model from a few years ago.
You can reduce the price of the latest base-level iPad Mini by £110 by shopping from Apple’s refurbished store. This is well worth it for the most compact and convenient Apple tablet. It’s a previous-generation model, with excellent USB-C connectivity, an edge-to-edge display, a lovely screen and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
If you’re after a great iPad for the basics, the iPad Air from 2020 has a bright screen, portable weight, Touch ID sensor and Apple Pencil support. The iPad Air from 2022 is still a better pick as it has a USB-C port, better accessory support and Apple’s M1 chip, but if these upgrades don’t matter, you’ll have no issue with this model.
You can make a £360 saving on an advanced iPad Pro (first released in 2021), which boasts many features to rival the current range, like Apple’s powerful M1 chip, Face ID authentication, a LiDAR scanner and ProMotion refresh rates.
Even on older tablets, the iPad Pro range offers the absolute best picks for app support, functionality and portability, so this capable model might be ideal for your needs.
Where to buy refurbished iPads
What to look out for when buying a refurbished iPad
You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t considering shopping for a refurbished iPad, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind, as it's quite different to buying new.
Warranty
Typically, refurbished marketplaces offer a one-year warranty, but it’s worth checking what this covers. We’d ideally look out for an iPad warranty that covers any defects or functionality issues, but it is unlikely it’ll keep your device protected from damage without additional insurance.
If in doubt, you’ll have the best experience by going with Apple itself – its refurbished products will come with new batteries and potentially new outer shells too – they’ll also be fully tested by Apple, have a robust warranty and the option of AppleCare for extended coverage.
Return policy
Check the return policy to ensure you have the option to return the device if it doesn't meet your expectations or has any problems.
We’ve looked around at a few of these, and it’s fairly typical that you get at least 30 days, in case you change your mind.
However, it’s still worth looking at what qualifies for a return, how easy it is to contact the seller through the marketplace, and whether you have to pay for the postage of a return.
Condition
Familiarise yourself with the grading system used by the retailer. This should be a system with levels – such as: “Like New”, “Very Good” and “Good” – and they will help you understand the iPad's physical and functional condition.
Battery health
Since battery life can degrade over time, it would help to get a general idea of the battery health percentage if the seller can provide it.
You don’t want to end up paying to replace the battery – check how the condition levels mentioned above relate to battery percentages.
Some refurbished products at the top quality level will have full battery health or will have had a battery replacement before going on sale.
Original accessories
It’s worth verifying whether the iPad comes with original accessories, such as its Apple-made charger and cable (rather than a third-party alternative).
While third-party accessories are common from many refurbished sellers, we think it’s always preferable to have the correct ones.
Read more: Best iPads | Best tablets | What is a refurbished phone? | Refurbished MacBook deals | Refurbished smartphone deals | Refurbished iPad deals | Refurbished Apple Watch deals
Simon Cocks is Good Housekeeping UK’s Technology Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy for the title. He previously also worked across other titles including Esquire UK, Digital Spy, Men’s Health UK and Women’s Health UK.
Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, portable chargers, radios, e-book readers and smartphones. He's reviewed top tech products from brands including Google, Apple, Amazon, JBL and Bose.
A magazine journalism graduate from Kingston University in 2014, Simon also worked on the Discovery and Silkroad inflight magazines. He then gained experience writing about entertainment at SFX and Total Film. He also contributed reviews and interviews to TwitchFilm (later ScreenAnarchy), CultBox and Frame Rated.
He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and money-saving advice guides and edited thousands of in-depth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.
He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.
You can follow Simon on Instagram, on Bluesky, on LinkedIn and on Threads.
Best luggage trackers and key finders
The best cheap phones to shop in 2025
Best open earbuds to shop in 2025
The best phone stands and tripods
