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What to Know Before Buying a Refurbished iPad

While many people consider getting an iPad due to its brand value and durability, pricing often gets in the way. The iPad is often more expensive than other tablets with similar features. Fortunately, buying a refurbished iPad is a great option if you want a near-new iPad at a lower price. 

A refurbished iPad is usually tested for functionality and is sold in like-new condition. Apple, Amazon, and Best Buy are the best options for buying refurbished iPads. Always check the warranty period, the seller’s reputation, and the iPad’s condition before making a purchase. 

But before you hit the shops, is buying a refurbished iPad worth it? And what’s the difference between buying a “refurbished” iPad and a second-hand one? Let’s look at the answers to these questions and everything you should know before buying a refurbished iPad. 

What Does “Refurbished” Actually Mean?

Woman play Ipad black and white background office

A refurbished iPad is one that is tested thoroughly for defects by the manufacturer or reseller. Refurbished tech items usually come with a seller’s guarantee and are repaired, properly checked, and repackaged before being sold to a new owner. 

Refurbished products can be second-hand products that are “almost new” or even unused products that were returned to the manufacturer because of a minor defect. Sometimes, refurbished iPads are those that have been repaired under warranty by Apple. Since these can’t be sold as new (even though they are technically unused), you can get them refurbished. 

However, you’ll have to look hard to find “new” refurbished products, and most refurbished products are pre-owned. Still, for a product to be called “refurbished,” it has to pass certain functionality tests and will come with a warranty in most cases. 

Refurbished vs Second-Hand

When buying pre-owned products online, you’ll notice that sometimes they’re advertised as refurbished while other sites label them as “second-hand.” It’s important to note that refurbished and second-hand products aren’t the same, even though both may be pre-owned. 

Second-hand products are those that are sold directly by the user or the reseller without testing the product. While most people will claim that their second-hand products are thoroughly tested, there’s really no guarantee that they’re free from defects.

You also don’t get any warranty on second-hand products since most of them are sold by individuals or unverified resellers. 

Even if you buy a second-hand product from a reputable store like Amazon, you won’t get any guarantee on how long the product will last. So, unless you know the person who’s selling the iPad, it’s best not to buy a second-hand iPad. 

Refurbished products, on the other hand, come with a guarantee and are thoroughly tested before being repackaged. Refurbished products are usually sold by reputable sellers like Amazon, Best Buy, or Apple, and they may come with a warranty ranging from 6 months to a year. 

While refurbished products may be slightly more expensive than second-hand products (not in all cases), it’s still better to buy a refurbished product, especially if it’s an expensive tech product like an iPad. 

Best Places to Buy a Refurbished iPad

Ipad with apps in the table

As we mentioned above, the best places to buy a refurbished iPad are Best Buy, the Apple Store, and Amazon. You can also choose reputable third-party sites like eBay or Gazelle. Let’s look at what these stores offer and the reliability of their refurbished products: 

Apple 

Buying a refurbished iPad directly from the Apple Store is the closest you can get to buying a new one. You can find a range of refurbished iPads on the Apple website, and all of them have been thoroughly tested and repaired. Most “Apple certified” refurbished products are from customers who have returned the product under warranty. 

The best thing about buying a refurbished iPad from Apple is that all Apple refurbished products have a new screen, body, and battery, so you’re essentially buying an almost-new product. You’ll also get a 1-year warranty on all Apple refurbished products and an option to purchase AppleCare to extend the warranty. 

The only downside is that Apple refurbished products are the most expensive option, but they’re still cheaper than buying a brand new product. 

Best Buy 

Another great option to buy a refurbished iPad is Best Buy. Just like Apple, they offer a one-year guarantee on refurbished iPads and even have a 15-day refund policy, which gives you enough time to test the iPad thoroughly and see if you’d like to keep it. 

Best Buy products are also thoroughly tested and categorized into A, B, and C categories. The “A” category contains iPads that are almost brand new and haven’t had any major repairs. You’ll often find the latest iPad models in the “A” refurbished product category at Best Buy. 

Best Buy also has refurbished iPads at competitive prices, so you get the ideal mix between quality and price. 

Amazon 

Amazon also has a wide range of refurbished iPads under the Amazon Renewed section. When buying a refurbished iPad from Amazon, you’ll get a 6-month warranty, and the iPad will be inspected by Amazon or a third party. Amazon also offers express delivery on their refurbished tech products, and you can choose from a wider range of refurbished iPads on Amazon. 

Amazon Renewed products are also available at competitive prices, and it’s a great option if you’re looking for a specific iPad version. 

eBay 

If you’re looking for refurbished products at discounted prices, eBay is another superb option. It’s one of the largest online marketplaces for tech products, and you’ll find both second-hand and refurbished products on the site. While you may still get buyer protection or a warranty from eBay, you’ll have to be careful and avoid buying products from suspicious sellers. 

Gazelle 

Gazelle is a site that’s exclusively made for refurbished tech products. It’s one of the best places to shop for a refurbished iPad, and you can get great deals on some of the latest products. Gazelle tests their refurbished products with a 30-point checklist, and they even offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is more than you would get on Best Buy. 

Where Not to Buy Refurbished Products

You shouldn’t buy refurbished products directly from third-party sellers since you won’t have any guarantee on the product’s quality and whether genuine parts were used to repair the iPad. You also won’t get any warranty when you buy from third-party sellers. 

If you’re buying a refurbished iPad from Amazon or other marketplaces like eBay, you’ll have to be careful not to buy from suspicious sellers. You’ll only get a warranty if you buy your refurbished iPad from Amazon Renewed.

While third-party sellers usually offer slightly cheaper products, you’re essentially paying for a second-hand product with no warranty. 

Even though it’s fine to purchase from such sellers if you know the company well or you’re buying low-priced goods, avoid buying tech items like iPads from unknown sellers, even if it’s through a marketplace like Amazon. 

Can a Refurbished iPad Still Receive Updates?

Buying a quality refurbished product is almost the same as buying a new product if you have a warranty. All refurbished products can still receive updates as long as the product isn’t too old. Refurbished tech products like smartphones and iPads are usually wiped clean and restored to the original settings before being sold. 

However, you’ll have to look at the model of the refurbished iPad. For example, you could buy a 1st generation refurbished iPad, but you won’t be able to run the latest iOS version on it.

As long as the iPad is relatively new and you buy it from a reputable seller, it should be able to receive updates. 

How Is the Longevity of Refurbished iPads? 

There’s no official way to assess the longevity of refurbished iPads, but those that come with a warranty are often as reliable as buying a new one.

The longevity of a refurbished iPad will depend on the seller, its warranty period, and whether it was repaired or not. If you buy a refurbished iPad from a reputable seller, you shouldn’t have to worry about its longevity. 

The most important thing to note when assessing the longevity of a refurbished iPad is where you’re buying it from and the length of the warranty. You’ll get the most out of a refurbished iPad bought directly from the Apple Store.

This is because Apple assures that all their refurbished products have original parts and are as close as possible to a new product. You’ll also get a one-year warranty and the option to add AppleCare, which can guarantee longevity to an extent. 

Refurbished iPads on Apple or Best Buy are also grouped according to their condition. You’ll usually get the most longevity out of A-Grade iPads, followed by “B” category products and so on. 

When you buy a refurbished iPad from a third-party individual, you won’t have any guarantee of the product’s longevity. The “refurbished” iPad may get damaged in a week or last more than 5 years. 

Important Questions to Ask Before Buying a Refurbished iPad 

Woman hands holding and pointing on contemporary digital frame with blank screen

Here are some important questions to ask before buying a refurbished iPad: 

Is the iPad Certified? 

This is the most important thing to check for when buying a refurbished iPad. If you’re buying from Apple or Best Buy, you can get Apple-Certified iPads. These automatically come with a warranty, and you may get a refund if there’s a major issue with the iPad. 

How Long is the iPad’s Warranty?

Buying a refurbished iPad always carries a risk, but this risk is minimized when you get a warranty. You’ll usually get a warranty ranging from 3 months to a year, and the longer, the better.  

What Condition Is the iPad In? 

Most reputable sites will give a rating to the iPad based on its condition. Many refurbished products will have minimal signs of wear, and some may have been repaired. The rating or description can tell you a lot about the iPad’s condition. 

Checking Your Refurbished iPad

Just like when you’re buying a brand new iPad, you should check a refurbished iPad thoroughly as soon as it’s delivered. Some sellers have a 3-day money-back guarantee, and most will give you at least 10-15 days to check the iPad after you purchase it. 

To avoid having to deal with repair issues later on, it’s best to check the device as soon as you get it. Here are some things that you should check immediately: 

Storage 

Go into Settings and then Storage. Make sure that the storage is the same as what was advertised when you bought the refurbished iPad. This is easy to overlook, and many iPad models come with different storage capacities. 

Physical Condition 

Check for scratches on the case or glass. Also, make sure that any buttons and other physical features are in good working condition. 

Battery Checks

Charge the battery to 100% and note the time it takes to charge. Compare this with what was advertised. Then use the iPad until the battery is dead and note how long it lasts. If you’ve bought a refurbished iPad from Apple, it usually comes with a new battery. 

Network and WiFi

This is another common issue that many people overlook. Some iPads are registered to certain cellular carriers and may not connect to other networks. However, when you get a refurbished iPad from Amazon, Best Buy, or Apple, it won’t be bound to any network carrier.