Everyone loves a good discount, but these days, it’s almost impossible to get high-priced tech at discounted pieces. Fortunately, you can get great deals on renewed or refurbished iPads and other almost-new Apple products. But what exactly is a renewed iPad, and is buying one really worth it?
A renewed iPad is one that’s been unboxed and used but is still in almost-perfect condition. It’s safe to buy a renewed iPad if you get it from a reliable store like Apple, Amazon, or Gazelle. These products are thoroughly tested and come with warranties for your peace of mind.
Let’s take a closer look at what renewed products are, whether buying a renewed iPad is worth it, and the best places to buy renewed iPads.
What Is a Renewed iPad?
A renewed iPad is a pre-used iPad that’s in almost-new condition. Renewed iPads may be repaired, but they are thoroughly tested and are reliable, to an extent. Renewed products usually come with a guarantee and technical support from the seller.
Amazon’s renewed program is one of the best places to get renewed iPads since Amazon provides a 90-day guarantee on all renewed products. Renewed products on Amazon have to go through several tests before they can be sold, making them more reliable than other pre-owned products.
Another difference between renewed products and other second-hand options is that renewed products are repaired before being sold, and you’ll get a refund if there’s anything wrong with the product.
Meanwhile, if you buy a pre-owned product elsewhere, there’s no guarantee that the product was repaired or refurbished before being sold, and you may end up with a faulty product.
Renewed vs. Refurbished
Some sites sell “renewed” products while others refer to them as “refurbished,” but there’s really no difference between the two. Both renewed and refurbished products are in like-new condition and undergo several tests to meet Amazon Renewed standards.
While the official place for renewed products is Amazon Renewed, some sites call them “refurbished,” which essentially means the same thing.
Some of these products may undergo minor repairs to remove scratches, change the display, or fix software issues. However, if there are major issues with the iPads or other products, they won’t be put up for sale.
Is It Smart to Buy a Renewed/Refurbished iPad?
If you don’t mind getting a slightly older model, then a refurbished iPad (on Amazon) is a great option. The best benefit of buying a renewed iPad is that you’ll get it for much cheaper than a brand new one.
You can get a near-new iPad from the Apple store at 25% less than you would get a new one, and the iPad has been used for less than a year in most cases.
Besides the cost, buying refurbished products has many advantages. While you’ll usually find older iPads in the renewed goods section, you’ll also find many recent models. If you get a relatively recent model that’s still relevant for another 5 years, buying a refurbished product is definitely a bargain.
Besides, you may also get a warranty if you get your renewed iPad from a reputable seller like Apple, BestBuy, or Amazon. These companies will usually check whether the product is in good condition and will even label it according to its usage time.
Products that are brand new and have hardly been used are listed in the A category, products slightly older and with minor repairs are listed in the B category, and so on.
So, if you’re looking for a relatively new iPad that’s still relevant, buying a renewed one can be a very smart decision.
Where Should You Buy a Refurbished iPad?
Always buy a refurbished iPad from a reputable seller, so that you’re covered in case you get a defective product. The best places to get a refurbished iPad are Best Buy and Apple, although Amazon will give you good coverage as well.
You can also get refurbished products from third-party sellers, but only do so if they’re a reputable site and provide a guarantee. Here are some places where you can buy a refurbished iPad:
Apple Store and Best Buy
When it comes to original refurbished products, the Apple Store and Best Buy are the best places to shop. Both provide support and other purchase warranty services, and Best Buy will even refund your money if the product doesn’t meet their requirements.
Some of the benefits of buying a refurbished iPad from Apple and Best Buy include:
- Best Buy will thoroughly inspect the iPad, clean it and restore it to factory settings before selling it as refurbished.
- You can get discounts on brand new iPads that Best Buy may have taken in or received through their refund program. Many of these products are brand new, with the exception that they were taken out of the original packaging. These A-grade refurbished iPads are usually the latest models and are available at amazing discounts.
- All refurbished products have to be graded at the Best Buy or Apple repair center before being sold, so you can be 100% sure you’re getting original products.
- When buying from the Apple Store, you’ll get a 1-year warranty on refurbished products. You can extend this warranty for another year with Apple Care+ for a minimal fee. The warranty that Apple provides on refurbished iPads is significantly longer than what most other retailers offer.
- Best Buy offers a 15-day return policy on all refurbished goods, and this is in addition to any warranty you may get.
While the Apple Store has slightly higher-priced refurbished iPads, they’re also the most reliable option to get a used Apple product. If you’re shopping for slightly more discounted products, Best Buy is a great alternative.
Third-Party Sellers
There are many third-party sellers that offer refurbished iPads at discounted prices. Some of these, like Back Market or Decluttr, are great options for all used goods, but you’ll have limited options when looking for specific iPad models.
Other stores like eBay or Gumtree offer a wider range of refurbished products listed by individual sellers.
While you’ll usually get the best discounts at these third-party sellers, they are also the most likely to have defective products. Always make sure the store offers a warranty or the site is established and has many positive reviews before buying any product from it.
If you can find a third-party seller that offers a money-back guarantee, then make sure you check the product thoroughly before the guaranteed time limit.
Amazon Renewed
Amazon Renewed is another great option for getting renewed iPads and other authentic Apple products. It’s also the largest market for refurbished Apple products and has a wide range of iPads to choose from. What makes Amazon Renewed unique is the 90-day warranty that comes with all its products.
Renewed products have to meet certain requirements and should be in near-new condition. For instance, an iPad sold on Amazon Renewed should have at least 80% of its maximum battery capacity and shouldn’t have any wear marks or scratches. They also have to pass tests by Amazon technicians before being listed.
Amazon technicians will restore the iPad to its factory settings and check for any mechanical defects. The only downside is that renewed products don’t usually come with the original Apple accessories.
Gazelle
This site, which specializes in refurbished, used electronics, has really competitive prices on most models of iPad, often beating even Amazon and Apple! If you’re considering a refurbished model, be sure to price-check against this site (which even gives you a bigger discount for accepting models with some wear/tear on them).
What Else to Keep in Mind Before You Purchase
Even though renewed iPads are less expensive than new ones, they still cost several hundred dollars, and you wouldn’t want to be ripped off. Before buying a renewed iPad, always check the product quality, age, and warranty details. Also, avoid buying used iPads from shady third-party sites with no warranty.
Here are some factors to keep in mind when buying renewed iPads:
Age
While there’s no harm in getting an iPad that’s several years old if it’s in good condition, it’s best to go for more recent products. Older iPads may not have the same specs and may already be ancient in tech terms. It’s also more likely that they may have defects or have been repaired.
While you’re not going to find many iPads that are less than a year old, try to avoid getting one that’s several years old.
Warranty
The warranty is the first thing you should check when buying a renewed iPad. Most reputable sellers will offer a few months’ warranty on Apple products so you can be sure that there’s nothing wrong with the product.
Amazon offers a 3-month warranty on all renewed products, while you can get a 1-year warranty when buying a renewed iPad from the Apple Store.
Getting a warranty on renewed products is crucial as it gives you peace of mind knowing that your iPad will be repaired in case of damage.
Condition
While it’s difficult to know for sure what condition your iPad is in until you hold it in your hands, many sites will rate renewed products in terms of age and performance. For example, Best Buy has A-, B-, and C-rated products, based on their condition.
Always choose products that haven’t gone through any repairs. If you have to get a repaired product, make sure it’s covered by a warranty and properly certified.
Price
If you’re buying a refurbished iPad, the pricing will probably be high on your list of things to look for. However, always place quality and reliability over price since even the cheapest iPads are still pretty expensive. It’s better to spend an extra $50 on an iPad with a better warranty than to get a discount on the same iPad with no warranty.