The best refurbished iPads to buy in the UK right now
Last updated: 29 June 2026
By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance
Apple tablets hold their value, so buying new stings. Happily, the refurbished iPads UK shoppers can buy today start at around £145 for an older model and climb to a few hundred for a near current one. This guide sorts the line-up by who each iPad actually suits, then shows you where to buy and what to check first.
This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and buy or sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.
Want a refurbished iPad deal?
The current Back Market offer and how to claim it are kept up to date on our referral page, and we cover Amazon Renewed picks further down too.
Prices are the lowest Back Market UK and Amazon Renewed listings at the time of writing and move with stock.
Section 01 / The shortlist
Five refurbished iPads, sorted by who they suit
From a £145 hand-me-down to a cinema-grade Pro, here is where each one earns its place.
The 11th gen iPad does almost everything most people need.
iPad (11th gen, A16)
Honestly, this is the one most people should buy. The 11th gen iPad runs Apple's A16 chip, so it handles Safari, Netflix, Notes and light photo editing without breaking a sweat. It also takes the USB-C Apple Pencil, which is plenty for jotting and mark-ups. On Back Market it starts at around £270, while Amazon Renewed has it from £284.99 and Apple's own refurbished store lists it from £279. New, it is £329, so the saving is modest on the very newest model. Still, you gain grade choice and, often, more storage for the money. Prefer to spend even less? The 10th gen iPad covers the same ground and starts nearer £230.
For the everyday user who wants one tablet to handle the lot.
From £270 on Back Market · £284.99 on Amazon Renewed
The iPad Air is the note-taker's pick, thanks to Apple Pencil Pro support.
iPad Air (M2 / M3)
Note-takers, this is your iPad. Crucially, the Air supports the Apple Pencil Pro, with its squeeze shortcuts and barrel roll, which the standard iPad does not. The M2 and M3 chips also chew through Procreate, GoodNotes and split-screen multitasking. You get the laminated 11-inch screen too, so the pen feels closer to the glass and reflections drop. Right now the M2 Air sits at about £365 on Amazon Renewed and from £375 on Back Market, while the newer M3 lands nearer £430. Compared with £599 new, that is a proper dent in the price. For students and sketchers, the Air is the sweet spot.
For the note-taker who lives in Apple Pencil and Procreate.
£365 on Amazon Renewed · from £375 on Back Market
The iPad mini is the one you can hold one-handed.
iPad mini (A17 Pro)
Sometimes you just want something pocketable. The iPad mini packs an 8.3-inch screen and the A17 Pro chip into a frame you can hold one-handed on the train. As a result, it is brilliant for reading, travel, notes and gaming. It also supports the Apple Pencil Pro. The current mini 7 starts around £344 on Back Market, while the older mini 6 dips to about £251 there and £254 on Amazon Renewed. Both undercut the £499 new price comfortably. So, if portability tops your list, the mini wins.
For the minimalist who wants a tablet that travels light.
Mini 6 from £251 on Back Market · £254 on Amazon Renewed · mini 7 from £344 on Back Market
A two-year-old iPad Air for the price of a new entry iPad is the kind of maths that makes refurbished hard to argue with.
The 9th gen iPad is the cheapest sensible way in.
iPad (9th gen, A13)
On a tight budget? Start here. The 9th gen iPad is the last model with the old Home button and Touch ID, plus a Lightning port rather than USB-C. Even so, the A13 chip still runs the everyday apps fine for casual use. Amazon Renewed lists it from about £145, Back Market from roughly £151, and Apple's refurbished store from £199 with a brand new battery. For a child's first tablet, a kitchen recipe screen or a sofa Netflix slab, it does the job. Just remember it will drop off Apple's software updates sooner than the newer picks.
For the budget buyer who wants the cheapest sensible way in.
£145 on Amazon Renewed · from £151 on Back Market
05
Section 02 / The splurge
iPad Pro (M4)
Right, the showstopper. The M4 iPad Pro brings a Tandem OLED display Apple calls Ultra Retina XDR, and it is easily the nicest screen on any tablet. Add the M4 chip, Thunderbolt and Apple Pencil Pro support, and you have a near-laptop in tablet form. New, the 11-inch starts at £999, which is a lot. Refurbished, it drops to about £594 on Back Market, while Amazon Renewed has the 256GB model around £647. Of course, most people do not need this much iPad. However, if you edit video or draw for a living, nothing else in the range comes close.
For the creative who wants the best screen Apple makes.
From £594 on Back Market · £647 (256GB) on Amazon Renewed
Section 03 / Buyer's guide
How to buy a refurbished iPad without regrets
A few checks separate a bargain from a headache. Here is the short version.
Grades: the two vocabularies explained
First, grades. Back Market UK sorts devices into Excellent, Good and Fair, which describe cosmetic wear only, not function. Amazon Renewed uses four tiers instead: Premium, Excellent, Good and Acceptable. So an Amazon 'Acceptable' can show more marks than a Back Market 'Fair'. When in doubt, pay a little more for a higher grade, especially on the screen.
Battery, warranty and returns
Next, the battery. Apple's own refurbished iPads ship with a brand new battery, which is the gold standard. Back Market and Amazon Renewed test the battery instead, and Amazon promises at least 80% capacity (at least 90% on Renewed Premium). For cover, Back Market gives a one-year guarantee plus 30-day returns, while Amazon's Renewed Guarantee handles faults for a year from delivery. Therefore you are not buying blind on either route.
What to check before you click buy
Finally, a quick checklist. Confirm the storage size, the Wi-Fi versus cellular version and the colour. Also check the seller rating on Amazon, since condition varies between third-party sellers. For broader pointers, MoneySavingExpert's guide to buying refurbished is a sensible read.
Section 04 / Value
Is a refurbished iPad worth it in the UK?
Short answer: usually yes, as long as you buy from a seller with a real warranty.
In practice, the choice comes down to four routes. Back Market is a refurb-only marketplace with its own warranty and grade choice. Amazon Renewed is handy if you already shop on Amazon and want the Amazon Renewed Guarantee. Apple Certified Refurbished costs a little more, yet it includes a new battery and shell. Buying new, of course, gets you the latest model at full price. Here is how they stack up.
| Route | Warranty | Battery | Who sells it | iPad 11 example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back Market | 1 year, plus 30-day returns | Tested, not always new | Vetted refurbishers | From £270 |
| Amazon Renewed | 1-year Renewed Guarantee | Tested to 80% or more | Third-party sellers | From £284.99 |
| Apple Certified Refurbished | 1 year, AppleCare+ option | Brand new battery | Apple itself | From £279 |
| Buying new (Apple) | 1-year Apple warranty | New | Apple itself | £329 |
For a fuller picture of the marketplace, our Back Market review digs into the buying experience, while the monthly refurbished deals roundup tracks wider price drops. If you also need a laptop, the refurbished MacBooks guide is the natural next stop.
Section 05 / The honest bit
The honest caveats
No sales gloss here. A few things to keep in mind before you tap buy.
Refurbished is not flawless. Lower grades show real cosmetic wear, so expect scuffs at the Fair or Acceptable end. On third-party refurb, the battery is tested rather than replaced, which means it may already sit near 80%. Amazon Renewed condition also varies by seller, so the same grade can look different depending who packs it. Finally, stock moves fast on both platforms, so the exact model and price you see today may shift tomorrow. None of this is a dealbreaker. It just pays to read the listing properly.
Refurbished iPads UK: frequently asked questions
Are refurbished iPads any good?
Yes, generally they are. A certified refurbished iPad is tested, cleaned and reset, then sold with a warranty. As a result, failure rates sit close to new for reputable sellers. The main trade-off is cosmetic wear on lower grades, which does not affect how the iPad works.
Is Back Market safe and legit in the UK?
Back Market is an established refurbished-tech marketplace that vets its sellers and adds a one-year guarantee plus 30-day returns. So you buy from a checked refurbisher rather than a random stranger. For the full rundown, see our Back Market review linked above.
Is Amazon Renewed safe for buying a refurbished iPad?
It can be, yes. Amazon Renewed products are inspected by qualified suppliers and carry the one-year Amazon Renewed Guarantee. However, listings come from different third-party sellers, so condition can vary more than Apple's own refurb. Check the seller rating before you commit.
Back Market vs Amazon Renewed: which is better for iPads?
It depends on what you value. Back Market gives clearer grade choice and a refurb-only focus, while Amazon Renewed wins on convenience if you already use Prime. Both offer a one-year warranty, so price and stock usually decide it.
Which refurbished iPad should I buy in 2026?
For most people, the 11th gen iPad is the best all-rounder. Meanwhile, note-takers should jump to the iPad Air for Apple Pencil Pro, and tight budgets do nicely with the 9th gen. The Pro only makes sense for serious creative work.
Refurbished vs new iPad: what is the difference?
A new iPad is sealed and untouched, whereas a refurbished one was returned or lightly used, then restored and retested. Crucially, you still get a warranty either way. In short, you trade a little cosmetic perfection for a meaningful saving.
Do refurbished iPads come with a warranty?
Almost always, yes. Back Market and Amazon Renewed both include a one-year warranty, and Apple Certified Refurbished matches its new kit with a one-year limited warranty. Always confirm the exact terms on the listing before you buy.
More from CoolCuration
- Refurbished phones guide: sort a cheaper iPhone or Android the same way.
- Back Market service guide: how the marketplace and its warranty actually work.
- 1Blocker: speed up Safari on your new iPad with a content blocker.
- reMarkable Paper Pro: prefer paper-like note-taking to a tablet? Compare it here.
- Gifts for techies: more gadget ideas for the tech lover in your life.
Prices, grades and stock change often, so always check the live listing before buying. This guide reflects my own research and opinion, not professional advice. It also contains affiliate or referral links: if you buy or sign up through them I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you.
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