Refurbished iPad

Refurbished iPad and used iPad - what's the difference?

When you're out shopping for tablets, it's easy to feel like you're in a jungle. The market is wide, and there are lots of options - not just in brands and operating systems, but also sizes, screen options and features - to name just a few parameters. What to choose, Apple's iPad or an Android? Why does this year's flagship cost so much more than last year's models, even though it's only been a year? The truth is that tablet vendors, like many tech giants, make a living selling the new and hot. The stuff that costs - and makes customers both queue and throw money left and right. It's a curve that thrives on ever onward and upward movement - negligible increases in performance at heavier price tags, and greater environmental impact as a result.

But not everyone is following the trend. A very popular buying tactic in recent years has been to buy refurbished iPads, if you're looking for the happy medium between the market's top brand and a cost that's reasonable. When you buy refurbished, you're making an active choice not to consume new and expensive from the premium giants, while getting a machine that's basically as good as this year's top model. What's more, you're contributing to a better planet, and you can almost always invoke the warranty even if your device isn't brand new from the factory.

So what's the difference between refurbishing and second-hand? Simply put, a refurbished iPad is an Apple tablet that has been given new life through repair, cleaning and servicing. Instead, a used iPad is a tablet you buy more or less as it is when the seller puts it out. In other words, you're buying two similar items, but with important differences - the used iPad you get is in what's called "current condition," and it can therefore carry both external and internal defects. It's not uncommon for tablets that have been used extensively to have poorer battery life, cracked or pinched screens, and scratches or traces of "tough love".

A refurbished iPad will instead have been brought in by a retailer who will hire a technician (or alternatively is already technically competent enough) to thoroughly go through and repair the device. The tablet will be function tested, cleaned, reset and not least serviced as you would service a car in a garage. Components are often replaced, giving a refurbished iPad new life and an extended lifespan.

This is good news, not least for Apple products - which are already known to last significantly longer than other equivalents on the market. Buying a used iPad or Apple product is already a smart investment, but if you go for a refurbished iPad, you've suddenly thought even more tactically.

Investing in this type of new technology is called refurbishing, or reconditioning as we say in English. In short - if you buy a refurbished iPad, you get a device that still has a lot of juice under the hood, will last a long time and that you know will work when you buy it.

It's simply the sweet spot between paying as little as possible - to get as much as possible.

Why go for a refurbished iPad - what are the benefits?

Once we know what benefits iPads that have undergone refurbishment carry, we can see additional benefits for the consumer. Apple products often require expert knowledge and special tools to work with - replacing a screen or replacing a battery is usually too complicated for laymen, but that doesn't stop many people from trying (or worse, handing in your Apple product to various service outlets of dubious quality).

In other words, you can't be entirely sure that a fault or creeping damage won't show up over time when you buy second-hand or from a friend, but if you go for a refurbished iPad, you can rest assured that a competent service technician has approved the device. Refurbishment companies are also increasingly using original parts to breathe new life into the gadget - something that will contribute to higher quality and longevity.

One detail that's easy to miss is how good reuse is for the environment, especially when it comes to technology. It takes an incredible amount of resources, natural materials, fuel and labour to produce the hundreds of components that go into a tablet - especially the more expensive versions. Printed circuit boards, computer chips and rare minerals are in short supply around the world, and we've all seen how the global market can be shaken during global crises. When you choose to stay off the buying block for new gadgets, it's a smaller unit produced at the front of the chain, and a unit that avoids ending up in the scrapyard. Instead, you'll save big on carbon emissions, and contribute to a cleaner future for us all. In other words, if you choose a refurbished iPad for your office, your family or yourself, you've not only saved money - you've actively taken a stand for a healthier approach to technology in society. Cool, isn't it?

What to consider when buying a refurbished iPad?

Firstly, be aware that you're buying a brand new item. A refurbished iPad, as we all know, has been refurbished (if necessary) from the ground up, but even if you're getting very close to an equivalent new iPad, it still has lived a previous life. However, you'll probably be surprised at how fresh and "new" a refurbished iPad feels.

Also consider the warranty issue. When you buy machines from us, there is always a 1 year warranty included, but usually up to 2 years. In addition, we grade our refurbished products into classes - Class A, B and C - so you'll know the quality of the refurbished iPad you're considering buying.

An important detail is finding the right one in the wide selection of iPads. Apple releases several different variants of iPads every year - iPad, iPad Air, iPad Mini and more - and which one you should go for obviously depends on what your needs are. Regardless, we think you should go for a refurbished iPad that's within a couple of generations of the current one, so you know the performance is sufficient to run modern apps, games and streaming services. So if you choose one model (e.g. the iPad Air because it's lightweight and portable) first, you can look at a refurbished iPad of that particular type, just a step or two away from this year's flagship. It's a win-win for you - and the planet.