Should you buy a refurbished iPad? I tried one from Back Market and here's my verdict

Maria Diaz/ZDNET I'm no stranger to refurbished products. While buying refurbished or renewed isn't always my first go-to, I did purchase a refurbished 2019 Apple iMac in 2020 that still gets daily use. Buying refurbished, especially with a warranty, is a great way to save money. It's like buying a used car or secondhand furniture; you may not know the whole history, but whether it's worth the risk depends on the buyer. I swapped my iPad Air for a refurbished 10th-generation iPad from Back Market almost a month ago, and the experience has been enjoyable. I already have another 10th-generation iPad at home, which isn't refurbished, so comparing the two was easy. Also: Tariff-proof tech? Back Market's refurbished devices keep prices down The only evidence of use that the iPad from Back Market showcased was the open box. The tablet itself was immaculate, like new. When you buy a refurbished tablet, you don't know if it was ever broken, but Back Market has a sleek system to help you make an informed purchase. How Back Market works Maria Diaz/ZDNET The 64GB iPad 10th Gen is available in fair, good, excellent, and premium condition. A fair condition indicates you'll likely see visible signs of use, good condition is for light signs of use, and excellent condition is for tablets with almost no signs of use. All tablets in these conditions still ensure you get enough battery for daily use, though they may feature verified parts if any were ever replaced. The premium condition is the most expensive one and is reserved for tablets with no signs of use that have been tested to be of the best quality and have a reliable enough battery for heavy use. The premium iPads also feature Apple parts if they have ever been repaired, not just verified parts. Also: The best tablets of 2025: Expert-tested recommendations Back Market's Verified Refurbished iPads have to pass a 25-point inspection that tests screen appearance and operation, parts compatibility, button performance and reliability, battery health, input and output ports, speakers and microphones, cameras, flash and lights, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more. Do refurbished devices present more issues? Maria Diaz/ZDNET A common misconception among shoppers is that refurbished devices present more issues than new ones. Refurbished isn't the same as used. A verified refurbished device goes through a professional process and thorough testing, as well as repairs made with high-quality and verified parts. Buying a verified refurbished device from Back Market, for example, isn't the same as buying a used tablet from Facebook Marketplace. There are many reasons why someone may return a device that is later sold as refurbished, not just major defects. Consumers may return an iPad due to buyer's remorse or minor cosmetic damage. Companies may refurbish devices that are overstocked or at the end of their life. Also: Your iPad is getting a huge upgrade for free. 4 features I can't wait to use on iPadOS 26 I haven't experienced any issues with the refurbished iPad 10th Generation from Back Market, aside from an initial lack of sound coming from the device when using Netflix or Hulu that didn't happen with other apps, like YouTube. I simply restarted the iPad, and the issue was resolved and hasn't happened since, making it evident it had nothing to do with the iPad being refurbished. Many reputable resellers also offer extra protection plans for their devices. For example, Back Market offers BackUp, a protection plan that covers drops, spills, and cracked screens. Is buying refurbished worth it? Maria Diaz/ZDNET The biggest drawback of getting a refurbished iPad is that Apple products maintain their resale value. This is great for those selling or trading them in, but it is not great when you consider that a 10th-Gen iPad in good condition with 64GB of storage costs around $270, while the newer 11th-Gen iPad with twice the storage is available for $299. Geekbench 6 scores Starting price Single-Core CPU Benchmark Multi-Core CPU Benchmark GPU benchmark iPad 10 (BM refurbished, Good) $266 2,042 4,353 16,820 iPad 10 $299 2,083 4,902 16,973 iPad 11 $299 2,596 6,237 19,848 Lenovo Idea Tab Pro (2025) $290 1,408 4,525 7,977 TCL NXTPAPER Tab 11 $249 721 1944 1,306 As you can see from these benchmark scores, a refurbished iPad 10 performs as well as the original iPad bought from Apple. There's only a slight performance dip on the refurbished iPad, which most users likely won't notice during day-to-day usage. If you trust the source of the refurbished device, the $30 saving is a nice bonus. Also: I replaced my MacBook Pro with the M3 iPad Air - and I might never go back For many other devices, however, buying refurbished can definitely be worth it. I've used the refurbished iPad almost daily for the past few weeks. It's been my go-to device, so I write my articles on it and, in my spare time, write for fun. This has also been my entertainment tablet for streaming, playing, and reading -- all without issues. Buying used helps reduce e-waste, as it prevents devices from ending up in the landfill in favor of upgrading to new ones. Buying refurbished, however, also considerably extends the life of electronics, as the repair process effectively corrects problems that could prematurely end the device's life. It's also a great way to save money on devices, especially as we face uncertainty from tariffs and various economic pressures.