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.
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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
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