GuidesUpdated By Federico Ragusa
Used iPad price: which model, which Pencil, what to check
A used iPad's price depends on its generation more than its name, so pin down the exact model first, then the storage, Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular, and the condition.
'iPad Air' covers tablets years apart, and an iPad Pro from 2018 and one from 2024 have little in common beyond the name. Two things catch buyers out: an Apple Pencil that does not work with the iPad they bought, and an iPad still locked to someone else. Each takes a minute to check before you pay.
Which iPad is it?
Settings, General, About gives the model name in full, for example iPad Air (5th generation). On the back, in small print, is a model number starting with A. Ask the seller for either. A listing that only says 'iPad Air 64GB' could be one of several generations, and they do not sell for the same price.
The families you will come across: the plain iPad, numbered by generation, whose 10th generation brought the flat design and USB-C; the iPad Air; the iPad mini, the smallest; and the iPad Pro. Newer Airs and Pros carry the chip in the name, as in iPad Air M2 or iPad Pro M4.
Which Apple Pencil works
Apple has made four Pencils, and each iPad works with one or two of them. The wrong one simply will not pair.
If the listing includes a Pencil, check it works with that iPad and that it charges. Apple's site keeps a compatibility list by model, and a minute there can save you a return.
- First generation, round with a cap: older plain iPads, older Air and mini models, and the 10th-generation iPad with an adapter.
- Second generation, flat side, charges on the magnet: iPad Pro from 2018 to 2022, iPad Air 4th and 5th generation, iPad mini 6th generation.
- Apple Pencil (USB-C): iPads with a USB-C port.
- Apple Pencil Pro: iPad Pro M4, iPad Air M2 and later, iPad mini with A17 Pro. These do not take the second generation.
Battery, screen and the rest
iPads last well, but their batteries wear like any other. Some models show battery details in Settings and some do not, so ask how old the iPad is and how long a charge lasts in ordinary use. An honest answer is specific, such as 'a day of reading and video'.
- The screen on white and on black: bright spots, pressure marks, dead pixels.
- The frame, looked at along its edge: thin iPads can bend in a bag.
- Touch ID or Face ID set up and working.
- The charging port, the speakers, both cameras.
- The charger and cable, and whether they are in the price.
Locks: Activation Lock and school iPads
An iPad with Find My still on is locked to the seller's Apple Account, and after a reset it asks for their password. Before you pay, the seller should sign out of their Apple Account and erase the iPad in Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPad. Watch it start on the Hello screen.
Schools and companies buy iPads in bulk and manage them with MDM. If a screen during setup says the iPad is managed by an organisation, only that organisation can free it, and it can lock it again at any time. Walk away, whatever the price, and take extra care with sellers listing several identical older iPads.
Wi-Fi or cellular, storage and updates
Wi-Fi + Cellular iPads take a SIM and cost more. If you will use it at home and on your phone's hotspot, a Wi-Fi model is the same tablet for less.
Storage is where old iPads fall short: 32 GB fills quickly with apps and photos, and updates need room too. Check which iPadOS version it runs and whether it still gets updates. An iPad that no longer does keeps working, but gradually loses the apps that need a newer system.
Where to buy, and your rights
Private sellers list iPads on eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Vinted. CeX, musicMagpie and Back Market sell graded used and refurbished iPads, and Apple sells refurbished iPads through its own store.
Buy from a trader and the Consumer Rights Act applies: the iPad must be as described and of satisfactory quality, you have 30 days to reject it if it is faulty, and 14 days to cancel an online purchase. Check how long the shop's own warranty runs on top. A private seller owes you a truthful description, so the checks above are yours to make.
How to judge the price
Compare the same model and generation, with the same storage and connectivity, in similar condition, postage included. Then adjust for what comes with it: a Pencil that works with that iPad, a keyboard case, the charger. An accessory that does not fit the model adds nothing.
An iPad much cheaper than the rest of its generation needs a reason: a cracked screen mentioned in the small print, a lock, a generation missing from the title. The table below shows what sellers ask today for the iPads people compare most, postage to the UK included.
Used iPad and tablet prices, model by model
The typical price sits in the middle: for each model, half the sellers ask less and half ask more, delivery included. We only count offers that compare: same condition, delivery stated. We read the offers again several times a day, and the table is worked out again every hour. Prices read on 28 October 2026.
| Model | Typical price | Lowest | Compared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPad Air 2 · 64GB · Wi-Fi | £56 | £22.99 | 99 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 · 32GB · Wi-Fi | £80 | £29.99 | 71 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 10.4 · 32GB · Wi-Fi | £71 | £25 | 54 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite · 32GB · Wi-Fi | £63 | £28.40 | 44 |
| Apple iPad (9th generation) · 64GB · Cellular | £180 | £123.74 | 43 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 · 32GB · Wi-Fi | £59 | £20 | 40 |
| Apple iPad Air 2 · 64GB · Cellular | £60 | £39.99 | 34 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 · 64GB · Cellular | £85 | £35 | 30 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2 · 16GB · Cellular | £56 | £30.08 | 28 |
| Apple iPad mini 3 · 64GB · Wi-Fi | £46 | £29.64 | 22 |
| Apple iPad Air (1st generation) · 64GB · Wi-Fi | £50 | £18 | 20 |
| Apple iPad 2 · 64GB · Wi-Fi | £55 | £24.99 | 19 |
How much is a used iPad worth?
It depends on the model and generation, the storage, Wi-Fi or cellular, and the condition. The table on this page shows what sellers ask today for the iPads people compare most, postage to the UK included.
Which Apple Pencil works with my iPad?
It depends on the iPad: each one works with only one or two of Apple's four Pencils. iPads that support the Apple Pencil Pro, such as the iPad Pro M4 and the iPad Air M2 or later, do not work with the second generation. Apple's site lists which Pencil goes with which iPad.
How do I check a used iPad is not locked?
Ask the seller to sign out of their Apple Account and erase the iPad in front of you, then watch it start on the Hello screen. If a Remote Management screen appears during setup, the iPad belongs to a school or company: don't buy it.
Is a 32 GB iPad enough?
For reading, video and a handful of apps it can be, but photos and games fill it quickly, and updates need free space too. If you plan to keep it for years, 64 GB or more is the safer choice.
Is a used iPad Air worth buying?
Often, yes: newer Airs have the same flat design and Pencil support as the Pro of a few years before, usually for less. Check the generation, because the name alone covers models years apart.