The 7 best refurbished tablets of 2025

Why you should trust this guide

Back Market has distilled years of industry insight, performance benchmarks, and user feedback to offer up a transparent roadmap to excellent refurbished tablets. Each tablet listed here passes a rigorous 25‑point inspection, including battery health checks, port and sensor tests, and visual assessments to make sure there's at least 80 % battery capacity and like‑new functionality. Back Market’s certified sellers stick to strict refurbishment standards, from IMEI blacklisting to component compatibility tests, that guarantees reliable, secure devices. This guide is supported by a 12‑month seller warranty and 30‑day return policy, and empowers you to buy with confidence, knowing every recommendation meets top‑tier performance, value, sustainability, and reliability benchmarks.

Best overall tablet: Apple iPad Pro (6th Generation) 

The iPad Pro (6th Generation) commands every task with a hush of raw power. Its six-core M2 chip takes lagging off the table, letting you juggle Procreate layers, video edits, and split-screen research like a circus performer. The 11-inch Liquid Retina display paints each pixel with theatrical precision.  

The stereo speakers almost offer surround sound. Despite weighing under 500 grams, it feels like it’s built to last thanks to its sturdy metal frame. The Face ID helps to quell security concerns and unlocks in a flash when you need it. Our refurbished units come road tested and renewed, so you won’t notice the difference, apart from a lighter price tag. 

Pros and cons 

Pros 

• Lightning-fast performance 

• Crisp 11-inch Liquid Retina display 

• Face ID for easy unlocking 

• Up to 10 hours of battery life 

Cons 

• Price is a bit of a splurge, but it’s a bang for your buck 

• Headphone jack may be missing, but the Bluetooth’s got it handled 

• Accessories sold separately 

“Cannot believe how fantastic this second hand iPad is! I visited the Apple Store first to check out prices and try the iPads. Upon checking Back Market, I knew that the price of the refurbished Pro was worth it if it was as good as the blurb indicated.” - Gill S. 

Best budget tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 

With a price tag that won’t trigger any kind of shock, the Galaxy Tab A9 handles daily demands with surprising poise. A quadcore processor powers your web browsing, video calls, and light gaming without so much as a stutter. The 10.1-inch LCD stays bright under lamps or midday glare. Storage starts at 32 GB, but the microSD slot lets you stash photos, music, and apps as high as you’re willing to go. Its eight-megapixel rear camera grabs clear snaps when you need them the most. Parents, students, and casual users can enjoy reliable performance wrapped in a lightweight package that slides into backpacks and briefcases easily.

Pros and cons 

Pros 

• Affordable without skimping on basics 

• MicroSD slot for extra storage 

• Decent 10-hour battery life 

Cons 

• Modest speaker quality that’ll still blow your socks off 

• Display lacks HDR support, but screen-mirroring is a thing 

• Occasionally a little sluggish when it’s working too hard 

 “I bought the tablet for my wife and she loves it so much. I already told her she wouldn’t even notice it’s not brand new and now she has agreed to always buy from Back Market and telling her friends about it.” - Wale A. 

Best Android tablet for binge-watchers: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (12.4-inch) 

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE gives us premium flair at a friendlier price point than some of the others. Its 12.4-inch TFT display spreads vivid colours across games, films, and productivity tools. Under the hood, a Snapdragon processor blinks its way through multitasking, and up to 8 GB of RAM keeps your tabs nippy. Launch DeX mode for a desktop-like interface when paired with a keyboard. The included S Pen slides into its slot, ready for sketches, annotations, or scribbles in OneNote. The battery life stretches beyond a full workday, and the fingerprint scanning sits neatly under the power button for quick unlocks.  

Pros and cons 

Pros 

• Large, vivid 12.4-inch display 

• Built-in S Pen included 

• Samsung DeX for productivity 

Cons 

• You’re gonna need stronger hands for this one 

• Gotta be firm with the fingerprint scanner 

• Camera quality middling, but still better than most 

“Happy with tablet like new all works good very happy. best price to .best ever buy all my electronics for back market I recommend to everybody.” - Jon A. 

Best for creatives: Apple iPad Air M2 (10.9-inch)

The iPad Air M2 marries agility and muscle in a sturdy, featherlight body. Its 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display has True Tone and wide P3 colour, so your illustrations and edits shine with authenticity. The M2 chip slices through 4K video rendering and complex Procreate canvases, while the Neural Engine powers on-device AI for background removal or smart layer blending. The Apple Pencil 2 (sold separately) attaches magnetically and charges wirelessly, transforming the screen into a limitless sketchbook. The stereo speakers add drama to your favourite shows. 

Pros and cons 

Pros 

• Potent M2 performance 

• Support for Apple Pencil 2 

• Lightweight and slim 

Cons 

• Well, of course, the pencil’s sold separately 

• Who needs Face ID when your thumb works perfectly fine? 

• Be vigilant with your port uses

“Ordered my first ever iPad in excellent condition. It is flawless and works great, and it arrived in two days. Very impressed and will order from backmarket again. - Rebekah D. 

Best for kids: Amazon Fire HD 10 (Kids Edition, if available) 

Best for readers: Apple iPad Mini 6 (8.3-inch)

Timeless, portable, and undeniably charming, the iPad Mini 6 slips into every bag and even some deep pockets easily. Its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display dazzles you with True Tone, anti-reflective coating and wide colour, making it ideal for readers. The A15 Bionic chip powers intensive tasks like PDF annotation and augmented-reality apps without breaking a sweat. The Touch ID nests in the top button for quick unlocks, and the USB-C port handles fast charging and accessory connections. The stereo speakers pump out clear audio.  

Pros and cons 

Pros 

• Ultraportable form factor 

• Solid performance with A15 chip all the way through 

• Side-mounted Touch ID 

Cons 

• Yeah, the screen is smaller, but the view’s cleaner 

• Accessories are gonna cost you a little extra 

• Bluetooth ear pieces have to replace a standard jack 

“I am extremely grateful and happy with the product its great and working smoothly better than i expected.” - Sanjid M. 

Best convertible: Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Why last year’s tech is this year’s smartest buy? 

Previous year’s tablet models start to shine as the smartest buy, because time has ironed out their kinks, slashed their prices, and proven their enduring value. Early adopters tested every feature, leaving you with focused hardware that offers optimum performance without the premium tag. Refurbished on Back Market, these devices combine tested reliability with sustainability, and keeping perfectly capable machines in play instead of in a landfill. You gain cutting‑edge specs like powerful processors and vivid displays at bargain rates. Investing in previous year’s tech means superior savings, reduce‑waste impact, and confidence that every component has already stood the test of time. 

Why refurbished makes sense 

Refurbished tablets undergo a rigorous multistep refurbishment process that includes full diagnostics, worn part replacement, and battery health checks. There are certified technicians who restore each device to meet or exceed original performance benchmarks, then back it with a one-year warranty. By choosing refurbished from Back Market, you can slash your tech spend by up to 50% and keep perfectly good electronics out of landfills.  

Every tablet you buy contributes to lower e-waste and reduces the mining of precious metals, which reduces the toxic waste we release into the air. In 2025, smart spending and environmental responsibility should walk hand in hand, so, give a device a second life and feel good about every swipe.