iPad 9th Gen vs 10th Gen vs iPad (A16): Which Refurbished iPad?

For most UK buyers on a budget, the refurbished iPad 9th generation is the best value of the three. It costs £164.00 for 64GB in Very Good grade and runs the same iPadOS 27 as the newer models, for £150.00 less than the iPad (A16). Choose the iPad (A16), from £314.00 for 128GB in Very Good, if you want USB-C, the all-screen design and the longest likely software support. The 10th generation is harder to recommend at current prices: £280.00 buys a Like New 64GB unit, only £34.00 less than an A16 with double the storage. None of the three runs Apple Intelligence. All prices were checked on 5 October 2026.

All three are refurbished UK stock and Wi-Fi models, sold by The Tech Gadgets with a 12-month warranty. Pick the one that matches your budget below, or read on for the detail.

Quick decision

• Best for the lowest price on current software: iPad 9th generation. It suits children, schoolwork, streaming and video calls, and it keeps the Home button and headphone jack.
• Best for the longest likely support: iPad (A16). It's Apple's current entry iPad, with 128GB as standard, USB-C and Apple Pencil (USB-C) support.
• Choose the 10th generation when: you want the all-screen USB-C design, you're happy with 64GB, and you specifically want a Like New unit for less than a Like New A16 (£77.99 less).
• Check before buying: which Apple Pencil you already own, whether you rely on wired headphones (only the 9th gen has a jack), and whether you need mobile data (none of these three listings is Cellular).

iPad 9th gen vs 10th gen vs iPad (A16): side-by-side specs

This table uses Apple's published specifications for each model when new.

The next table shows what The Tech Gadgets lists for each model, checked on 5 October 2026.

What is the newest iPad generation in 2026?

The newest standard iPad is the iPad (A16), released in March 2025 and still Apple's entry iPad on its UK website on 5 October 2026, priced from £429 new for 128GB Wi-Fi. Apple calls it iPad (A16), not “11th generation”, although many retailers, including this store, list it that way. No standard iPad came out in 2024.

Apple's model list goes straight from the 10th generation (2022) to the iPad (A16) (2025), so anyone searching for an “iPad 2024” usually means one of these two. The A16 launched at £329 in March 2025, but Apple has since raised its UK price, and its current iPad price starts at £429. A refurbished A16 in Very Good grade at £314.00 is therefore £115.00 below Apple's new price (£429.00 − £314.00).

iPad 9th vs 10th generation: what's the difference?

The 10th generation replaced the 9th gen's Home button and bezels with an all-screen 10.9-inch design, moved Touch ID to the top button and swapped Lightning for USB-C. It also moved the front camera to the landscape edge, upgraded the rear camera to 12MP with 4K video and added Apple Pencil (USB-C) support. It dropped the headphone jack. Both start at 64GB.

In day-to-day use, the screen and the camera position are the changes you notice. The 10th gen's display is larger and fills more of the front. With its landscape front camera, you're centred on video calls when the iPad sits in a keyboard case. On the 9th gen the camera sits at the top in portrait, so in landscape you appear off to one side, though Centre Stage helps keep you in frame.

The chip moves from the A13 Bionic to the A14 Bionic. For streaming, browsing and school apps both are comfortable, and neither runs Apple Intelligence. What you pay for is mostly design: USB-C means one cable for the iPad and most modern phones, and the landscape speakers suit films.

What you give up is the headphone jack and, for families, the simplicity of a Home button. At current prices the gap is £116.00 (£280.00 Like New 10th gen − £164.00 Very Good 9th gen), or £91.00 if you compare Like New with Like New (£280.00 − £189.00). Our refurbished iPad 9th generation buying guide covers the 9th gen's storage and grade choices in full.

iPad 10th generation vs iPad (A16): is the A16 worth the extra?

Yes, at current prices. The two share the same body, 2360 x 1640 screen, cameras, USB-C port and accessories; Apple lists identical dimensions and weight. The A16 adds a newer chip, starts at 128GB rather than 64GB, and shows battery health in Settings. A Very Good A16 128GB costs just £34.00 more than a Like New 10th gen 64GB (£314.00 − £280.00).

Apple markets the A16 as an “11-inch” iPad, while the 10th gen was sold as 10.9-inch. The panels are the same size: Apple's tech specs give both as 10.86 inches when measured diagonally as a rectangle. So the A16 is not a bigger screen; it's a different label.

Where the A16 earns its price is longevity and storage. It is about two and a half years newer, which usually means a longer runway for software updates, though Apple doesn't promise dates. Doubling the base storage to 128GB matters if you download films or games. It's also the only one of the three that shows battery health in Settings, so you can see the figure behind the store's 85% minimum for yourself.

If cosmetic condition matters, compare like for like. A Like New A16 128GB costs £357.99, which is £77.99 more than the Like New 10th gen 64GB. That's still double the storage on a newer chip, and the better buy for most people. The existing refurbished iPad buying guide looks at the 10th generation on its own if that's the model you're set on.

Which Apple Pencil and keyboard work with each iPad?

The iPad 9th generation works only with Apple Pencil (1st generation). The 10th generation and iPad (A16) both work with Apple Pencil (USB-C), and with the 1st-generation Pencil through Apple's USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter. For keyboards, the 9th gen uses Apple's Smart Keyboard; the 10th gen and A16 use the Magic Keyboard Folio.

This matters most if you already own accessories. A family with a 1st-generation Pencil from an older iPad can keep using it on any of the three, but needs the adapter on the 10th gen or A16. Apple's Apple Pencil compatibility list confirms which works where. None of the three supports Apple Pencil (2nd generation) or Apple Pencil Pro.

Keyboards don't carry over. A Smart Keyboard from a 7th, 8th or 9th gen won't fit the 10th gen or A16, and the Magic Keyboard Folio works only with the 10th gen and A16. Cases follow the same split: the 9th gen is taller and narrower than the other two, so its cases won't fit them.

Do the iPad 9th gen, 10th gen or iPad (A16) support Apple Intelligence?

No. Apple's requirements for Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 list only the iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with an M1 chip or later. The A13 Bionic, A14 Bionic and A16 chips aren't on that list, so updating to iPadOS 27 doesn't add Apple Intelligence to any of these three iPads.

This surprises some buyers of the A16, because it's Apple's current iPad. If Apple Intelligence matters to you, you need an iPad Air or iPad Pro with an M-series chip, or the iPad mini (A17 Pro), none of which are covered here.

How long will each iPad get iPadOS updates?

All three run iPadOS 27, the current version, released on 14 September 2026. Apple's iPadOS 27 compatibility list includes “iPad (9th generation and later, A16)”. Apple doesn't publish end-of-support dates, so nobody can promise how many more versions any of them will get. The 9th gen is the oldest, so it's the most exposed.

For context, the 8th generation, released in September 2020, didn't make the iPadOS 27 list six years later, although it still receives iPadOS 26 updates. That doesn't predict exact dates for the 9th gen, but it shows the order in which Apple tends to drop models: oldest first. Our iPad 8th vs 9th generation comparison explains what that cut means if you're tempted by an even cheaper iPad.

Which is the best iPad deal? Price and storage maths

On price per gigabyte and price for current software, the 9th gen leads, and the 10th gen trails.

Three things stand out. A 256GB 9th gen at £204.00 is the cheapest way to get lots of storage on current software, £110.00 less than the A16 128GB (£314.00 − £204.00). The A16 128GB costs slightly less per gigabyte than the 9th gen 64GB. And the 10th gen's single Like New 64GB option is the most expensive per gigabyte of the five.

Which is the cheapest iPad worth buying?

Among these three, the cheapest iPad worth buying is the iPad 9th generation at £164.00 (64GB, Very Good). It is the least expensive iPad at The Tech Gadgets that runs the current iPadOS 27. The refurbished iPad 8th generation is cheaper at £99.00 (32GB, Very Good), but it stops at iPadOS 26.

Which should you buy? Decision rules by budget and use

Choose the iPad 9th generation when the budget is under £250, the iPad is for a child or for schoolwork, you use wired headphones, or you already own a 1st-generation Apple Pencil or a Smart Keyboard. The 256GB version suits a shared family iPad. See the iPad 9th generation listing for grades and colours.

Choose the iPad 10th generation when you want the modern design and USB-C, 64GB is plenty because you stream rather than download, and you'd rather have a Like New finish than spend another £77.99 on a Like New A16. The refurbished iPad 10th generation 64GB comes in Blue, Pink or Silver.

Choose the iPad (A16) when you plan to keep the iPad for as long as possible, you want 128GB or more, you're buying an Apple Pencil (USB-C), or you want to read battery health in Settings. Very Good grade at £314.00 is the sweet spot. The refurbished iPad (A16) listing also offers 256GB and 512GB.

Who should not buy any of these three: anyone who needs Apple Intelligence, artists who want Apple Pencil Pro, and buyers who need a built-in SIM on a budget. The only Cellular iPad in this group at the store is the A16 Wi-Fi + Cellular, from £429.00 in Very Good, and it is eSIM only. For other options, browse our tablets in stock.

Condition, grades and what to check on arrival

All three are refurbished UK stock, refurbished by The Tech Gadgets rather than Apple Certified Refurbished. The 9th gen and A16 listings define the grades this way: Like New shows little or no sign of use, Excellent may have light marks, and Very Good may have visible marks that don't affect use. The 10th gen is listed in Like New only, described as no visible marks on the screen or body. Every listing states at least 85% battery health at dispatch. If the labels are new to you, see how refurbished, used and renewed differ.

Two listing details are worth knowing. The A16 listing also shows a Brand New 128GB option at £418.99 (checked 5 October 2026); this guide compares the refurbished grades only. Box contents also differ. The 9th gen and A16 listings include a charging cable and no power adapter, while the 10th gen listing asks you to message the team to confirm whether a cable is included.

Each iPad comes with a 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets, starting on delivery, covering faults that develop in normal use (not accidental or liquid damage). The warranty policy lists battery defects and reduced capacity as exclusions, but a faulty battery within 30 days is still covered by your Consumer Rights Act right to reject. You also get change-of-mind returns within 30 days if unused and complete (you pay return postage), plus your 14-day right to cancel; the refund and warranty policy has the detail. Orders placed by 3pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day from Manchester, with free standard delivery on all three and Special Delivery at £9.99 (see the shipping policy).

Arrival checklist

• Set the iPad up with your own Apple Account. It should start at the Hello screen and never show a “Locked to Owner” screen.
• Check Settings > General > About: the model name, storage and iPadOS version should match your order.
• Test Touch ID, both cameras, the speakers and charging. On the 9th gen, also test the headphone jack.
• On the iPad (A16), check battery health in Settings > Battery. The 9th and 10th generations don't show this figure, so ask the team if you want it.
• Compare the screen and body against the grade you chose.

If you're still comparing sellers, our guide to choosing where to buy refurbished sets out what to look for in warranty and returns terms.

iPad 9th gen vs 10th gen vs A16: FAQs

Is the iPad (A16) the 11th generation iPad?

Effectively, yes. It follows the 10th generation, but Apple names it iPad (A16) rather than “11th generation”, and markets it as iPad 11-inch (A16). Retailers, including The Tech Gadgets, often list it as the 11th generation so shoppers can place it in the sequence. To check a unit, its model number is A3354 for Wi-Fi and A3355 for Wi-Fi + Cellular.

Is the iPad 10th generation still worth buying in 2026?

It's a good iPad that runs the current iPadOS 27, with USB-C and the all-screen design. The problem is the price gap. At £280.00 for a Like New 64GB, it's £34.00 less than a Very Good iPad (A16) with 128GB and a newer chip. Buy the 10th gen if you specifically want Like New condition at under £300; otherwise the A16 is better value.

Will a 9th generation case fit the 10th gen or iPad (A16)?

No. Apple lists the 9th gen at 250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5 mm, and the 10th gen and A16 at 248.6 x 179.5 x 7.0 mm, with the buttons and camera in different places. The 10th gen and A16 have identical listed dimensions, and Apple's Magic Keyboard Folio works with both, but check the case maker's compatibility list before buying a third-party case.

Does the iPad 10th generation work with Apple Pencil (USB-C)?

Yes. Apple lists the 10th generation as compatible with Apple Pencil (USB-C), and with Apple Pencil (1st generation) through the USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter. The iPad (A16) has the same support. The 9th generation works only with the 1st-generation Pencil, which pairs and charges through its Lightning port.

Which has the best battery life?

Apple rates all three at up to 10 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi or watching video when new. Refurbished batteries have aged, and each listing states at least 85% battery health at dispatch, so expect a little less than new. Only the iPad (A16) shows battery health in Settings, which makes it the easiest to check.

Which of these iPads has a headphone jack?

Only the iPad 9th generation. The 10th generation and iPad (A16) dropped the 3.5mm jack, so you need Bluetooth headphones, USB-C headphones or a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter. For children who use wired school headphones, that's a real point in the 9th gen's favour.

Verdict: 9th gen for value, A16 for the long run

Buy the iPad 9th generation if price matters most. At £164.00 it runs the same iPadOS 27 as the newer models, and the 256GB version at £204.00 is the cheapest way to get plenty of storage. Buy the iPad (A16) if you want the iPad to last as long as possible. At £314.00 in Very Good it's £115.00 below Apple's £429 new price, with 128GB, USB-C and Apple Pencil (USB-C) support. The 10th generation only makes sense if you want a Like New all-screen iPad and 64GB is enough.

Don't buy any of the three if Apple Intelligence or Apple Pencil Pro is on your list. Both need a different iPad, such as an iPad Air with an M2 chip or later or the iPad mini (A17 Pro).