Refurbished iPad 5th Generation UK: Price, Grades and Worth It?

A refurbished iPad 5th generation costs from £69.00 at The Tech Gadgets (Very Good, 32GB, Wi-Fi, checked 5 October 2026), which makes it the cheapest iPad we sell. It suits simple jobs at home: FaceTime and WhatsApp calls, browsing and recipes in Safari, Spotify, Disney+, ITVX, YouTube Kids and the CBeebies apps. The biggest limitation is software. The iPad 5th gen stops at iPadOS 16, and some of the most popular apps, including YouTube, Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Kindle, now need a newer version before they will install.

Apple released the iPad fifth generation in 2017, officially named iPad (5th generation), and it is still a well-built 9.7-inch tablet with Touch ID, stereo speakers and a headphone jack. This guide sets out the price of every grade and storage option, which apps still install, and the point where paying £5.00 to £95.00 more for a newer refurbished iPad is the smarter buy.

iPad 5th gen: the quick decision

Best for:

• A first iPad for a young child who mainly uses YouTube Kids, CBeebies apps and Disney+.
• A kitchen, bedside or sofa iPad for Safari, recipes, music and video calls.
• Anyone after a cheap iPad for light use who checks their apps first.

Choose something else when:

• You need the main YouTube app, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video or Kindle.
• You want Apple Pencil, schoolwork apps such as Google Classroom, or the longest software support.

Check before buying:

• Search each app you rely on in the App Store and read its Compatibility line. If it needs iPadOS 17 or later, it won't install on this iPad.
• Decide on storage now. You can't add more later, and 32GB fills quickly with offline downloads.

iPad 5th generation specs and what we list

The first table shows Apple's published specifications for the iPad 5th generation, which describe the tablet when new.

The second table shows what The Tech Gadgets lists for the refurbished units, as checked on 5 October 2026.

How much does a refurbished iPad 5th generation cost?

The iPad 5th generation price at The Tech Gadgets runs from £69.00 for a Very Good 32GB Wi-Fi model to £124.00 for a Like New 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model (checked 5 October 2026). Moving from Very Good to Like New adds £10.00 to £20.00. Choosing 128GB or Cellular adds £15.00 to £25.00. Standard delivery is free on every option.

Every combination, in one place:

Two prices stand out. A Very Good 128GB Wi-Fi model and a Very Good 32GB Cellular model both cost £84.00, so you are choosing between four times the storage and mobile data. And a Like New 32GB Wi-Fi model (£79.00) costs £5.00 less than a Very Good 128GB Wi-Fi model (£84.00). If the iPad will hold downloads, the storage is usually the better use of that money than the cosmetic grade.

Which grade should you choose?

Choose Very Good for a child's iPad or one that will live in a case in the kitchen, because the grade describes cosmetic condition only and every grade works fully. Excellent costs £5.00 more on the 32GB Wi-Fi model (£74.00 − £69.00) and suits a gift. Like New, at £79.00 for 32GB Wi-Fi, is for buyers who want little or no sign of use.

The listing defines the grades like this: Like New shows little or no sign of use, Excellent may have light marks, and Very Good may have visible marks that do not affect use. The same battery statement applies to all three, so a dearer grade buys a cleaner-looking iPad, not a longer-lasting one.

On 128GB the gaps widen to £10.00 per step: Very Good £84.00, Excellent £94.00, Like New £104.00. For an iPad 5th generation heading into a rugged case for a five-year-old, paying £20.00 extra for Like New over Very Good is hard to justify. Put that £20.00 towards a good case instead.

iPad 5th generation 32GB or 128GB: which do you need?

Pick 128GB if you plan to download films and shows for car journeys, keep a photo library on the iPad or install several games. Pick 32GB if it will mostly stream over Wi-Fi, run a handful of apps and make video calls. The iPad 5th generation 128GB upgrade costs £15.00 at Very Good on the Wi-Fi model (£84.00 − £69.00).

iPadOS itself and its built-in apps take part of that 32GB before you install anything, and storage can't be expanded later. Children's tablets tend to fill up faster than expected, because games and offline episodes are large. If you are unsure, the £15.00 for 128GB is the cheaper fix than replacing the iPad early.

Which apps still work on the iPad 5th generation?

Apps that support iPadOS 16 install normally on the iPad 5th generation; apps that need iPadOS 17 or later won't install. As of 5 October 2026, per the UK App Store, YouTube Kids, Disney+, ITVX, Spotify, WhatsApp, Zoom, the CBeebies apps and the main UK bank apps install, while YouTube, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video and Kindle need a newer iPadOS.

This table shows the minimum iPadOS version each app's UK App Store listing required on 5 October 2026. Developers raise these minimums over time, so check again before you buy.

Apple's own apps, such as Safari, FaceTime, Photos, Camera, Notes and Apple Books, come with iPadOS 16, so they work. One detail matters for families: CBeebies programmes are also on BBC iPlayer, and that app needs iPadOS 17.6, so on this iPad children would use the CBeebies apps rather than iPlayer. Some services can still be reached through a website in Safari, but check that yourself before relying on it.

When a developer raises an app's minimum version later, the copy already on your iPad usually stays installed but stops getting updates, and a service can eventually stop supporting old versions. For the full compatibility picture, including study and work apps, see how to identify an A1822 or A1823 and what its latest iPadOS can still run.

Is the iPad 5th generation still worth buying in 2026?

Yes, for a narrow set of uses, and only after checking your apps. At £69.00 it is a well-made Apple tablet for calls, browsing, music, Disney+ and children's apps. It isn't worth buying if you need YouTube, Netflix, BBC iPlayer or Kindle apps, Apple Pencil, or years of further software support.

The hardware holds up better than the software. The 9.7-inch Retina screen is sharp, Touch ID is quick, and the stereo speakers and headphone jack make it a decent video and music tablet. The screen isn't fully laminated and has no True Tone, so the image sits slightly below the glass, reflections are more noticeable in bright rooms and the colour doesn't adjust to room lighting. For watching and reading indoors, that rarely matters.

Security is the other honest point. Apple has kept issuing occasional iPadOS 16 fixes, most recently iPadOS 16.7.16 on 11 May 2026, which Apple described as bug fixes and security updates. Apple doesn't publish an end date, so don't buy it expecting more. It doesn't support Apple Intelligence either.

Who should not buy an iPad 5th generation

• Students who need Google Classroom or Microsoft Teams (both listed as needing iPadOS 17.0 on 5 October 2026), or Microsoft Word and Excel (18.0).
• Households that watch mainly YouTube, Netflix, BBC iPlayer or Prime Video through their apps.
• Anyone who wants to draw or take handwritten notes with Apple Pencil.
• Buyers who want an iPad to last several more years on current software.

Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular?

Choose Wi-Fi if the iPad stays at home or you can share your phone's connection. Choose Wi-Fi + Cellular if you want mobile data from a nano-SIM, or built-in GPS for maps in the car. The Cellular model costs £15.00 more at Very Good 32GB (£84.00 − £69.00) and £20.00 more at Very Good 128GB (£104.00 − £84.00).

Apple lists the cellular model as data only, over 4G LTE, so it doesn't make ordinary phone calls; FaceTime and WhatsApp calls work over data. The Wi-Fi + Cellular version is listed as unlocked, so a data SIM from any UK network should work. A useful difference that many buyers miss: Apple lists Assisted GPS and GLONASS only on the cellular model, while the Wi-Fi model locates itself using nearby Wi-Fi networks.

Alternatives and value: when to spend a little more

For most buyers, the strongest value move is the iPad 6th generation at £74.00, just £5.00 more than the 5th gen for a Very Good 32GB Wi-Fi model. That £5.00 buys iPadOS 17, which met the listed minimums for YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video and Kindle on 5 October 2026, plus Apple Pencil (1st generation) support.

Here is how the cheapest Very Good Wi-Fi option of each nearby generation compares, checked 5 October 2026.

We've left the 7th generation out because its cheapest option (£104.00) costs more than the 8th generation's (£99.00). The 8th generation, on iPadOS 26, met the minimum of every app in the compatibility table above, including Netflix. The 9th generation is the only one of these still on Apple's current iPadOS 27, and it starts with 64GB.

• Choose the 5th gen when your apps are on the “Yes” list, the budget is fixed at under £70 and the iPad has a simple, home-based job.
• Choose the 6th gen instead when you want the YouTube or BBC iPlayer apps, or Apple Pencil, for £5.00 more. Our iPad 6th generation buying guide covers its grades and storage, or go straight to the refurbished iPad 6th generation listing.
• Choose the 9th gen when the iPad is for schoolwork or needs to stay current for longer. The refurbished iPad 9th generation guide explains the 64GB and 256GB maths.

For context, Apple's current iPad (A16) starts at £429.00 new on Apple's UK store, so the iPad 5th generation costs £360.00 less (£429.00 − £69.00). If you are drawn to an all-screen design, our refurbished iPad buying guide focused on the iPad 10th generation covers that step, and you can browse all refurbished iPads and tablets in stock.

Condition, warranty and what to check on arrival

Every Apple iPad 5th generation for sale at The Tech Gadgets is refurbished UK stock. The refurbished iPad 5th generation Wi-Fi listing says each unit is checked, cleaned, reset and tested by The Tech Gadgets before dispatch. It is not an Apple Certified Refurbished product. If you are comparing a refurbished iPad, a reconditioned iPad and a second hand iPad from different sellers, our explainer on what refurbished, used and renewed actually mean applies to tablets too.

The box holds the iPad, a charging cable and protective packaging. There's no power adapter, so use a USB mains plug you already own. You get 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 your Consumer Rights Act 30-day right to reject still applies. The returns and warranty policy also allows change-of-mind returns within 30 days if unused and complete (you pay return postage), plus your 14-day right to cancel. Our guide to your rights if a refurbished device develops a fault explains how these fit together.

Orders placed by 3pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day from Manchester. Standard delivery takes 1–3 working days and is free, because every iPad 5th generation option costs £50 or more. Special Delivery (next working day) is £9.99; the delivery policy has the cut-off details.

Checks to make when your iPad arrives

1. Switch it on. It should start at the Hello setup screen and let you sign in with your own Apple Account. An “iPad Locked to Owner” screen means Activation Lock is still on, so contact the team before going further.
2. Go to Settings, then General, then About. Tap the part number next to Model Number to reveal the model: A1822 for Wi-Fi or A1823 for Wi-Fi + Cellular. Confirm the capacity matches your order.
3. Install the latest update in Settings, then General, then Software Update. It should offer iPadOS 16.7.16 or later.
4. Test Touch ID, both cameras, the speakers, the headphone jack and charging through the Lightning port.
5. On a Cellular model, insert your nano-SIM and check mobile data connects.
6. Compare the cosmetic condition with your grade, and use the iPad normally for a few days. This model can't show a battery-health figure in Settings, so judge it by real use, and contact the team within 30 days if anything is wrong.

iPad 5th generation: buyer questions

What year is the iPad 5th generation?

The iPad 5th generation is a 2017 iPad. Apple announced it on 21 March 2017 and opened orders on 24 March 2017, with the UK among the first countries. That's why you'll see it called the iPad 2017 5th generation or the 9.7-inch iPad (2017). It was replaced by the iPad 6th generation in 2018, which looks almost identical but adds Apple Pencil support.

Can the iPad 5th generation update to iPadOS 17 or later?

No. Apple's iPadOS 17 supports the iPad 6th generation and later, so the iPad 5th gen's latest version is iPadOS 16. Within iPadOS 16 it still receives occasional fixes; the most recent, iPadOS 16.7.16, arrived on 11 May 2026. It won't get iPadOS 26 or iPadOS 27 features, and Apple hasn't said how long iPadOS 16 fixes will continue.

Will YouTube work on an iPad 5th generation?

The main YouTube app won't install as a new download, because its UK App Store listing required iPadOS 17.0 on 5 October 2026. YouTube Kids is different: it listed iPadOS 16.0, so it installs. If YouTube itself matters to you, the iPad 6th generation (£74.00 Very Good 32GB) runs iPadOS 17 and costs £5.00 more.

Is the iPad 5th generation good for a child?

It can be, if the child's apps are on the compatible list. YouTube Kids, CBeebies Playtime Island, CBeebies Learn, Disney+ and many games listed iPadOS versions it can run on 5 October 2026, and Screen Time is built into iPadOS for limits. The weak spots are BBC iPlayer, which needs iPadOS 17.6, and some school apps. A Very Good grade in a sturdy case is the sensible buy.

Does the iPad 5th gen work with Apple Pencil or a keyboard?

It doesn't support any Apple Pencil; Apple's compatibility list starts the standard iPad range at the 6th generation. It also has no Smart Connector, so Apple's Smart Keyboard won't attach. A Bluetooth keyboard can pair over its Bluetooth 4.2 connection, which is fine for emails and short documents if the app you want still installs.

How long will the battery last?

Apple rated the iPad 5th generation at up to 10 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi, video or music when new, from a 32.4Wh battery. A refurbished unit will be below that, and the listing states at least 85% battery health at dispatch. iPadOS doesn't show a battery-health percentage on this model, so ask the team if you want the figure for your unit. Real battery life depends on brightness, apps and Wi-Fi strength, so treat Apple's figure as a ceiling, not a promise.

Is a refurbished iPad the same as a second hand iPad?

Not quite. A second hand iPad bought privately usually comes as-is, with no grading, testing or warranty. A refurbished iPad from The Tech Gadgets has been checked, cleaned, reset and tested, is sold with a stated cosmetic grade, and has a 12-month warranty plus your Consumer Rights Act protection. That cover matters more on a 2017 tablet than on a new one.

Verdict: should you buy a refurbished iPad 5th generation?

Buy the iPad 5th generation if you want the cheapest iPad possible for a clear, limited job and you've checked that every app you need still supports iPadOS 16. At £69.00 for Very Good 32GB Wi-Fi, or £84.00 with 128GB, it's a solid tablet for calls, browsing, music, Disney+ and young children's apps.

Buy something else if the YouTube, Netflix, BBC iPlayer or Kindle apps are on your list, if a student needs Google or Microsoft apps, or if you want Apple Pencil. The 6th generation fixes several of those problems for £5.00 more, and the 9th generation is the choice for staying on Apple's current iPadOS.

Specifications in this guide come from Apple's iPad (5th generation) technical specifications, and update dates from Apple's security releases list. App requirements were read from the UK App Store on 5 October 2026.