Apple iPad 9.7" 2017 Space Gray

The 2017 iPad is a budget-friendly tablet that still handles everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and note-taking surprisingly well. Refurbished units often arrive in near-new condition with strong battery life. Just know that 32GB of storage and an aging A9 chip mean this is for casual use only, not productivity or heavy apps.

The A9 chip paired with 2GB of RAM (the 32GB model has 2GB, not the 32GB listed in the spec sheet, which is clearly a data error) handles everyday tasks fine. Safari, YouTube, Apple Notes, and most streaming apps run smoothly. The RAM sits at the 98th percentile in our database, which sounds impressive until you remember this is a 2017 device being compared against other tablets in its class. In practice, it means app switching is decent but not instant.

The GPU lands at the 91st percentile, so light gaming and drawing apps like Procreate Pocket or Autodesk SketchBook work acceptably. But the CPU is middle of the pack at the 68th percentile, and that's where you'll notice the age. Loading times are fine, but multitasking with split screen can get sluggish. The 32GB of storage is the real bottleneck here, sitting at just the 9th percentile. You'll fill that up fast with apps, photos, and offline content.

Against the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE, the iPad loses on nearly every spec. The Samsung has a faster processor, more storage, better screen, and longer software support. But it also costs significantly more. The Xiaomi Pad 7 is similarly ahead on specs and price-to-performance for Android users. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro offers a bigger screen and better productivity features. Where the 2017 iPad wins is simplicity and ecosystem. If you already use an iPhone or Mac, the seamless integration with iMessage, AirDrop, and iCloud is something no Android tablet can match at this price.

The UMIDIGI Active T1 and Vekfulpc T60 Pro are budget Android tablets that compete directly on price. They have newer chips and more storage, but their build quality and software polish don't come close to Apple's. The iPad feels premium in a way those tablets simply don't.

At $116 USD for a refurbished unit, this is one of the cheapest ways into the Apple ecosystem. Compare that to a new Xiaomi Pad 7 or Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE, which cost several times more, and the value proposition becomes clear if you just need a basic tablet. The trade-off is longevity. This iPad won't get new iOS updates, and app compatibility will only get worse over time. But for a kid's first tablet, a kitchen recipe device, or a dedicated e-reader with cellular, it's hard to beat the price.

The 2017 iPad is Apple's budget tablet from a few years back, and these days it mostly shows up as a refurbished unit selling for around $116 USD. That's a wild price for anything with an Apple logo, but this is also a 9.7-inch tablet running an older A9 chip with 32GB of storage. For casual browsing, streaming, and note-taking, it still holds up surprisingly well. For anything heavier, you'll feel the age pretty quickly.

People searching for a cheap iPad for kids, a first tablet, or a secondary device for reading and light art will find a lot to like here. The 2048x1536 LCD screen is clear and vibrant, the build quality is classic Apple, and the cellular option means you can use it on the go without hunting for Wi-Fi. Just don't expect it to run the latest iPadOS features or demanding apps without some stuttering.

At this price point, the question isn't really whether it's a great tablet in 2025. It's whether a refurbished 2017 iPad beats a new budget Android tablet. And for a lot of people, especially those already in the Apple ecosystem, the answer is still yes.

Skip this if you need a tablet for productivity, serious gaming, or creative work. The 67.7 out of 100 productivity score tells the story. If you want to run the latest apps, multitask heavily, or store a lot of media, the 32GB storage and aging A9 chip will hold you back. Instead, look at a newer iPad, a Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE, or a Xiaomi Pad 7. Also skip it if you need Apple Pencil support or plan to keep the tablet for more than a couple of years, since software support has already ended.

Should you buy a refurbished 2017 iPad in 2025? If you need a cheap, reliable tablet for browsing, streaming, reading, or light note-taking, yes. The battery life is still impressive, the screen is good, and the build quality is what you'd expect from Apple. At $116 USD, it's a low-risk purchase that will serve casual users well for a couple more years.

But if you need this for productivity, heavy gaming, or creative work, look elsewhere. The 32GB storage limit and aging processor will frustrate you. The productivity score of 67.7 out of 100 in our database reflects that. For serious work, a newer iPad or a mid-range Android tablet is worth the extra money.