The newer models of Apple’s most popular tablet can set you back a pretty penny with the brand new iPad Airs starting at £599
Apple’s iPad gadgets have a plethora of uses. Whether it’s for catching up on the news in the morning or powering through some TV shows while the big screen is in use, the possibilities are almost endless.
However, the newer models of Apple’s most popular tablet can set you back a pretty penny with the brand new iPad Air’s starting at £599. For those looking for the absolute basics though, there’s no need to spend quite as much money – especially with a deal currently available at Wowcher.
For £39.99, you can pick up a refurbished version of the original iPad Air. This means that it might have a few signs of cosmetic wear and tear, but it still functions exactly the same as it would out of the box when first purchased.
This model of iPad Air was first released in 2013, equipped with Apple’s A7 chip. As such, don’t expect the same lightning fast speeds that the newest devices are capable of, but it’s still ok for things like social media, web browsing and video streaming.
It sports a 9.7-inch screen, making it an ideal size for those looking for something that’s a little larger than a mobile phone. However, it’s still small enough to throw in a bag when you take it on the road.
The storage is on the low side by today’s standards with 16GB of internal storage. You’ll only be able to fit a few apps on here, but that might suit some users who are looking to pick up the tablet for a specific use.
If you’d prefer a more modern tablet, Amazon is currently running a sale on a budget Samsung tablet. The Galaxy A9 is more than capable of keeping up with today’s standards and is available for £102.
One of the cheapest ways to get one of Apple’s newer tablets is to go for this deal at Very. For £269, you can get the 2022 version of the Apple iPad.
While the iPad Air 1st Gen was reviewed well at the time of release, there’s lots of discourse online as to whether it’s worth picking one up in 2025. A reply to a post on Reddit explains that a lot of apps don’t work anymore due to the operating system no longer being supported.
“The YouTube app stopped working, but the YouTube Web site works fine in the browser. Netflix still works,” explains the Reddit user.
Another internet user posted to the Apple discussion forums calling the device ‘obsolete’. “Very few (if any) Apps will be available from the App Store that remain compatible with the iPad and iOS 7.”
There are still some things you can use the aging tech for, though. For example, tech site refurb.me suggests using it as a second screen for a Mac computer, using it as a dedicated e-reader or as a digital photo frame.
As such, it’s worth considering if the older iPad is worth picking up for what you intend to use it for. For anything more intensive than browsing the web or watching TV, you might be best off with considering one of the alternatives listed above.