What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £450 (~$599) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £382 (~$510) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £292 (~$390) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £202 (~$270) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £112 (~$150) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
An account lock is the single biggest one — a device still signed in to an iCloud, Google or Microsoft account cannot be reset and is effectively unusable. After that, battery health and undisclosed third-party repairs.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether an iPad is worth what is being asked:
- Any activation lock still attached to an old Apple account
- Screen delamination or a lifting digitiser on older units
- Base models too old to take current iPadOS releases
- Heavy corner dents, which suggest the screen has taken a shock
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Pro and Air models, which stay in demand long after the base model has fallen away
- Cellular versions, which sell for a clear premium over Wi-Fi only
- Larger storage, since nothing can be added later
- Apple Pencil support, and the Pencil included if you have it
Common faults and fakes
Outright counterfeits are rare outside accessories, where fake chargers and cables are a genuine fire risk. The commoner problem is a device described as working that has a fault the seller knows about.
Ask the seller to factory reset and remove their account BEFORE you pay, and to send a photograph of the settings screen showing it signed out. Ask for the exact model identifier and, on anything with a battery, the battery health figure.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about an iPad, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Read it off the About screen rather than guessing from appearance. Several iPad generations look nearly identical and are worth very different amounts.
Say which generation of Pencil, not just yes. First and second generation Pencils are not interchangeable and buyers get caught out constantly.
Check the current supported list and answer plainly. Older iPads still sell well for reading and children’s use if you are honest about it.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Check the model number in Settings > General > About
- Confirm it takes the current iPadOS release
- Compare sold listings for the same line, generation and connectivity
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- Front, screen on, showing the home screen
- Back, angled in daylight to reveal scratches and any bend at the corners
- The About screen showing model, capacity and serial
- Any crack, dent or screen blemish, close up
Details to confirm before you commit
- Exact generation and release year, plus storage in GB
- Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi plus Cellular, and whether the cellular is unlocked
- Which Apple Pencil generation it supports, if any
- Whether the charger and cable are included
Live iPad listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse electronics for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady demand all year, rising before Christmas and at the start of the school year. Cellular models and larger storage sizes sell fastest.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have an iPad sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell iPad for what to photograph and how to price, or what iPad is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used iPad?
Around £58 to £292 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check an iPad before buying?
Ask the seller to factory reset and remove their account BEFORE you pay, and to send a photograph of the settings screen showing it signed out. Ask for the exact model identifier and, on anything with a battery, the battery health figure.
Is buying an iPad second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. An account lock is the single biggest one — a device still signed in to an iCloud, Google or Microsoft account cannot be reset and is effectively unusable. After that, battery health and undisclosed third-party repairs.
See also: all buying guides · iPad value guide · selling iPad · Electronics · condition grades.