Apple Store
205 live listings
£259 Lowest iPad
£1,440 less
£1,440 less
- Warranty1 year
- Returns14 days
- ShippingFree
Apple Store vs Tech Trade: which is better for refurbished Apple?
Apple Store for cheaper iPads (from £259 against £1,699), more listings (205 against 14) and iPhones, which Tech Trade does not sell. Tech Trade for cheaper MacBooks (from £219 against £1,269) and cheaper iMacs (from £499 against £1,269).
Tech Trade
14 live listings
£1,699 Lowest iPad
£1,440 more
£1,440 more
- Warranty1 year
- Returns14 days
- ShippingFree
Prices checked 13 Oct, 13:10. Sellers pay us a commission. It never changes the order. Is RefurbMe free to use?
Neither is cheapest for iPads: eBay Refurbished starts at £49 today. Where Apple Store and Tech Trade differ
Each store's own terms. A check marks the better one where we can rank it.
Apple Store
Tech Trade
Warranty
1 yearEligible for AppleCare+
1 year12-month return-to-base warranty on Gold and Silver, 6 months on Bronze. Batteries are not covered.
Returns
14 days
14 daysFull refund when notified within 14 days of purchase, and within 28 days for a faulty item. Change-of-mind returns are at your own expense.
Battery
Refurbished iOS devices will come with new battery and outer shell
Batteries are not covered by the warranty
Accessories
Original Apple accessoriesEvery device will come with all original accessories, cables and operating systems
Not stated
Shipping
FreeShipping costs are calculated and displayed before you complete your order on the Apple Online Store.
FreeFree delivery in 10 working days on orders over 100 GBP; 3-5 working days for 5 GBP; next working day for 10 GBP when ordered before 1pm
Paying
Not statedApple Pay, Apple Card, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Gift card
Not statedVisa, Mastercard, PayPal, Klarna
The grades at Apple Store next to those at Tech Trade
Same letter, different words. Every grade works fully; the grade describes looks. The photos follow the device you picked above.
Apple Store Tech Trade
Tech Trade
Grade A
You will receive a refurbished device with genuine Apple replacement parts (as needed) that has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Refurbished iOS devices will come with new battery and outer shell.
Original partsNew battery
Gold
Gold units are our highest standard of refurbished product. They may have minor marks on the case. They will show very minor wear and tear or small hair line scratches but will have no dents or screen damage.
AAlmost no visible marks
Not sold
Apple Store has no grade B.
Silver
Silver units have slightly more wear and tear than Gold but are in good condition. They might have small hair line scratches, worn corners and possible small indentations. They won't have any significant damage or cracks. If they have keys, they will be fully legible but may show some wear.
BLight marks on the body
Not sold
Apple Store has no grade C.
Bronze
Bronze units are subject to more noticeable wear and tear. They might have minor dents and damage with some screen marks or blemishes. There won't be any screen cracks.
CVisible marks on body and screen
Apple Store or Tech Trade?
Is Apple Store or Tech Trade cheaper for refurbished Apple devices?
Apple Store is cheaper: its lowest refurbished iPad costs £259, against £1,699 at Tech Trade, as of 13 October 2026. Tech Trade is cheaper for iMacs (£499 against £1,269) and MacBooks (£219 against £1,269). Across all its devices, Apple Store starts at £109 and Tech Trade starts at £219. Prices come from RefurbMe's live listings and change daily.
Does Apple Store or Tech Trade have the longer warranty?
The warranty on refurbished Apple devices lasts 1 year at both Apple Store and Tech Trade, as of 13 October 2026. On returns, the figures are 14 days at Apple Store and 14 days at Tech Trade. Each figure is the minimum every listing at the store carries, so some listings come with more.
Does Apple Store or Tech Trade give longer to return a device?
Apple Store and Tech Trade both give at least 14 days to return a refurbished Apple device, as of 13 October 2026. On warranty, the figures are 1 year at Apple Store and 1 year at Tech Trade. Tech Trade's policy says: "Full refund when notified within 14 days of purchase, and within 28 days for a faulty item."
How do the grades at Apple Store and Tech Trade compare?
Apple Store sells refurbished Apple devices in Grade A; Tech Trade sells Gold, Silver and Bronze. The same name can mean different things at each store, so compare each store's own wording. Every grade works fully; the grade only describes how the casing and screen look.
Does Apple Store or Tech Trade have more refurbished Apple devices?
Refurbished Apple devices in RefurbMe's live listings, as of 13 October 2026: 205 at Apple Store, against 14 at Tech Trade. By device: 105 iPads against 1, 19 iMacs against 2 and 9 MacBooks against 11. Apple Store has more listings in 2 of the 3 device types both stores sell.
Is there a cheaper option than Apple Store and Tech Trade?
For refurbished iPads, yes: eBay Refurbished starts at £49 in RefurbMe's live listings, as of 13 October 2026, against £259 at the cheaper of Apple Store and Tech Trade. eBay Refurbished has 156 iPads listed. Its warranty lasts 1 year, with 30-day returns.
