forum thread Posted by Tuxedo1 • Apr 10, 2025
Apr 10, 2025 4:43 PM
Item 1 of 2
Item 1 of 2
forum thread Posted by Tuxedo1 • Apr 10, 2025
Apr 10, 2025 4:43 PM
Best Buy - Apple Geek Squad Certified Refurbished iPad mini $270 with Wi-Fi 64GB Starlight TI-GSRF MK7P3LL/A - $269.99
$270
$500
46% offBest Buy
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Sadly, there hasn't been much real innovation in the iPad space for the last couple of generations through their entire product line. Unless you're pushing the device hard (and if you are, you're probably better off moving that workflow back to a proper "desktop" OS), the average user will never be able to recognize the performance difference. And even the chassis is almost exactly the same too.
This model was released in 2021 and discontinued in 2024. So you're buying a possibly heavily used garage sale ipad that's four years old. Or it might be the same as new. Roll the dice.
Sadly, there hasn't been much real innovation in the iPad space for the last couple of generations through their entire product line. Unless you're pushing the device hard (and if you are, you're probably better off moving that workflow back to a proper "desktop" OS), the average user will never be able to recognize the performance difference. And even the chassis is almost exactly the same too.
This model was released in 2021 and discontinued in 2024. So you're buying a possibly heavily used garage sale ipad that's four years old. Or it might be the same as new. Roll the dice.
I forgot they don't change the battery in Best Buy refurbished iPads. That alone is enough to get me not to order it. Thank you for reminding me!
From my experience, I've only had four companies with exemplary refurbishment: Canon, Apple, Valve, and Bose. And that's buying direct from them, via their own websites.
Everyone else, it feels like buying garage sale junk at times. Woot/Amazon is the worst. They've sent me multiple DOA (or almost inoperable) devices, and it was within their own ecosystem (Alexa, Kindle, etc). I'll never buy a refurb from them ever again.
Best Buy is in the middle....you might get lucky, you might not.
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There's actually less reason to buy the new iPad mini. The chip in it is significantly more power hungry, so you'll probably get less battery life in a bit of time compared to the old iPad. The only benefit is the doubling of storage really. (Source: Reddit, and I have a iPhone 15 pro, this chip sucks for battery life)
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Future proofing, just because you don't use AI today doesn't mean they won't make some killer app later.
Also better cellular performance on the 5G version since Apple finally got good 5G on the mini.
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64G refurb older generation should be worth 200 IMO.