Review: Order a refurbished iPad at Swappie

If you want to buy an iPad, you can choose from a new, second -hand or refurbished device. Choosing a refurbished device is very interesting if you don’t necessarily want the newest model. Recently I have via Swappie Our first refurbished iPad purchased.

In this review we share our experiences with this Finnish supplier of refurbished devices. We have examined both the ordering process and the quality of the supplied refurbished product and support.

Looking for a refurbished device

Unlike an iPhone, it is not always worth buying the latest iPad. In recent years, Apple has added few pioneering hardware updates to the iPad. Usually iPad models only get a faster processor and some small improvements for a few years.

For testing new versions of iPados, apps and the website I was looking for an iPad Air. Not the latest version, but an older model, an iPad Air 5 from model year 2022 with 64 GB storage space.

New, second -hand or refurbished?

The latest iPad Air with 128 GB currently costs € 719 in the Apple Store. That is a considerable price for a device that we will not use every day, but you know exactly what you get: a brand new device. Due to the high price, however, we went looking for a cheaper alternative, especially since the newest model is not necessary for us.

On auction sites such as Marktplaats we found several iPad Air models of the 5th generation (2022), with prices ranging from € 350 to € 450. Personally, I am not a fan of such sites, since sellers often no longer respond when you ask about the origin or the technical details of the device. For example, I want to know what the general condition of the device is and whether the battery still works well. Moreover, sellers often cannot submit a proof of purchase, which makes it more difficult to claim any remaining guarantee. There may be hardware problems that are the reason for selling the second -hand device, and unfortunately not every seller is just as honest about this.

Another possibility is to purchase a refurbished device. These devices are purchased from private individuals or companies. The supplier of the refurbished devices checks their effect and possibly replaces parts such as the screen or the battery. The exterior can show signs of use, such as scratches or small dents, so that refurbished devices in different categories are offered in terms of condition. These vary from ‘as new’ to ‘reasonably with traces of use’, where the prices are tailored to this.

The biggest advantage of a refurbished device compared to a second -hand purchase of a private individual is that you usually get a 12 or 24 -month warranty. If something is wrong with the device, it will be repaired nicely for you.

The search for a refurbished iPad Air at Swappie

Buying a second -hand device in a doubtful condition or buying a new expensive device is therefore not an option. That is why the possibility is left to look for a refurbished device. There are many companies that offer refurbished devices. After some research I found the Swappie website, a Finnish company that was founded in 2016 and was active in the Netherlands and other European countries.

In the online offer of Swappie I found the iPad Air 5 (2022) with 64 GB, exactly what I was looking for. Depending on the color, condition and battery of the device, the price varies between € 369 and € 409. This price corresponds to the prices for which the devices are also offered on Marktplaats.

Condition of the refurbished device

For € 369 I can buy a purple iPad Air 5 (64 GB) that is in ‘reasonable’, which means that the device has clear traces of use such as deep scratches, dents or other markings. For € 20 extra, however, only light traces of use are visible, which places the device in the ‘excellent’ category. Depending on the device colors, the price can be different up to € 20.

Regardless of the state, Swappie offers a 24 -month warranty. If there are problems with the screen or other defects in the device, you can rely on this warranty.

On the Swappie website you can set your preferences for the chosen device, after which the price becomes visible immediately. Unfortunately, there are no photos of the specific device or the condition in which you buy it, so that it always remains a bit of guessing when it comes to the user tracks present.

Moreover, you can choose between a standard battery or for a new battery at an additional cost of € 20. If you go for the standard option, the battery has a capacity of at least 80%. With a new battery you have the full 100% capacity.

The cheapest option when I want to order the iPad of 64 GB (€ 369) in the state ‘Like New’ (+ € 20) with a new battery (+ € 20) is available in the colors blue and purple. I decide to choose the purple version, which means that the total price is € 409.

Trade -in old device also possible

Do you still have an old iPhone somewhere in a drawer? Swappie offers the opportunity to to trade old deviceswhich gives you a discount on your new purchase. The prices that Swappie offers are in line with the market and depend on the condition of the iPhone that you want to trade in.

Shipping and delivery

A refurbished purple iPad Air 5 (64 GB) in ‘If new’ is a good deal for € 409. This is € 310 cheaper than the latest iPad Air and comparable to the second -hand market prices.

At the cash register I discover that the shipping costs of € 5.99 are not included in the price. The iPad will be sent from Germany and will be delivered by Post.nl within 3 working days. I ordered it on Friday afternoon and the delivery took place on Wednesday morning, a great service.

Unfortunately it goes wrong; The received envelope from Post.nl feels very light and is damaged. It seems as if it has been shut up again with tape and an extra 3S-barcode sticker has been installed. After opening, it soon becomes apparent that the iPad Air has disappeared from the package. Somewhere during transport the iPad was removed from the package. After contact with Swappie’s customer service, it turned out that this problem has recently occurred several times and they started an investigation into theft from Packaging.

Problem quickly solved

Customer service responds quickly via WhatsApp and sends a replacement device, this time via DHL Express. Two days later, the package actually arrives in an iPad Air. Although Swappie could not do anything about the theft, they have sent a free screen protector and an iPad case as compensation. It was annoying to receive an empty package, but Swappie did their utmost to solve everything quickly, even though they were the final victim of the theft.

The device was supplied in a simple Swappie packaging that is comparable in size to Apple’s original box. Personally, I find the choice to then send it in a standard bubble envelope, a little less pleasant. As a result, the corners of the box have suffered slight damage. Although the iPad itself is well protected inside, it looks a bit sloppy. This could have been easily prevented by using a box instead of a bubble envelope.

In the box you will find, in addition to the iPad, a new charging cord and a USB-C charger. This is not an original Apple charger, but one from the Swappie brand, with the same specifications as the original from Apple.

Is the supplied device really like new?

The crucial question is whether my new purple iPad Air 5 in the state ‘as new’ meets my expectations. As soon as I opened the box, this was immediately clear. The device actually looks like new. Only the protective film in which Apple normally packs new products is missing.

There are absolutely no traces of use on the device. It even seems as if the device has never been used before, which is confirmed when we check the serial number on the Apple website. After importing the serial number, it appears that the standard limited warranty runs until July 31, 2026. We started using the iPad on 1 August, which means that I am the first user and have 1 year of full warranty from Apple. So we did not receive refurbished iPad, but we received a completely new one.

Battery capacity and warranty

In the iOS settings (General ▸ Info) we also see that the device falls under the standard Apple guarantee until July 2026. From the moment of delivery, Swappie offers a 24-month guarantee, regardless of the standard Apple guarantee period.