Amazon Renewed Apple iPad 9.7 (5th Gen) 32GB Wi-Fi Gold Review: The Ultimate Budget Tablet or a Risky Gamble?

There’s a familiar story many of us have lived through. You need a reliable tablet. It’s not for heavy-duty professional work, but for the everyday essentials: browsing the web from the comfort of the sofa, streaming the latest series in bed, keeping the kids entertained on a long journey, or sketching out a creative idea. The market presents a stark choice. On one hand, you have brand-new, budget-friendly tablets that often feel compromised from the moment you turn them on—plagued by sluggish performance, dim screens, and a plastic feel. On the other, there are the latest flagship models, gleaming with power and features, but carrying a price tag that feels utterly unjustifiable for your needs. This is the chasm where many of us find ourselves, wanting that premium experience without the premium cost. It’s the search for this elusive sweet spot that leads many, including us, to the burgeoning world of renewed electronics.

What to Consider Before Buying a Refurbished Tablet

A tablet is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for portable entertainment, light productivity, and creative expression. It bridges the gap between the portability of a smartphone and the functionality of a laptop. The main benefit of opting for a renewed device like the Amazon Renewed Apple iPad 9.7 (5th Gen) 32GB Wi-Fi Gold is accessing high-end build quality, a superb operating system, and reliable performance that was once flagship-grade, all for a fraction of its original price. It democratises access to technology that remains highly capable for years after its initial launch.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the dilemma described above: students needing a note-taking device, families looking for a shared media hub, artists wanting an affordable entry into digital art, or anyone who values the polished Apple ecosystem without needing the latest cutting-edge power. However, it might not be suitable for those who demand the absolute best performance for tasks like 4K video editing or high-end gaming, or for users who need the security of knowing they’ll receive the latest software updates for the next five years. For those users, a newer model might be a more prudent, albeit more expensive, investment.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Condition & Guarantee: The single most important factor with a renewed product. Look for a clear guarantee or warranty. This is your safety net against receiving a device with unexpected cosmetic damage or functional issues. A reputable renewed program ensures the device has been professionally inspected, tested, and cleaned.
• Performance & Software Support: Acknowledge the device’s age. The 2017 iPad 5th Gen is powered by the A9 chip. While capable, it’s not on par with modern processors. Crucially, check its software support ceiling—the latest version of iPadOS it can run. This determines its long-term app compatibility and security.
• Storage Capacity: The 32GB on this model can be a limiting factor. If you plan to download many large apps, games, or offline movies, this space can fill up quickly. Consider your usage patterns and reliance on cloud storage services to see if this capacity is sufficient for your needs.
• Included Accessories: Renewed products often come with generic, non-original accessories like chargers and cables. While they are certified to be functional and compatible, they may not offer the same charging speed or durability as official ones. This is a common trade-off for the lower price.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Amazon Renewed Apple iPad 9.7 (5th Gen) 32GB Wi-Fi Gold stands out in several areas, particularly its value proposition. You can explore its detailed specifications and the renewed guarantee here.

While the Amazon Renewed Apple iPad 9.7 (5th Gen) 32GB Wi-Fi Gold is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Is “Like New” a Reality?

Unboxing a renewed product is always a moment of mild suspense. Will it live up to the “looks and works like new” promise? Our Amazon Renewed Apple iPad 9.7 (5th Gen) 32GB Wi-Fi Gold arrived in a simple, non-branded white box—a standard affair for refurbished electronics. Inside, the iPad itself was nestled securely, accompanied by a third-party USB-to-Lightning cable and a wall adapter. The first thing we did was a thorough physical inspection under a bright light. We were genuinely impressed. The gold aluminium chassis was immaculate, with no discernible scratches or scuffs. The screen was pristine, free from any blemishes or dead pixels. The corners, often the first place to show signs of a fall, were sharp and undamaged. In our specific case, the device truly did look “like new.”

Holding it, the tablet feels just as premium as it did back in 2017. The cool, solid feel of the aluminium and the satisfying click of the home button are hallmarks of Apple’s build quality that cheaper, brand-new tablets simply can’t replicate. Powering it on revealed the bright, crisp Retina display, and the setup process was the familiar, seamless iOS experience. Our initial impression was overwhelmingly positive; this felt less like a used product and more like new old-stock.

Deep Dive: Putting a 2017 Classic Through Its Paces in 2024

A pristine appearance is one thing, but how does a device from 2017 actually perform in the demanding digital landscape of today? We spent weeks using the Amazon Renewed Apple iPad 9.7 (5th Gen) 32GB Wi-Fi Gold as our primary casual tablet, integrating it into our daily routines of work, play, and creativity to find out where it shines and where its age begins to show.

The Retina Display: A Visual Feast That Hasn’t Aged

The star of the show, without a doubt, remains the 9.7-inch Retina display. With a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, it boasts a pixel density of 264 ppi, meaning individual pixels are indistinguishable at a normal viewing distance. In practical terms, text is incredibly sharp, making it a joy to read articles, ebooks, and emails. Photos pop with detail and vibrant, accurate colours. We spent hours streaming high-definition content from services like Netflix and Disney+, and the experience was consistently excellent. The image quality easily surpasses that of many new budget tablets on the market today, which often compromise with lower-resolution screens.

This quality is precisely what one user highlighted when they mentioned their daughter was “amazed by the screen quality” while using the Procreate art app. We tested this ourselves, and while this model doesn’t support the Apple Pencil (a key distinction from later models), it works wonderfully with third-party capacitive styluses for casual drawing and note-taking. The display’s responsiveness and clarity make it a fantastic digital canvas for budding artists who aren’t ready to invest in a full-fledged iPad Pro setup. For media consumption and creative hobbies, the screen is not just adequate; it’s genuinely brilliant.

Everyday Performance and the Limits of the A9 Chip

Powering the 5th generation iPad is the Apple A9 chip, the same processor that was in the iPhone 6S. By today’s standards, this is legacy hardware. So, how does it cope? For the core tablet experience, surprisingly well. We found web browsing in Safari to be smooth and responsive, even with several tabs open. Apps like Mail, Calendar, and Notes launched quickly and ran without a hitch. Social media apps like Instagram and X performed flawlessly, and video streaming was perfectly fluid.

Where you feel the chip’s age is in more demanding scenarios. While simple games like Candy Crush or Monument Valley run perfectly, graphically intensive titles like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile will struggle, exhibiting lower frame rates and longer loading times. Likewise, multitasking with multiple heavy apps can occasionally lead to a stutter or a redraw of a web page when you switch back to it. The 32GB of RAM listed in the product specifications is an error; the device has 2GB of RAM, which is sufficient for its intended tasks but contributes to these multitasking limitations. This isn’t a powerhouse for a pro user, but for the average user’s diet of browsing, streaming, and light productivity, the A9 chip provides a remarkably smooth and capable experience. For those looking for an affordable, reliable device for these core tasks, the performance is more than enough. You can find this high-value tablet ready for your daily tasks here.

The “Renewed” Gamble: Condition, Accessories, and Peace of Mind

Our experience with the physical condition of the device was fantastic, but it’s crucial to address the variability inherent in renewed products. One user shared a negative experience, stating their device arrived with damaged corners. This underscores the most important aspect of buying renewed: the guarantee. The one-year renewed guarantee is not just a feature; it’s the entire foundation of the value proposition. It transforms a potential gamble into a calculated, low-risk purchase. If you receive a unit that doesn’t meet the “like new” standard, you can get a replacement or refund.

The same user also noted that “Le chargeur n’est pas un officiel Apple” (The charger is not an official Apple one). This is an important expectation to set. Our unit also came with a generic charger and cable. They worked perfectly fine, charging the device fully in a few hours, but they lack the premium feel of Apple’s own accessories. This is a standard and acceptable trade-off in the renewed market to keep costs down. The battery itself, having been tested to retain at least 80% of its original capacity, performed well. We consistently achieved 9-10 hours of mixed-use on a single charge, which is excellent and aligns with Apple’s original claims.

Software and Longevity: The iPadOS 16 Ceiling

Perhaps the most significant long-term consideration is the software. The iPad 5th Gen received its final major feature update with iPadOS 16. It does not support iPadOS 17 or any subsequent versions. What does this mean for a user today? For the immediate future, very little. The vast majority of apps on the App Store still fully support iPadOS 16. You will still receive critical security updates from Apple for some time. You can download and use virtually any app you want, from streaming services to productivity suites.

However, it does place a shelf life on the device. In two to three years, you may start to encounter new apps or major app updates that require a newer version of iPadOS. You will also miss out on new features introduced in later operating systems. This is the fundamental trade-off: you are exchanging future-proofing for upfront savings. For a user who needs a device for the next 2-3 years for established tasks, this is an excellent deal. For someone hoping to buy a tablet that will last them five or more years with full software support, investing in a newer model would be the wiser choice.

What Other Users Are Saying

The feedback from real-world users paints a clear and balanced picture of the Amazon Renewed Apple iPad 9.7 (5th Gen) 32GB Wi-Fi Gold experience. The positive sentiment strongly echoes our own findings. One parent was thrilled, reporting, “Excellent product, my daughter loves it. She wanted an ipad to use the procreate artist art app and is amazed by the screen quality and effectiveness of the ipad.” This is a powerful testament to the device’s enduring quality for creative use and general enjoyment, reinforcing our positive assessment of its brilliant display.

On the other side of the coin, a French-speaking user had a much different initial experience, stating their device was “retourner car bien endommagé” (returned because it was very damaged), with all four corners showing damage. This highlights the unfortunate but real possibility of receiving a unit that slips through quality control. However, they also confirm that a refund was accepted, which reinforces the importance of the guarantee as a safety net. This feedback is critical as it manages expectations: while the goal is a “like new” device, the reality can sometimes vary, but the buyer is protected.

How Does the Amazon Renewed Apple iPad 9.7 (5th Gen) 32GB Wi-Fi Gold Compare to the Competition?

While this renewed iPad offers fantastic value, it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The current market has compelling alternatives for different needs and budgets. Here’s how it stacks up against three key competitors.

1. Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) 128GB Wi-Fi

The newest iPad mini is for the user who wants cutting-edge power in the most portable form factor. Its A17 Pro chip is light-years ahead of the A9, offering desktop-class performance for demanding apps and games. It also features a more modern design, Apple Pencil 2 support, and significantly more base storage at 128GB. This is the choice for someone who values portability and top-tier performance above all else and is willing to pay a significant premium for a brand-new, future-proof device. It’s a completely different class of product, aimed at power users on the go, not value-seekers.

2. Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) 256GB Wi-Fi

The iPad Pro with the M4 chip is Apple’s ultimate tablet, designed to be a true laptop replacement. It boasts a groundbreaking tandem OLED display, performance that rivals high-end laptops, and a suite of professional features like a LiDAR scanner and Face ID. This is a tool for creative professionals, digital artists, and executives who need the absolute best tablet money can buy. Comparing it to the renewed 5th Gen iPad is like comparing a family sedan to a Formula 1 car; the iPad Pro is for those whose workflow and budget demand the pinnacle of tablet technology.

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 64GB Tablet

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 represents the strongest direct competition in the budget category. For a similar price to the renewed iPad, you get a brand-new Android tablet with double the storage (64GB) and a manufacturer’s warranty. This is an excellent choice for users who are not tied to the Apple ecosystem or prefer the flexibility of Android. However, the trade-off typically comes in build quality, screen resolution, and the overall polish of the operating system. The renewed iPad offers a more premium hardware experience and the slick, intuitive nature of iPadOS, while the Galaxy Tab A9 offers more storage and the “brand-new” peace of mind.

The Final Verdict: A Smart, Low-Risk Path to Premium Quality

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the Amazon Renewed Apple iPad 9.7 (5th Gen) 32GB Wi-Fi Gold is an outstanding value proposition for the right user. It successfully delivers a premium tablet experience—from its superb Retina display to its solid aluminium construction—for the price of a budget-level new device. While its A9 processor and 32GB of storage show their age and it won’t receive the latest iPadOS updates, its performance remains more than adequate for the vast majority of everyday tablet tasks: streaming, browsing, reading, and light creativity.

The key to this recommendation is the renewed guarantee. It mitigates the primary risk of inconsistent quality and makes this a smart, calculated purchase rather than a blind gamble. We recommend it highly to students, families, or anyone seeking a high-quality, affordable entry into the Apple ecosystem for casual use over the next two to three years. It’s a testament to great design that a device from 2017 can still be so capable and enjoyable to use today. If you’ve decided the Amazon Renewed Apple iPad 9.7 (5th Gen) 32GB Wi-Fi Gold is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.