A used tablet is one of the easiest ways to save on tech, and the savings grew in 2026 after Apple and Samsung both raised prices on new tablets. The two lineups that dominate the used market are Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, and each has models that are great buys and models to skip.
This guide compares both, with current Swappa prices, which models still get updates, what to check before you buy, and how to sell the tablet you have now.
Quick Answer
For most buyers, the best used tablet is an iPad Air 11-inch (M2 or M3), which averages about $462 to $493 on Swappa and runs iPadOS 27. If you use an Android phone, the Galaxy Tab S11 (about $542) comes with an S Pen and gets Samsung’s seven years of updates. On a budget, the iPad (10th generation) averages about $300, and the Galaxy Tab S9 FE averages about $206 with an S Pen in the box. Before you pay, make sure the tablet is signed out of the seller’s Apple, Google, or Samsung account. Browse used tablets on Swappa.
Why Buy a Used Tablet
Tablets age well. Most people use them for streaming, reading, browsing, and notes, and a tablet that is three or four years old still handles all of that easily.
New tablets also got more expensive this year:
- Apple raised iPad prices on June 25, 2026. The iPad now starts at $449 (up from $349), the iPad mini at $599, the iPad Air at $749, and the iPad Pro at $1,199.
- Samsung raised US Galaxy Tab prices in April 2026. The Galaxy Tab S11 now costs $899.99 new, up from its $799.99 launch price.
Used prices rose less than new prices did, so the gap widened. A used iPad Air 11-inch (M3) averages about $493 on Swappa, about $256 less than a new iPad Air. A used Galaxy Tab S11 averages about $542, about $358 less than new. Prices vary with storage, condition, and demand, so check current used tablet prices on Swappa before you buy or sell.
iPad vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab: Which Is Right for You
Your phone is the best tiebreaker. An iPad works best with an iPhone and a Mac, and a Galaxy Tab works best with an Android phone, especially a Galaxy.
| Apple iPad | Samsung Galaxy Tab | |
|---|---|---|
| Works best with | iPhone, Mac | Android phones, especially Galaxy |
| Stylus | Apple Pencil, sold separately ($79 to $129) | S Pen included with every Tab S, FE, and Lite model |
| Display | LCD on most models; OLED on iPad Pro (M4 and later) | AMOLED on every Tab S since the Tab S9; LCD on FE, Lite, and Tab A |
| Storage | Built in only | microSD slot on most models |
| Software support | Varies by model; iPadOS 27 runs on the iPad (9th generation) and newer | Up to seven years on the newest models |
| Desktop mode | Stage Manager on supported iPads | Samsung DeX on a connected monitor |
| Resale value | Stronger | Lower, but improving |
| Used price range on Swappa | About $162 to $765 | About $127 to $840 |
Choose an iPad if you use an iPhone, want the widest choice of tablet-optimized apps (especially for drawing, music, and video), or care most about resale value later.
Choose a Galaxy Tab if you use an Android phone, want a stylus included, want a microSD slot, or prefer an AMOLED screen for streaming.
For model-by-model detail, see the Used iPad Buyer’s Guide: Every Generation Ranked (2026) and the Used Samsung Galaxy Tab Buyer’s Guide.
Used iPad Lines at a Glance
Apple sells four iPad lines. These ranges cover the used models in each line that still run iPadOS 27.
| Line | Used Models Still Supported | Avg. Sale on Swappa | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad | 9th generation, 10th generation, A16 | $162 to $339 | Streaming, reading, kids, school |
| iPad mini | 6th generation, A17 Pro | $282 to $411 | Reading, travel, one-handed use |
| iPad Air | 4th generation, M1, M2, M3, M4 (11-inch) | $245 to $560 | Most buyers, notes, light creative work |
| iPad Pro | 11-inch 2nd generation, M1, M2, M4 | $346 to $765 | Drawing, video editing, the best screen |
Average sale prices are for base storage on the 11-inch or standard size, from Swappa’s price pages as of September 24, 2026. The 13-inch iPad Air and iPad Pro cost more. Prices vary with storage, condition, Wi-Fi vs. cellular, and demand.
The value sweet spot is the iPad Air. An 11-inch iPad Air (M2) averages about $462, and the M3 about $493, with Apple Pencil Pro support and Apple Intelligence. If you want Apple’s best display for less, the 11-inch iPad Pro (M4), with its OLED screen, averages about $765, compared with $1,199 for a new iPad Pro.
Apple Intelligence needs an M1 chip or later, or the A17 Pro. The iPad (9th and 10th generation), iPad (A16), iPad mini (6th generation), and iPad Air (4th generation) run iPadOS 27 but not Apple Intelligence.
For how the four lines compare on screen, chip, and Apple Pencil support, see iPad vs. iPad Air vs. iPad Pro vs. iPad mini: Which Line Should You Buy Used?
Used Samsung Galaxy Tab Lines at a Glance
Samsung sells four tiers of Galaxy Tab. The tier matters more than the generation number.
| Line | Used Models Worth Buying | Avg. Sale on Swappa | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tab A | Tab A9+, Tab A11+ | $127 to $175 | Streaming, kids, a second screen |
| Tab S Lite and FE | Tab S6 Lite (2024), Tab S9 FE, Tab S10 FE | $130 to $347 | Notes and school on a budget, S Pen included |
| Tab S | Tab S9, Tab S10+, Tab S11 | $362 to $590 | Most Android buyers, AMOLED, DeX |
| Tab S Ultra | Tab S9 Ultra, Tab S10 Ultra, Tab S11 Ultra | $597 to $840 | A 14.6-inch screen for work and drawing |
Average sale prices come from Swappa’s price pages as of September 24, 2026, for base storage where there were enough sales. Galaxy Tab supply is thin, so these figures can move quickly. See every model on the Galaxy Tab family page.
The value sweet spot is the Tab S9 FE. At about $206, it includes an S Pen, has an IP68 rating, and gets security patches into 2028. For the longest support, the Tab S11 (about $542) and Tab A11+ (about $175) are promised seven years of updates, to about 2032.
Skip the Tab S7 series, Tab S7 FE, Tab A8, Tab A7 Lite, and the 2020 and 2022 Tab S6 Lite. None of them are on Samsung’s current security update list.
For the full Galaxy Tab ranking, S Pen types, and DeX details, see the Used Samsung Galaxy Tab Buyer’s Guide.
Best Used Tablets by Budget: iPad and Galaxy Tab Side by Side
| Budget | Best Used iPad | Best Used Galaxy Tab |
|---|---|---|
| Under $200 | iPad (9th generation), about $162. Cheapest iPad on iPadOS 27, but it uses the older Lightning port and first-generation Apple Pencil. | Galaxy Tab A11+, about $175. Seven years of updates, no S Pen support. |
| $200 to $350 | iPad (10th generation), about $300, or iPad (A16), about $339. USB-C and a modern design. | Galaxy Tab S9 FE, about $206, or Galaxy Tab S10 FE, about $347. S Pen included. |
| $350 to $600 | iPad Air 11-inch (M2), about $462, or iPad Air 11-inch (M3), about $493. iPad mini (A17 Pro), about $411, if you want a small tablet. | Galaxy Tab S11, about $542. Or a Galaxy Tab S9, about $362, for an AMOLED screen for less. |
| $600 and up | iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), about $765. OLED display and the M4 chip. | Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, about $774 to $840. A 14.6-inch AMOLED screen. |
Prices are average sale prices on Swappa as of September 24, 2026, for base storage. They vary with storage, condition, and connectivity.
Buying for a specific use? Best Used Tablets for Students and Note-Taking (2026) and Best Used Tablets for Kids cover both brands for those needs.
How Long Used Tablets Get Updates
Software support decides how long a used tablet stays useful, and both brands handle it differently.
iPad: Apple released iPadOS 27 on September 14, 2026. It supports the iPad (9th generation) and newer, iPad Air (4th generation) and newer, iPad mini (6th generation) and newer, the 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation) and newer, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4th generation) and newer. It dropped the iPad (8th generation), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), the first 11-inch iPad Pro, and the third-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Apple does not publish an end date for any model, so the newer the iPad, the longer it is likely to be supported. How Long Are iPads Supported With Updates? (2026) tracks every model.
Galaxy Tab: Samsung publishes a policy for each model:
- Seven years of OS and security updates: Tab S11 and S11 Ultra (to about 2032), Tab S10+ and S10 Ultra (to about 2031), Tab S10 Lite, and Tab A11+.
- Tab S9 series and Tab S9 FE series: One UI 9 (Android 17) is their last major update, and security patches run to about 2028.
- Tab S8 series: past its last major update, with security patches ending around early 2027.
- Updates ended: Tab S7 series, Tab S7 FE, Tab A8, Tab A7 Lite, and older.
Practical rule for both: skip any tablet with less than two years of support left unless the price reflects it.
Cellular vs. Wi-Fi Tablets
Most buyers should buy Wi-Fi. A cellular model costs more and needs a data plan, and your phone’s hotspot covers most tablet use. Cellular makes sense if you travel often, work where Wi-Fi is unreliable, or want the tablet to work on its own.
- iPad: newer cellular iPads use eSIM only, with no physical SIM tray. Check the listing’s carrier details and confirm the model works with your carrier. Cellular vs. Wi-Fi iPad: Which Should You Buy Used? covers carrier setup.
- Galaxy Tab: many budget Galaxy Tab listings are carrier models, especially Verizon units. A cellular Galaxy Tab works on Wi-Fi without a data plan, so a carrier model can be a good deal if you do not need service.
Every cellular tablet has an IMEI, and Swappa checks it for blacklist status before a listing goes live. You can also run your own IMEI check.
How to Buy a Used Tablet Safely
Two problems cause most used tablet regrets: an account lock and a condition surprise.
Account Locks: Activation Lock and Reactivation Lock
iPad: Activation Lock ties an iPad to the owner’s Apple Account through Find My. If the seller did not sign out before resetting it, you cannot set it up without their password. Activation Lock on a Used iPad: How to Avoid It explains how to check.
Galaxy Tab: a Galaxy Tab can be locked two ways. Google’s Factory Reset Protection asks for the previous Google account after a reset, and Samsung’s Reactivation Lock ties the tablet to the owner’s Samsung account. The seller needs to remove both accounts before resetting it. Samsung Reactivation Lock & Knox: What Buyers Must Know covers both.
School and company tablets: iPads and Galaxy Tabs from schools and businesses can be enrolled in device management, which can take over the tablet again after a reset. Ask the seller if the listing does not say where the tablet came from.
Swappa requires every tablet to be free of account locks and ready to activate, and staff reviews listings before they go live.
Condition and Battery
Condition grades describe cosmetic wear, not function. Check the grade, look closely at the listing photos, and ask about screen marks. On AMOLED Galaxy Tabs and OLED iPad Pros, ask about burn-in. Used Electronics Condition Grades, Explained explains each grade.
Swappa requires a fully functional battery that charges and discharges properly, with no minimum percentage to list. Ask the seller how long a charge lasts in normal use. Battery Health in Used Electronics: What to Know explains how to judge a used battery.
What Used Tablets Are Worth
On Swappa, iPads keep more of their value than Galaxy Tabs of the same age. Here is what recent models sell for compared with their launch prices:
| Model (Launch) | Launch Price | Avg. Sale on Swappa | Value Kept |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad Air 11-inch (M3), 2025 | $599 | $493 | 82% |
| Galaxy Tab S11, 2025 | $799.99 | $542 | 68% |
| iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), 2024 | $999 | $765 | 77% |
| Galaxy Tab S10+, 2024 | $999.99 | $590 | 59% |
| Galaxy Tab S9, 2023 | $799.99 | $362 | 45% |
| iPad Pro 11-inch (M2), 2022 | $799 | $493 | 62% |
| Galaxy Tab S8, 2022 | $699.99 | $267 | 38% |
Average sale prices for base storage on Swappa as of September 24, 2026. Launch prices are US starting prices at release. Apple released no new iPads in 2023, and Galaxy Tab S8 sales are thin, so treat that figure as a rough guide.
A few patterns stand out:
- Apple’s price increase is likely helping used iPad values. When a new iPad Air costs $749, a used one at $493 is still a clear saving, which keeps demand for used iPads strong.
- Galaxy Tabs lose more in their first year, then the decline slows. That makes a one- or two-year-old Galaxy Tab one of the better deals in used tech.
- Budget models keep less in dollars. A Tab A or base iPad simply has less value to lose, so it matters less when you buy or sell one.
For the numbers behind these patterns across phones, laptops, watches, and consoles, see Used Electronics Resale Data: What the Numbers Show. For how to price a specific device, see Used Tech Resale Value: The Complete Pricing Guide.
How to Sell Your Used Tablet
Selling your old tablet offsets the cost of the next one. One step matters more than the rest: remove your accounts before you reset it. A tablet still tied to your account will lock out the buyer and hold up your sale.
- iPad: turn off Find My, sign out of your Apple Account in Settings, then choose Erase All Content and Settings.
- Galaxy Tab: remove your Samsung account and your Google account in Settings, then do a factory reset.
Then back up anything you want to keep, photograph the screen, corners, and accessories, and price the tablet from current sale prices rather than what you paid. How to Wipe Your Device Before Selling has the full wipe steps, and How to Sell a Used iPad or Tablet for the Most Money covers pricing and photos.
If your tablet is cracked, water damaged, or will not hold a charge, it will not meet Swappa’s listing criteria. See what Swappa Trade-In offers for it instead, and put the money toward a used replacement.
Buy and Sell Used Tablets on Swappa
Swappa is a marketplace built for used tech. Staff reviews tablet listings before they go live, and a listing cannot have an account lock, a blacklisted IMEI, cracked glass, or water damage.
Buyers pay a 3% fee that is already included in the listing price, plus sales tax where required. Sellers pay 3% of the sale price, listing is free, and selling fees are lower than other auction-site fees. Payments run through PayPal with buyer and seller protection, or Stripe for select sellers.
If a tablet arrives not as described, you are entitled to a refund, and sellers must accept returns for items that do not match the listing. Swappa’s human support team is available 24/7, with a typical response in about 20 minutes. When your tablet arrives, run through the Checklist After Receiving a Phone or Tablet Bought on Swappa.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best used tablet to buy in 2026?
For most buyers, a used iPad Air 11-inch (M2 or M3) is the best used tablet, at about $462 to $493 on Swappa with iPadOS 27 and Apple Pencil Pro support. For Android users, the Galaxy Tab S11 at about $542 is the best pick, with an S Pen included and seven years of updates. On a budget, the iPad (10th generation) and Galaxy Tab S9 FE are the value picks.
Is a used iPad or a used Samsung Galaxy Tab better?
It depends mostly on your phone. An iPad is the better choice if you use an iPhone, want the most tablet-optimized apps, or care about resale value. A Galaxy Tab is the better choice if you use Android, want a stylus included, or want a microSD slot for extra storage.
Which iPads still get updates in 2026?
iPadOS 27 supports the iPad (9th generation) and newer, iPad Air (4th generation) and newer, iPad mini (6th generation) and newer, the 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation) and newer, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4th generation) and newer. It dropped the iPad (8th generation), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), and the oldest iPad Pro models.
How long do Samsung Galaxy Tabs get updates?
It depends on the model. The Galaxy Tab S11, Tab S10+, Tab S10 Ultra, Tab S10 Lite, and Tab A11+ get seven years of updates. The Tab S9 and Tab S9 FE series get security patches to about 2028, and the Tab S7 series, Tab A8, and older models no longer get updates.
How much can I save buying a used tablet?
It depends on the model and age. On Swappa, a used iPad Air 11-inch (M3) averages about $493, about $256 less than a new iPad Air, and a used Galaxy Tab S11 averages about $542, about $358 less than new. Older models save more. Prices vary with storage, condition, and demand.
How do I sell my iPad or Galaxy Tab?
Remove your accounts first. On an iPad, turn off Find My and sign out of your Apple Account, then erase it. On a Galaxy Tab, remove your Samsung and Google accounts, then factory reset it. Take honest photos, check current sale prices, and list it on Swappa, where listing is free.
Conclusion
The best used tablet is the one that matches your phone and your budget. For iPhone users, a used iPad Air is the safest pick. For Android users, a Galaxy Tab S9 FE or Tab S11 offers the most for the money. Check that the model still gets updates, confirm it is signed out of the seller’s accounts, and buy from a marketplace that verifies both.
