Apple iPad 2017 Apple iPad (9.7-inch, WiFi + Cellular, 128GB) Review

This 2017 iPad is a budget trap. It's too old and slow for modern use. Spend a few bucks more on a newer used iPad or a decent Android tablet instead.

Look, here's the one thing you need to know about the 2017 iPad: it's a perfectly fine, cheap tablet for very basic stuff, but it's old. Like, 'can't run modern apps well' old. It's a 7-year-old tablet being sold as renewed, and that A10 Fusion chip is showing its age hard. If you just need a screen for watching videos in a pinch or reading ebooks, and you're on a tight budget, it might work. But for anything else, you're going to feel the limitations immediately.

The performance is exactly what you'd expect from a tablet in the 11th percentile for CPU and 15th for GPU. It's slow. Our database shows it's fine for reading and light entertainment, but it scores a dismal 25.6 for productivity. That A10 chip struggles with modern web browsing, and multitasking is a joke. The cellular connectivity is a nice bonus, but the processor can't keep up with what you'd actually want to do on the go.

At $149, it's cheap. But 'cheap' and 'good value' are different things. For the same money, you can often find a newer base model iPad or a much more capable Android tablet. This only has value if your budget is absolute rock bottom and your needs are incredibly simple.

Don't even look at the iPad Pro or Galaxy Tab S10+. They're in a different universe. The real competition is Apple's own newer base model iPads (like the 8th gen or later). For a similar price used, you get a much faster A12 or A13 chip, better iOS support, and a modern design. If you're open to Android, a Lenovo Tab or Samsung A-series tablet around this price will run circles around this 2017 iPad in performance and features.

If you're looking for a tablet for school, work, or modern apps, this isn't it. The performance score for productivity is a giveaway. Go find a used 8th generation iPad or a Lenovo Tab P11 instead. You'll thank yourself.

We can't recommend this for most people. It's a seven-year-old tablet, and it acts like it. The slow performance and outdated software support are massive drawbacks. The only scenario where this makes sense is if you need a cellular-connected iPad for under $150 and you literally only plan to use it as a Kindle or a Netflix machine. For anyone else, save up a little more and buy something from this decade.