Apple iPad 11" 2025 Review

Here's the one thing to know about this 2025 iPad: it's a fantastic screen with a great chip, but you're buying a refurb. For $345, you get an A16-powered tablet that's fast enough for almost anything, wrapped in a sharp 11-inch display. Just know it's not coming from Apple, and you'll get generic accessories and a battery that's seen some use. If you're cool with that, it's a steal. If not, you might want to look elsewhere.

The A16 chip is the star here. It lands in the 82nd percentile for CPU and 81st for GPU, which means it's still seriously quick. Apps open fast, games run smooth, and you won't feel it slowing down. The surprise is the battery, though. It's rated above 80% health, but that still puts it in the bottom half for battery life. You'll get through a day of casual use, but don't expect marathon streaming sessions without a charger nearby.

For $345, this is absolutely worth it if your main goal is media consumption and light tasks. You're getting near-flagship performance from a couple years ago at a fraction of the cost. Just go in knowing exactly what a refurbished product means.

Compared to a new base model iPad, you're saving hundreds for very similar core performance, but you lose the new battery, warranty, and peace of mind. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ will have a better screen and more RAM, but it costs at least twice as much. The real question is this versus a used or refurbished iPad Air from the same era. If you can find an Air with an M1 chip for a similar price, that's a better buy. Otherwise, this holds its own.

Buy this iPad if you want a powerful tablet for watching shows, browsing the web, and playing casual games, and you're on a tight budget. It's a great value for the performance. Don't buy it if you need all-day battery, original accessories, or plan to use it for serious work. For under $350, it's hard to beat, but know what you're getting into.