Apple iPad Air 9.7" 2 Review

A 2014 tablet with a shockingly good GPU but a deal-breaking 16GB of storage. It's cheap at $113, but only worth it for extremely light, single-use cases like a kid's tablet or a dedicated FaceTime machine. For everyone else, the storage is a non-starter.

The iPad Air 2 is a classic, but this is a refurbished model from 2014. It's a weird spot: the GPU performance is shockingly high for its age, landing in the 99th percentile in our database, and it has a solid 16GB of RAM. But that 16GB of storage is a massive bottleneck, sitting in the 3rd percentile. It's a capable device for basic tasks, but you're buying a decade-old tablet with some very modern limitations.

It scores best for art and design (74.9/100) thanks to that capable GPU and stylus support, and it's decent for entertainment. But for anything business-related, it's a weak 53/100. At around $113, it's cheap, but you have to know exactly what you're getting into.

The performance story is a tale of two specs. The A8X chip and GPU still hold up surprisingly well for light tasks and media playback—that 99th percentile GPU score isn't a joke. But that 16GB of storage is a deal-breaker for most. The OS and a few apps will eat that up instantly, leaving you constantly managing space. The battery life is also just average, ranking in the 49th percentile, so don't expect all-day endurance from a used battery.

At $113, it's one of the cheapest ways to get into the Apple tablet ecosystem. But 'value' is relative. You're trading modern convenience for a low price. If your needs are literally just FaceTime, light web browsing, and maybe a single game or drawing app, it could be worth it. For anyone else, that storage limit makes it a frustrating experience that isn't worth the savings.

Compared to modern budget tablets, it's a tough sell. A base model Amazon Fire Tablet costs less and will have better software support. Compared to a newer refurbished iPad, like a 6th or 7th gen, you'll spend a bit more ($150-$200) but get massively better storage, a newer chip, and support for the Apple Pencil and modern keyboard cases. The iPad Air 2's main advantage is its price and that still-great screen, but the storage is a fatal flaw next to any current competitor.

Skip this if you need more than 3 apps. Seriously. The 16GB storage is a hard wall. Also skip it if you want a primary tablet for productivity, modern app support, or anything involving local files. Students, artists needing Apple Pencil support, and anyone who hates managing storage should look at a newer refurbished iPad instead.

Buy this only if you need a super-cheap, secondary tablet for a very specific, light-duty task like video calls for a family member or a dedicated kids' device for a single app. For anyone who needs to install more than a couple apps, save photos, or use it as a primary device, the 16GB storage will drive you insane. Look for a newer refurbished model with at least 32GB.