What £300 gets you across Apple's iPad range
This budget reaches from the most affordable standard iPads through to the iPad Air — a genuinely wide span, meaning the right choice depends heavily on what you actually need the iPad for. Every price below is live and current.
1. iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022) — best overall pick
From £269.99 refurbished
Apple's M1 chip — the same chip used in several MacBook models — brought genuinely capable performance to the Air line for the first time, making this the strongest all-round pick within this budget for anyone who wants real headroom for creative apps or demanding multitasking.
Why buy it: M1-level performance, a real step up from the standard iPad, at the top of this budget.
Don't buy it if: you don't need that extra performance — the options below cover lighter use for considerably less.
Compare iPad Air prices →
2. iPad Air (4th Gen, 2020) — best mid-range value
From £189.99 refurbished
A generation back from the 5th Gen above, the 4th Gen Air still offers a genuinely capable A14 Bionic chip, USB-C, and Apple Pencil (2nd generation) support, at a real saving.
Why buy it: most of the Air line's real advantages — USB-C, modern Pencil support — for meaningfully less than the 5th Gen.
Don't buy it if: you specifically need M1-level performance for demanding creative work.
3. iPad (10th Gen, 2022) — best current standard model
From £59.95 refurbished
Apple's most recent standard iPad, offering a genuinely modern design with USB-C at a fraction of the Air's price — an excellent entry point for anyone whose needs are lighter.
Why buy it: current design and USB-C at the lowest price point that still feels genuinely modern.
Don't buy it if: you need Apple Pencil (2nd generation) support — the standard iPad uses the older, less convenient first-generation Pencil.
4. iPad Mini (6th Gen, 2021) — best compact option
From £59.95 refurbished
Apple's smallest current iPad design, genuinely capable for reading, browsing, and note-taking in a size that fits easily in a bag or even a large pocket.
Why buy it: the most portable current iPad Apple makes, at the same price as the standard 10th Gen.
Don't buy it if: screen size matters for your use — productivity or creative work benefits from more display real estate than the Mini offers.
5. iPad (9th Gen, 2021) — the most budget-friendly option
From £59.95 refurbished
An older standard iPad, still genuinely capable for browsing, video, and casual apps, at the same current price as the two options above.
Why buy it: proven, reliable performance for everyday tablet use at the most accessible end of this budget.
Don't buy it if: you specifically want USB-C — this generation retains Apple's older Lightning connector.
How to choose between them
If you want genuine creative or productivity headroom — serious note-taking, photo or video editing, multitasking with several demanding apps — the iPad Air (either generation) is the right choice within this budget. If your needs are lighter — browsing, video, reading, casual apps — any of the standard iPad or Mini options deliver genuinely capable performance at a fraction of the Air's price, leaving real budget spare.
Understanding Apple Pencil compatibility across this range
This matters more than buyers often expect. The iPad Air (both generations here) and iPad Mini support Apple Pencil (2nd generation), which attaches magnetically and charges wirelessly — a genuinely more convenient experience. The standard iPad in this range supports only the older, first-generation Pencil, which charges via Lightning and doesn't attach magnetically — worth knowing if precise note-taking or sketching with a stylus is a priority for you.
Why this budget spans such a wide range of genuine capability
It's worth understanding why £300 covers such an enormous span in Apple's iPad lineup specifically, unlike the iPhone budget guides where £300 tends to occupy a narrower tier. Apple's iPad range has always been structured with a much bigger gap between its entry-level and mid-tier models than the iPhone line has — the standard iPad is designed to be a genuinely affordable, mass-market tablet, while the Air targets buyers who want real productivity and creative capability. This means your actual choice within this budget matters more than the price alone suggests.
Storage considerations across this range
Storage matters differently depending on which tier you choose. On the standard iPad and Mini, 64GB is often the base option and suits light use — browsing, reading, casual apps — comfortably. On the iPad Air specifically, it's worth considering 256GB if you plan to use Apple Pencil for serious note-taking or any creative work, since sketches, notes, and exported files accumulate faster than casual browsing ever would.
Is a refurbished iPad a sensible choice for a student specifically?
Genuinely, yes — the combination of a real saving over buying new, Apple Pencil support on the Air and Mini models, and enough capability for research, note-taking, and coursework makes any of the options in this guide a sensible student purchase. The specific choice comes down to budget and whether Apple Pencil note-taking is a genuine priority: the Air for serious note-takers, the standard iPad or Mini for lighter, more general use.
How to decide between an iPad and a laptop at this budget
It's worth being honest about this trade-off, since £300 could alternatively go toward a budget laptop. An iPad in this range handles browsing, note-taking, reading, and many creative or casual apps genuinely well, with better portability and battery life than a comparable laptop. Where it falls short is any task requiring traditional desktop software or extensive file management — for those specific needs, a laptop remains the more capable tool, even against the iPad Air's genuinely strong M1 chip.
Frequently asked questions
Which iPad in this range is best for a student?
The iPad Air (4th or 5th Gen) is the strongest pick if note-taking with Apple Pencil is a regular need — for lighter use, the standard 10th Gen offers genuine current-generation design at a much lower price.
Is the iPad Mini good enough for everyday use?
Yes, genuinely — for reading, browsing, video, and casual apps, its smaller size doesn't meaningfully limit capability, though it's less ideal for productivity work needing more screen space.
What's the real difference between the iPad Air generations?
The 5th Gen's M1 chip offers genuinely more performance headroom for demanding tasks — for typical everyday use, both generations perform very similarly.
Do all these iPads support 5G or cellular connectivity?
This varies by specific listing — both Wi-Fi only and cellular variants exist across this range, so check the specific listing if you need internet access away from Wi-Fi.
Is it worth paying extra for the iPad Air over the standard iPad?
Only if you specifically need Apple Pencil (2nd generation) support or the M1 chip's extra performance headroom — for typical browsing, reading, and casual use, the standard iPad delivers a very similar day-to-day experience for considerably less.
All prices above are live and checked daily — compare every iPad option side by side to see today's actual figures.
Related reading: iPad Air Price Guide UK 2026 · Best Refurbished iPad UK 2026 · Best Phone Under £300 UK 2026 · Best Cheap iPhone 2026 · Sell your old iPad · Compare all refurbished phones · Condition grades explained
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