How to Sell an Old Tablet in India Before It Loses Value

How to Sell an Old Tablet in India Before It Loses More Value

Tablets often end up sitting in drawers for longer than any other device. Most people stop using them little by little, so there usually isn’t a clear moment when you decide to sell.

This can be costly, since a tablet loses value just as quickly as a phone, even though it’s used much less.

Disclosure: Cashkr is our own device buyback service. We buy used tablets, so we benefit when people sell rather than store. We are not going to tell you what yours is worth, because that depends on the model, the age and the condition.

Tablets Are Not Phones, in Two Ways

Tablets tend to age slowly when you use them, but their value drops just as quickly on paper. A four-year-old tablet might still look and feel almost new because it spent most of its time on a shelf. However, software support is based on the launch date, not how carefully you used it. Buyers care about how many years of updates are left, not how gently you treated the device.

The market for used tablets is also smaller. Fewer people look for a used tablet compared to a used phone, so it can take longer to find the right buyer and prices are less competitive. Because of this, selling through convenient options can be more worthwhile than with phones.

What Moves the Price

Brand matters even more for tablets than for phones. iPads keep their value much better than Android tablets, mainly because there are more buyers for used iPads and Apple supports them for longer. An Android tablet from a lesser-known brand might work well but can still be hard to sell.

Cellular capability is another factor people often overlook. A Wi-Fi plus cellular tablet is usually worth more than a Wi-Fi only version of the same model, since it’s more useful outside the home and fewer were sold. If your tablet has a SIM slot, mention it when you ask for a quote.

Storage size matters more for tablets than for phones. Most tablets can’t use a memory card, so what you have is what you get. The difference in value between a 64GB and a 256GB iPad is much bigger than the same difference on a phone.

How long your tablet will keep getting updates is important. For iPads, check if it still gets the latest iPadOS. For Android tablets, look up the manufacturer’s update policy. Tablets that no longer receive updates are much harder to sell, and this information is public.

Screen condition, heavily. The screen is most of a tablet. A cracked one moves it down a grade in a way that a scratched back does not.

Battery health. Checked the same way and treated the same way as on a phone. Our guide on checking battery health covers the paths, and the iPad path is the same as the iPhone one.

Apple accessories like the Apple Pencil or Magic Keyboard have their own resale value. Be sure to mention them, but expect them to be priced separately instead of adding their full value to the tablet’s price.

What Barely Moves It

Cases, even expensive ones, usually don’t add value. You can keep it or give it away.

Screen protectors, whether fitted or not, don’t really affect the price.

Third-party accessories, like non-Apple keyboards and styluses, rarely add any value.

Colour might sometimes get you a small premium for rare finishes, but it’s not something to count on.

The iPad Setting That Can Make Yours Unsellable

This is the same issue as with iPhones, and people run into it more often on tablets because they’re less familiar with the settings.

If you give away an iPad that’s still signed in to your Apple Account, or if you wipe it using recovery mode instead of through Settings, it will stay locked to your account. No one else will be able to set it up; not a buyer, not a buyback service, not even an Apple Store.

If you do it the right way, there’s no problem. Sign out of iCloud in Settings, then go to Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPad, and choose Erase All Content and Settings. That will clear your account from the device.

The same rule applies to Android tablets because of Factory Reset Protection. 

Before You Get a Quote

• Find out which model you have. On an iPad, go to Settings, then General, then About. The model name and number are listed there, since iPad generations can look very similar.

• Check if your tablet is Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi plus cellular. If it has a SIM tray, it’s a cellular model.

• Make a note of the storage size.

• Check the battery health as well.

• Look at the screen with the tablet switched off, in daylight, and at an angle.

• Find the charger and cable that came with your tablet.

It’s especially important to get the model right for tablets. Some iPads look almost identical but have very different values. The model number in Settings will tell you exactly which one you have.

Where to Sell It

You have the same three selling options as with a phone, but there’s a difference in how they compare for tablets.

Selling privately usually pays the most, but because the market is smaller, it often takes longer than selling a phone. You might also get more low offers.

Exchange programs often don’t accept tablets, or they only take a few specific models.

Buyback services are often more appealing for tablets than for phones, mainly because the private market is slower.

We’re the third option; a buyback service. Our guide on where to sell an old phone explains all the trade-offs, and the same points apply to tablets.

If It Is Just Sitting There

The same honest test applies to any device: if you haven’t turned it on in three months, you probably won’t use it again.

A tablet left in a drawer keeps losing value, and its battery ages even if you don’t use it. If it’s stored flat for a year, the battery can swell, and a swollen battery that lifts the screen can turn a sellable tablet into one that needs repairs.

If you decide to keep your tablet instead of selling it, leave it about half charged, store it somewhere cool, and turn it on every few months.

FAQs

1. Is it worth selling an old tablet?

If your tablet still works and gets updates, it’s usually worth selling. Tablets tend to stay in good condition because they’re used less, so one that looks new often sells for more than you might expect. If it’s no longer getting updates, it’s harder to sell, and waiting only makes that worse.

2. Do iPads hold their value better than Android tablets?

Yes, iPads generally hold their value much better. There are more buyers for used iPads in India, and Apple supports them for longer. Even a great Android tablet can take longer to sell and fetch a lower price.

3. Does the cellular version sell for more?

Yes, usually by a noticeable amount. A Wi-Fi plus cellular tablet is more useful and fewer were sold. If your tablet has a SIM tray, mention it when you ask for a quote, since it affects the price.

4. How do I find out exactly which iPad I have?

Go to Settings, then General, then About. You’ll find the model name and number there. This is important because some iPad generations look almost the same but have very different values.

5. Does storage size affect a tablet's price much?

Yes, storage size affects the price more than it does for phones, since most tablets can’t use a memory card. The difference in value between a 64GB and a 256GB model is significant.

6. Should I include the Apple Pencil or keyboard?

You can include them, but expect them to be valued separately instead of adding their full price to the tablet. Since they have their own resale value, it’s sometimes better to sell them on their own.

7. What if my tablet will not switch on?

It usually still has value, to a buyback service rather than a private buyer. The screen, board and other parts are worth recovering. You will get much less than for a working tablet, but not nothing.

8. What do I need to do before handing it over?

Back up, sign out of your Apple Account or remove your Google account, take out the SIM if there is one, then erase it from Settings. Doing the erase yourself, from Settings rather than recovery mode, is what leaves it usable for the next owner.

Sources

• Apple, "What to do before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone or iPad", for the sign out and erase sequence that applies to iPads

• Apple, iPadOS supported device lists, for checking whether a model still receives updates