Apple is now offering refurbished Wi-Fi iPad mini with Retina models through its online store. If you're put off by the small tablet's big price, now's your opportunity to save a few bucks, depending on the capacity size you choose. The drop still doesn't make the device particularly competitive on price with its closest rivals, which includes the Kindle Fire HDX and Nexus 7, but what Apple fans are going to complain? Chances are you won't even notice the difference between a refurbished model and one that's brand new.
Up on Apple's site, a refurbished 16GB iPad mini with Retina (Wi-Fi-only) starts at $339, down 15-percent from the $399 for a new model. The price drops get bigger from there: you can get the 32GB iPad mini with Retina (Wi-Fi-only) for $419, saving you $80, while the 64GB iteration has been dropped down to $509, giving it a price drop of $90. You're still paying a pretty penny for what is arguably Apple's best tablet, but you get some nice savings. No cellular models are listed, unfortunately.
Apple's iPad mini with Retina was released back in October of last year, which means it's slowly reaching the tail-end of its cycle before a new one pops up. That doesn't mean you shouldn't get one now if you really, really want one. If you can bear the wait, however, you might as well see what Apple has in store for the next iPad mini with Retina update. If anything, the current iPad mini with Retina will likely be even cheaper by then.
