Buy Tablets in Mesa | Your Next Tablet May Cost Less Than You Think
Tablets occupy a useful space between smartphones and traditional computers. They are larger and more comfortable for reading, streaming, browsing, and working than a phone, yet considerably easier to carry around than most laptops.
At Oro Express Mesa Pawn & Gold, we sell a changing selection of quality pre-owned tablets from Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, and other leading manufacturers. Depending on current inventory, you may find everything from affordable tablets for entertainment and everyday use to premium models capable of handling productivity, creative work, and demanding applications.
Buying pre-owned can also make higher-end tablets much more accessible. Instead of choosing an entry-level new device simply to stay within budget, you may be able to purchase a better-equipped previous-generation model with a larger display, additional storage, or more powerful hardware.
Every tablet we offer first comes through our purchasing and evaluation process. Our electronics buyers examine the device, identify the model and specifications, consider its physical condition, and check its functionality before deciding whether it is something we want to purchase and offer for sale.
What Can You Do With a Tablet?
One reason tablets remain popular is their versatility.
A relatively inexpensive tablet might spend most of its life on the couch streaming movies and browsing the internet. Add a keyboard and the right software to a more powerful model, and the same basic form factor can become a portable productivity device.
Customers shop for tablets for many different reasons, including:
- Streaming movies and television
- Web browsing
- Reading books and magazines
- Schoolwork
- Video calls
- Taking notes
- Drawing and digital art
- Photo editing
- Business applications
- Presentations
- Travel
- Mobile gaming
- Controlling smart-home devices
Before comparing brands or specifications, think about what you actually want your tablet to accomplish.
That can quickly narrow down your choices.
Someone looking primarily for Netflix, YouTube, and web browsing probably doesn’t need the same tablet as an artist using a digital stylus or a business owner hoping to replace a laptop on short trips.
Apple, Android or Windows?
The operating system is one of the most important differences between tablets.
For most shoppers, the decision comes down to three major platforms: Apple’s iPadOS, Android, and Windows.
Each offers a different experience.
Apple iPad
The iPad is one of the best-known tablet families and remains particularly attractive to customers who already use Apple products.
Depending on our current inventory, you may find models from several iPad families, including:
- iPad
- iPad mini
- iPad Air
- iPad Pro
Apple’s ecosystem can be particularly convenient if you already use an iPhone, MacBook, or Apple Watch. Photos, messages, files, applications, and other features can work across compatible Apple devices.
The different iPad families also serve very different customers.
A standard iPad may be more than enough for browsing, streaming, schoolwork, and everyday applications. An iPad mini emphasizes portability. The iPad Air provides additional performance in a thin design, while iPad Pro models are aimed at customers who want some of Apple’s most capable tablet hardware.
Android Tablets
Android gives tablet shoppers another wide range of choices.
Samsung is particularly prominent in the tablet market with its Galaxy Tab family, although tablets from other Android manufacturers may also become available.
Depending on the individual model, Android tablets can range from straightforward entertainment devices to sophisticated premium tablets with large displays, powerful processors, stylus support, and multitasking capabilities.
An Android tablet may be particularly appealing if you already use an Android smartphone and prefer staying within the same ecosystem.
For example, customers using a Samsung Galaxy smartphone may appreciate the familiarity of a Samsung Galaxy Tab.
Windows Tablets & 2-in-1 Devices
Some customers aren’t really looking for a larger smartphone. They want something closer to a computer that happens to have a tablet form factor.
That’s where Windows devices can become interesting.
Microsoft Surface models and similar 2-in-1 devices can combine a touchscreen tablet with a keyboard and desktop operating system.
For the right customer, that can make them useful for:
- Microsoft Office
- Business applications
- Schoolwork
- Web-based business systems
- Presentations
- General Windows computing
If your priority is running traditional computer software rather than mobile applications, comparing a Windows tablet with a conventional laptop may make sense.
Our Used Computer Store Mesa page can help if you’re deciding whether a laptop or desktop computer would be a better fit.
Popular Tablet Brands
Because we purchase our merchandise rather than ordering a fixed assortment from a distributor, we don’t have the same tablet selection every week.
Depending on what becomes available, our showroom may include tablets from manufacturers such as:
- Apple
- Samsung
- Microsoft
- Lenovo
- Amazon
- Other recognized manufacturers
Rather than choosing solely by logo, compare the actual device.
A manufacturer’s premium tablet can be dramatically different from its entry-level model. Even two tablets from the same product family can have different processors, storage capacities, displays, connectivity, and features.
Choosing the Right Screen Size
Tablet size affects almost everything about how the device feels to use.
Smaller tablets are easy to carry and comfortable to hold. They’re useful for reading, travel, web browsing, and situations where portability matters.
Mid-size tablets provide more display area while remaining relatively portable. For many customers, this is the sweet spot between screen space and convenience.
Larger tablets can be excellent for watching video, multitasking, drawing, editing photographs, reviewing documents, and working with a keyboard. The tradeoff is that they are naturally larger and heavier.
Consider where you’ll use your tablet most often.
If you’re carrying it in a bag every day, size and weight may matter considerably.
If it will primarily stay around the house, a larger display may be worth the additional bulk.
How Much Storage Do You Need?
Storage is another specification worth considering carefully because tablets can vary substantially in capacity.
Your storage needs depend largely on how you use the device.
If most of your activity involves streaming, browsing, email, and cloud-based applications, you may not need enormous local storage.
More storage becomes useful if you plan to keep large amounts of content directly on the tablet, including:
- Photos
- Videos
- Downloaded movies
- Music
- Large games
- Creative applications
- Work documents
A tablet with additional storage may cost more, but running out of space later can be frustrating.
This is particularly important with devices where internal storage cannot simply be upgraded after purchase.
Wi-Fi or Cellular?
Some tablets connect to the internet exclusively through Wi-Fi.
Others have cellular capabilities that may allow the tablet to connect to a compatible mobile network with appropriate service.
Which one makes sense depends on how you intend to use it.
For a tablet that will primarily be used at home, school, the office, hotels, or other places with Wi-Fi, cellular connectivity may not be important.
Someone who frequently works on the road may value the additional flexibility.
When looking at a particular pre-owned tablet, ask our staff about the connectivity features of that specific device. Don’t assume that two otherwise similar tablets necessarily have the same capabilities.
Tablets for Streaming & Entertainment
You don’t need a professional-grade tablet simply to enjoy movies, television, YouTube, music, reading, and casual games.
For entertainment, characteristics such as these may matter more:
- Display size
- Display quality
- Speakers
- Battery condition
- Storage
- Overall portability
This is one area where pre-owned tablets can offer particularly good value.
A previous-generation premium tablet may provide a much better display and overall experience than a basic device purchased new at a similar price.
If your main goal is watching entertainment from the couch, taking a tablet on vacation, or giving yourself a larger screen than your phone, there may be little reason to pay for capabilities you won’t use.
Tablets for Students
A tablet can be useful for students, but the right choice depends heavily on the school and coursework.
Tablets can work well for:
- Reading textbooks
- Taking notes
- Research
- Online classes
- Video conferencing
- Reviewing presentations
- Educational applications
- Writing shorter assignments
Accessories can make a major difference.
A compatible keyboard can make longer typing sessions easier, while stylus support can be useful for handwritten notes, mathematics, diagrams, and artwork.
Before purchasing a tablet specifically for school, check the requirements of the student’s school, university, or individual program.
Some coursework requires software that runs best—or exclusively—on a traditional computer.
Tablets for Business & Work
Tablets have also become useful business tools.
They’re commonly used for presentations, email, customer management, document review, inventory systems, mobile point-of-sale applications, field work, and communication.
For business use, consider features such as:
- Keyboard compatibility
- Stylus support
- Multitasking
- Screen size
- Battery condition
- Storage
- Cellular capability
- Available applications
- Compatibility with your existing systems
A tablet can be an excellent companion to a desktop computer without necessarily replacing it.
For someone who spends most of the day at a desk but regularly attends meetings or visits customers, that combination can be especially practical.
Tablets for Artists & Content Creators
Modern tablets have become remarkably capable creative devices.
Depending on the model and compatible accessories, tablets can be used for:
- Digital drawing
- Illustration
- Photo editing
- Video editing
- Graphic design
- Music creation
- Handwritten notes
- Storyboarding
- Social media content
If creative work is your priority, don’t evaluate a tablet based solely on screen size.
Processor performance, display quality, storage, available creative applications, and stylus compatibility may all be important.
An iPad Pro with compatible Apple Pencil support, for example, serves a very different purpose from an inexpensive tablet intended primarily for streaming video.
Buying a Tablet for a Child
A pre-owned tablet can also be a practical choice for children.
Parents may not want to spend premium new-device prices on a tablet that will primarily be used for educational applications, games, videos, and family travel.
Think about the child’s actual needs rather than automatically purchasing the most powerful device available.
Important considerations can include:
- Screen size
- Ease of use
- Available parental controls
- Application availability
- Storage
- Durability
- Cost
A protective case may also be worth considering, particularly for younger users.
For many families, a dependable previous-generation tablet provides everything a child needs at a more comfortable price point.
Tablet or Laptop?
This is one of the most useful questions to answer before buying.
A tablet usually wins on portability, touchscreen convenience, instant accessibility, and ease of use for entertainment.
A laptop generally provides a traditional keyboard, more desktop-style software options, and an operating environment designed around conventional computer work.
The distinction has become less obvious as tablets have become more powerful and laptops have become thinner.
Ask yourself what you’ll spend most of your time doing.
If you mainly want to browse, stream, read, take notes, use apps, and consume content, a tablet may be ideal.
If you’re regularly creating large spreadsheets, writing lengthy documents, using specialized Windows or macOS programs, managing large numbers of files, or performing demanding computer work, you may be happier with a laptop.
If you’re somewhere in the middle, compare both.
Because we sell tablets and computers, you may be able to look at the available options side by side rather than deciding based entirely on specifications you see online.
Tablet or Smartphone?
There’s also substantial overlap between tablets and modern smartphones.
The biggest difference is obvious: screen size.
A tablet can make reading, watching videos, browsing websites, viewing photographs, playing games, and working with documents considerably more comfortable.
A smartphone, however, is much easier to carry and serves as your primary communication device.
For many people, the two devices complement each other rather than compete.
If you’re also considering replacing your phone, browse our Used Cell Phone Store selection. Customers specifically shopping within the Apple ecosystem can also compare available iPhones through our iPhone page.
Every Tablet Starts With Our Purchasing Process
Before a tablet reaches our retail inventory, we first have to decide whether we want to buy it.
Our electronics buyers identify the device and consider factors such as its model, specifications, age, physical condition, functionality, and current market demand.
We inspect the tablet before deciding whether it meets our purchasing standards.
That process matters to shoppers because our retail inventory begins with merchandise we’ve already made a business decision to purchase ourselves.
We don’t simply fill shelves with a predetermined wholesale catalog.
The individual devices you see in the store are the devices that came through our purchasing process and were selected for resale.
Look at the Individual Tablet, Not Just the Model Name
This becomes particularly important when buying pre-owned electronics.
Two tablets with the same general model name aren’t necessarily identical.
They may have different:
- Storage capacities
- Screen sizes
- Connectivity
- Generations
- Processors
- Accessories
- Physical condition
That’s why we recommend looking carefully at the individual tablet you’re considering.
Ask questions about its specifications. Compare it with other available options. Consider whether you’re paying for features you’ll actually use.
The goal isn’t necessarily to buy the most expensive tablet in the case.
It’s to buy the tablet that makes the most sense for you.
Accessories Can Change How You Use a Tablet
The right accessories can transform a tablet.
A keyboard can turn a tablet into a much more practical writing and productivity device. A stylus can make it useful for notes, drawing, or creative work. A protective case can make an everyday tablet easier to carry and protect.
Depending on the model, useful accessories can include:
- Keyboards
- Styluses
- Cases
- Chargers
- Stands
- Screen protectors
- Adapters
Accessories included with an individual tablet will vary.
If an accessory is important to how you plan to use the device, ask what’s included and what the particular tablet supports before purchasing.
Shop Our Electronics Department
A tablet is often one piece of a larger technology setup.
If you’re upgrading several devices, our broader electronic store is a useful place to start. You may be able to compare tablets with smartphones, computers, televisions, cameras, gaming systems, smartwatches, and other electronics during the same visit.
For example, someone buying a tablet for photo editing may also want to browse our camera selection.
An Apple customer may want to compare an iPad with the iPhones and Apple Watches currently available.
A student debating between a tablet and laptop can look at both.
And someone primarily interested in entertainment may discover that a television or gaming console better solves what they were trying to accomplish.
We’d rather help you understand the options than assume the product you originally came in looking for is automatically the right one.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying Tablets
What types of tablets do you sell?
Our inventory may include Apple iPads, Samsung Galaxy tablets, Microsoft Surface devices, Android tablets, Windows tablets, and other models from recognized manufacturers.
Exact inventory depends on what is currently available.
Do you sell Apple iPads?
Yes, when available.
Because Apple tablets are an important category of their own, we’ve created a separate Apple iPad page with more information specifically about iPads.
Do you sell Samsung tablets?
We may have Samsung Galaxy Tab models depending on current inventory.
Samsung offers tablets across multiple sizes and performance levels, so check the specifications of the individual device you’re considering.
Do you sell Microsoft Surface tablets?
Microsoft Surface and other Windows-based tablet or 2-in-1 devices may be available depending on current inventory.
If you need traditional Windows software, these can be worth comparing with the laptops in our computer department.
Do you sell tablets with cellular service?
Some tablets are Wi-Fi only, while others may have cellular capabilities.
Connectivity varies by device. Ask our staff about the specific tablet you’re considering and confirm compatibility with your intended service provider before purchasing cellular service.
How much storage should I get?
It depends on how you use the tablet.
Customers who primarily stream content and use cloud storage may need less local storage. Games, photographs, downloaded movies, videos, and creative applications can consume significantly more space.
Should I buy a tablet or laptop for school?
That depends on the student’s coursework.
A tablet can be excellent for reading, notes, research, and many educational applications. Programs requiring traditional desktop software may make a laptop the better choice.
Check the school’s hardware and software requirements before purchasing either.
Do tablets come with chargers and accessories?
Included equipment varies by individual device.
Ask our staff what’s included with the particular tablet you’re considering.
Can I call to see what tablets are currently available?
Yes.
If you’re looking for a particular brand, model, screen size, or storage capacity, calling before your visit can help determine whether we currently have something that fits your needs.
Buy Pre-Owned Tablets When You Visit Oro Express Mesa
The right tablet doesn’t have to be the newest or most expensive model available.
It needs to have the features, performance, screen size, storage, and operating system that fit the way you intend to use it.
At Oro Express Mesa Pawn & Gold, you’ll find a changing selection of pre-owned tablets ranging from straightforward entertainment devices to premium models designed for productivity and creative work.
You can compare Apple, Android, and Windows options when available, ask questions about individual devices, and see the actual condition of the tablet before deciding whether it’s right for you.
And if a tablet isn’t quite the right solution, you’re already in a store where you can compare other possibilities.
Browse our computers if you need traditional productivity. Look at our smartphones if portability matters most. Explore our cameras if photography is your priority. Or visit the broader electronics department to see what else has recently arrived.
Stop by our Mesa store and see which tablets are currently available.
