Question on Buying Refurbished iPad mini

I would encourage you to pass on this device. It will never be able to upgrade beyond the current iOS and as MichelPM pointed out a refurbished device from a 3rd party may not be to Apple's high standards at all.

Buy refurbished from Apple directly. And if you are concerned about future updates, don't buy an iPad Mini 2 or 3.

Refurbished Apple products from a third party may not be refurbished from Apple, but some refurbishing service that the 3rd party reseller uses.

Also, iPad Air 1, iPad Mini 2 and 3 models will end their iOS support from Apple at iOS 12.x.x.

No more iOS upgrades/updates after the iOS 12 update cycle.

Meaning no up and coming iPadOS for these iPad models and no other future iOS upgrades.

Only Refurbished Apple Products that come from Apple's Refurbished & Clearance section of Apple’s Website are actually refurbished by Apple or Apple's own authorised, qualified, repair/refurbishment centers.

Best of Luck to You!

See the chart below to determine whether you can upgrade your device and to what you can upgrade. If you do not have a Software Update option present on your iDevice, then you are trying to upgrade to iOS 5 or higher. You will have to connect your device to your computer and open iTunes to update.

iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad iOS Compatibility Chart

Maximum iOS Version for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch- Everyi.com

Select the method most appropriate for your situation. 

Upgrading iOS

How to update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

iPhone Support

iPod Touch Support

iPad Support

Updating Your iOS onYour Device

Tap Settings > General > Software Update

If an update is available there will be an active Update button. If you are current, then you will see a gray screen with a message saying your are up to date.

iOS - Unable to update or restore

iOS- Resolving update and restore alert messages

The only source of Apple OEM factory refurbished devices is the online Apple refurbished store. Anyone else, including authorized resellers, selling refurb’s had the refurbishment done by a third party. Amazon refurb’s, for example, are refurbished by whomever Amazon contracts with and only come with an Amazon warranty.

Apple has never distributed factory OEM refurbished items out side of their own refurb store.

Also some third party “refurbishments” amount to little more than cleaning the device up and making sure it works. They don’t replace any parts, not even the battery. So read the fine print carefully as to what a company actually means by “refurbished”.

Apple refurbished come with a standard Apple one year warranty and are eligible for AppleCare+ products. Apple refurbished devices also all get factory new batteries.