iPad 1st Generation iPad Salvageable?

[Resist]

I have an old 1st generation 3G iPad and recently pulled it out of storage. Of course now the battery won't even charge. It's in mint condition otherwise because I always kept it in a nice case. I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to replace the battery myself and get some more use out of it, obviously 3G is useless but it probably could still be used for watching movies over wifi or as a picture frame. So do you think it's worth keeping?

I can't just throw it away or take it to a recycler in one piece because my personal information is still in it and since I can't power it up to remove it, my only other choice would be to smash it and take the broken parts to the recycler. But I hate to destroy it. Thoughts?

 

[2Xtreme21]

Did you try plugging it in? The battery may be shot but unless something deeper is wrong with it, leaving it plugged in should allow you to at least turn it on.

 

[aldo82]

I managed to get my old 1st gen going again and reset it and set up again as new. It struggles and safari wasn't compatible with many websites. Many apps aren't compatible or just won't run. I would probably say its not worth it

 

[AutomaticApple]

I have an old 1st generation 3G iPad and recently pulled it out of storage. Of course now the battery won't even charge. It's in mint condition otherwise because I always kept it in a nice case. I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to replace the battery myself and get some more use out of it, obviously 3G is useless but it probably could still be used for watching movies over wifi or as a picture frame. So do you think it's worth keeping?

I can't just throw it away or take it to a recycler in one piece because my personal information is still in it and since I can't power it up to remove it, my only other choice would be to smash it and take the broken parts to the recycler. But I hate to destroy it. Thoughts?

It isn’t worth it, but I’d keep the iPad if I were you.

 

[psingh01]

It'll work fine for music, picture and movies. I used mine for many years as a juke box, though it too is in storage now. Maybe the battery is in a similar condition. Look at the cost of a replacement battery and decide if it is worth it for media consumption. I see one for $30 on amazon. If you don't have the tools, iFixit sells a set for like $20 I think.

I have the tools already, so if I was only spending $30...I might do it.

You can also consider taking it apart and selling the parts on eBay minus what has your personal info.

 

[JPack]

Definitely not worth salvaging a nearly 10 year old tablet.

The battery replacement and tools cost more than half the price of a new Amazon Fire tablet.

 

[RevTEG]

Gen one would make a great collector piece if you still have the original box. Other than that you could use it has an Apple paperweight. I still have my first gen iPad sitting in the original box right beside my gen one iPhone.

 

[Resist]

Yes I've tried plugging it in, all night and the battery won't charge. And no with just the cord it can't run, as it uses juice from the battery not the cord. It's a 9 year old battery, and well beyond it's life.

I really wouldn't hang on to it if I didn't replace the battery, because the battery could swell and then leak. And I don't have the original box. So, if I bought everything I needed from iFitix, it would cost me around $65 to replace the battery. Still not sure it's my time and money doing it. I also doubt I'd get much selling it's parts and again not worth my time.

 

[Channan]

For $65, I’d say it’s definitely not worth replacing the battery.

 

[sakurarain]

I use my 1st. Gen iPad as Digital photo frame in my kitchen. Sometimes to read the recipes during cooking.