Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Here’s how to buy the iPad (2020) and iPad Air 4

The iPad (2020) and iPad Air 4 were some of the best tablets to hit the market in 2020. Both options have a lot to offer those looking for a standard-sized iPad, whether you want cost savings or lots of extra performance. If you’re looking to pick up a new iPad we can help out with the best ways to buy (and some extra advice on getting deals). Here’s everything you need to know.

Buying the iPad (2020)

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Note that you don’t have to buy from Apple. Major retailers are also carrying the newest iPad models. You can get it from Amazon if you prefer (there are also cellular models available). Here’s where to buy from Target, and here’s where you can get it on Best Buy.

These stores may be a better choice if you are part of their loyalty programs or have credits you can use to help with your purchase. However, Apple is a great default option because it’s very easy to customize, add engravings if you want, and purchase AppleCare for an extended warranty.

Buy the iPad Air 4

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The iPad Air 4 can be bought directly from Apple like all current Apple products. You can also purchase the new iPad Air 4 from the same third-party retailers as mentioned above. You can find it at Target, BestBuy, and Walmart. As noted before, you may prefer these locations if you participate in reward programs or retailer credit cards.

Looking for deals? Remember to trade-in

Image used with permission by copyright holder

New Apple devices, and Apple products in general, don’t usually have that many deals. However, there is one way that you can guarantee that you save when buying a new iPad — combine it with a trade-in of an old Apple device.

Any Apple trade-in will do, but it’s especially handy to give up an old iPad in exchange for the new model. First, visit the Apple Trade-In site and select the type of device that you want to trade. Apple will then ask you some basic questions about the model, so try to have the serial number at hand if possible. You can then choose to get an Apple Store online credit that you can apply to the purchase of a new iPad, and Apple will send you a box to send your device back to the company.

Amounts can vary based on the age of the device and wear and tear, but an iPad (2019) in good condition can help you net more than $200 toward buying a new model! The actual credit does vary with time and may decrease as time passes or demand changes, so it’s important to trade-in as soon as you can.

Otherwise, you can wait for around the holidays. You might get a special deal for extra money on a trade-in, or companies like Target or Best Buy may offer gift cards along with the purchase of a new iPad, as they have many years in the past. It won’t count as a major discount, but every bit helps.

Looking for accessories?

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Need some new accessories to go with your new iPad? Apple will recommend a couple when you make your purchase, but for the full list, you will want to visit the iPad accessories page.

Remember that compatibility varies between the iPad (2020) and the Air 4. For example, the Air 4 is compatible with the latest Smart Folio keyboard with a trackpad, while the iPad only works with the older Smart Keyboard, and different Apple Pencils also have different requirements. Apple is good about noting the compatibility in their product titles on this webpage, so read carefully, and you should be fine.

Editors' Recommendations

Tyler Lacoma
Former Digital Trends Contributor
If it can be streamed, voice-activated, made better with an app, or beaten by mashing buttons, Tyler's into it. When he's not…
Best Apple deals: Save on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook
Apple MacBook Air M1 open, on a table.

Apple has been a big player in the tech space for a long time, and it has pioneered some of the technology we use today, such as best wireless earbuds and the best smartwatches. If that wasn't enough, it even makes some of the best best laptops and best tablets on the market, so pretty much whatever tech you're looking for, Apple has an excellent version of it. Not only that, but Apple's ecosystem is also easily one of the best available, with only Samsung really competing in that space, and if you're already in the Apple ecosystem, then it makes sense to continue buying stuff from Apple.

Of course, Apple tech can be quite pricey, which is why we've gone out and searched through various big retailers to find you some of the best deals we can find. That includes everything from the MacBook deals, AirPods deals, Apple TV deals and Apple Watch deals to the AirTag, so hopefully, you can find the perfect deal that fits your needs and budget.
Apple AirTag (4-Pack) -- $80, was $99

Read more
Apple made an outrageous change to its new iPads
An official photo of the 2024 iPad Air.

After a year-long drought of iPads, Apple finally revealed the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models during its Let Loose event on May 7. This was a unique announcement because it broke some old traditions; the iPad Air now comes in two sizes: an 11-inch and 13-inch, just like the iPad Pro. But these new iPads are also breaking another longtime tradition: They won’t come with iconic Apple stickers. Gasp.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple Store teams received a memo where Apple explained that the iconic Apple stickers won’t be included inside the boxes of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro. The reasoning? As part of Apple’s environmental goals, it is trying to ensure that its packaging is completely free of plastic.

Read more
Apple has quietly killed its cheapest iPad
Three 2021 iPads are stacked on a table.

The iPad lineup has received a price bump after Apple quietly killed its cheapest iPad model. Apple’s 9th-generation iPad used to cost $329, but has been discontinued. At the same time, the company has reduced the 10th-gen iPad’s starting price by $100, which means it’s now priced at $349. As a result, getting the cheapest iPad means you'll now spend $20 more than before.

The 9th-gen Apple iPad was launched in 2021 with the A13 chipset and Apple's Center Stage featur,e but retained the same old design with the already-old Lightning port and home button. With Apple moving to a USB-C port on all devices to comply with EU laws, it was inevitable that Apple would discontinue the 9th-gen iPad this year. The iPhone SE remains the only Apple product with a home button and a Lightning port that's still available in the company's lineup.

Read more