Skip to main content

Back-to-School iPad Deals 2020: iPad 10.2 and iPad Pro

We’re finally into August, which means that stores everywhere are starting to throw back the curtains on their yearly back-to-school sales. Very few of these sales are actually limited to students, so even if you’re not heading to class this fall, now is a great time to start hunting around for laptop deals, iPad deals, and other bargains on high-ticket items you need but obviously don’t want to pay full price for.

If you’re in the market for a new tablet, then the iPad is still the one to buy and ongoing back-to-school iPad sales are your chance to score one on the cheap. We’ve already done the work to sort through online retailers and bring you a list of all the best back-to-school iPad deals below, with discounts to be had on the new 10.2-inch iPad, iPad Air, iPad Mini, and premium iPad Pro. Read on:

Today’s best back-to-school iPad deals

  • Apple iPad Mini (64GB, Wi-Fi) — $350, was $399
  • Apple iPad Mini (256GB, Wi-Fi) — $500, was $549
  • Apple iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi) — $550, was $650
  • Apple iPad Mini (256GB, Cellular + Wi-Fi) — $629, was $679
  • Apple iPad Air (256GB, Cellular + Wi-Fi) — $680, was $780

How to choose a new iPad

Choosing a new iPad is fairly straightforward, and if you’ve made it this far, there’s a good chance you already have a particular model in mind. For most people, the standard seventh-generation 10.2-inch iPad is still the best choice, and it’s also the most affordable (back-to-school iPad deals are also a great opportunity to score one for even cheaper). Note that we don’t recommend going for the sixth-gen 9.7-inch model in 2020 — the new one is cheap enough, especially when on sale, that the savings aren’t worth it.

In the midrange price bracket lie the new 10.5-inch iPad Air and the 7.9-inch iPad Mini. If you’re willing to pay more for some upgrades over the standard iPad, the iPad Air offers a lot of bang for the buck — so much so that you might find yourself asking if the iPad Pro is worth the extra money at all. The aptly named iPad Mini is superb, too, but whether or not you spring for that will obviously come down to whether or not you value that smaller 7.9-inch display for its portability.

Lastly, the iPad Pro — now in its third generation — is the one to buy if you’re after the best and most powerful Apple tablet on the market. It’s gorgeous (in both its 11- and 12.9-inch iterations), it’s beefy, and it works great as a 2-in-1 laptop when paired with an Apple Smart Keyboard folio. The iPad Pro is also the only instance where we still recommend the last-gen 2018 model, as these are still great devices by today’s standards and can often be found for much less than the updated 2020 Pro. As the iPad Pro is by far the most expensive member of Apple’s tablet family, this is where you’ll want to look for the biggest discounts when shopping these back-to-school iPad sales.

Editors' Recommendations

Lucas Coll
Deals and News Writer
Lucas Coll has been a freelance writer for almost a decade and has penned articles on tech, video games, travel, cars, and…
Two popular iPad models just got pretty steep price cuts — from $250
A YouTube video playing on the iPad (2022).

The current and previous model of the entry-level Apple iPad have both received significant price cuts from Best Buy, so if you're on the hunt for cheap iPad deals, these are the offers that you wouldn't want to miss. The Wi-Fi, 64GB model of the ninth-generation Apple iPad is down to $250 from $330 for savings of $80, while the Wi-Fi, 64GB model of the 10th-generation Apple iPad is on sale for $349 following a $100 discount on its original price of $449. We're not sure how long stocks will last for these tablets, so if you're interested in taking advantage of either of these offers, you need to hurry with your purchase. If you don't act fast, you may miss out on the savings.
Apple iPad 9th Gen (Wi-Fi, 64GB) -- $250, was $330

The ninth-generation Apple iPad was released in 2021, but it maintains a spot in our list of the best iPads as the best iPad on a budget. It's still a very reliable and solid choice if you want an Apple tablet, with a 10.2-inch Retina display that's bright and beautiful, and smooth performance despite the relatively old A13 Bionic chip that was introduced in the iPhone 11 because it can be upgraded to the latest iPadOS 17. The device also features an 8MP Wide back camera, a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage technology, the Touch ID fingerprint recognition system for security, and battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge.

Read more
Hurry! This iPad just crashed back to its Black Friday price
The iPad on a tablet displaying web content.

If you've always wanted to buy an iPad but the latest releases are beyond your budget, you may want to consider going for a previous-generation model like the 2021 Apple iPad. The tablet's Wi-Fi, 64GB model, which is already relatively affordable at $330, is currently even cheaper from Best Buy, as an $80 discount pulls its price down to $250. That's what the device was going for during the iPad deals of Black Friday 2023, so if you missed the chance to take advantage of that bargain, proceed with your purchase immediately to make sure this opportunity doesn't slip away.

Why you should buy the 2021 Apple iPad
The ninth-generation Apple iPad, which was released in 2021, will be three years old in several months. However, it's still listed in our roundup of the best iPads as the best iPad on a budget, as it still offers great performance by today's standards with Apple's A13 Bionic chip that also powered the iPhone 11 series. The tablet also features a 10.2-inch Retina display with 2160 x 1620 resolution, for sharp details and vivid colors when you're browsing the internet, watching streaming shows, and playing mobile games.

Read more
Buying an iPad Mini today? You need to know about this deal
The Apple Pencil attaches to the iPad mini magnetically.

If you've had an eye on iPad deals for the latest model of the Apple iPad Mini for a while now, this may be the offer that you've been waiting for -- a $100 discount from Best Buy on the tablet's Wi-Fi, 64GB model, slashing its price to $400 from $500. It's still pretty popular years after its release, so we don't expect stocks of the device for this sale to last long. If you're thinking about taking advantage of this bargain, you better push through with your purchase as soon as possible to make sure that you don't miss out on the savings.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad Mini 2021
The latest generation of the Apple iPad Mini was released in 2021, but it's still featured in our roundup of the best iPads because it's the model that you should buy if you want a smaller and more compact version of Apple's tablets. Its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is smaller than the screens of its peers, but it's still big enough to enjoy watching streaming shows and browsing websites, while allowing you to use the device with one hand. Unlike its predecessor, there's no Home button, so the Touch ID sensor is instead built into the power button at the side of the Apple iPad Mini 2021.

Read more