Best Prime Day iPad Deals 2020: iPad 10.2 and iPad Pro

All sorts of in-person activities have been postponed or canceled this year, and even online events have been affected. Prime Day, Amazon’s big summer blowout for Prime members, was delayed (although thankfully not canceled) and is now scheduled to occur on October 13 and 14 — not long before Black Friday, the big sale that inspired these Prime Day deals in the first place. Prime Day is always a hot time for deals on all sorts of high-end tech like Apple gadgets, and we expect there to be plenty of deals on iPads this year, too. To help you find them, we’ve put together a list of all the best Prime Day iPad deals along with a breakdown of some of our predictions for the sale.

Today’s Best Prime Day iPad deals

• Apple iPad Mini (64GB, Wi-Fi, Latest Model) — $350, was $399
• Apple iPad Air (256GB, Cellular+Wi-Fi) — $680 with two year contract, was $780
• Apple iPad Air 2 (16GB, Renewed) — $289, was $400
• Apple iPad (128GB, Wi-Fi, Latest Model) — $400, was $429
• Apple iPad Pro (1TB, Wi-Fi+Cellular, Latest Model) — $1,428, was $1,449
• Apple iPad 10.2 (128GB, Wi-Fi, Latest Model) — $395 was $429

Prime Day hasn’t started just yet, but given the unrivaled demand for these tablets, there are always iPad deals floating around if you know where to look. If you’re after an iPadOS tablet and don’t want to wait for Amazon’s big yearly blowout to begin, we’ve got your back: Here’s a quick and dirty roundup of the best pre-Prime Day iPad deals available right now on the 10.2-inch iPad, the iPad Air, the iPad Mini, and the premium iPad Pro.

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When are the best Prime Day iPad deals?

As with any seasonal retail event, the best Prime Day iPad deals will most likely drop during the days of the sale itself. That said, as is also the case with other sales, Amazon likes to throw out some early teaser deals ahead of time — usually during the week before Prime Day — to whet appetites and give Prime members a taste of the good things to come.

Some of these early Prime Day iPad deals might actually be your best chance to score a discount on a particular model you’ve been eyeballing. If you see one you like, don’t pass it by assuming that it will be on sale again (or even if it is, that it will be the same configuration you want being offered at the same low price). If you do end up seeing it cheaper come Prime Day, you can always return the one you bought and buy it again at the lower price. Don’t be shy about using Amazon’s generous return policy to your advantage. That’s what savvy shoppers do.

What Prime Day iPad deals to expect

There are five iPad models on the market that we currently recommend: The 2019 10.2-inch iPad, the 2019 iPad Air, the 2019 iPad Mini, the 2018 iPad Pro, and the 2020 iPad Pro (the Pro is the only one that we think is still worth buying last-gen if you can find it at a discount). Also bear in mind that the iPad Pro is available in two different sizes: 11 inches and 12.9 inches. We expect to see all of these among this year’s Prime Day iPad deals, so no matter which one you’re after, there’s a good chance you’ll find it.

Based on what we’ve observed during other sales, we’re hoping to see the 10.2-inch iPad starting at $50 off, the iPad Air and Mini at $50-$100 off, and the 2020 iPad Pro at $100-$200 off. These predictions are for the base models, so you could find even bigger discounts on the pricier upgraded units with more RAM and storage. However, the best Prime Day iPad deals might actually be for the 2018 iPad Pro as retailers like Amazon try to move these older last-gen units to make room for the newer stuff. If that turns out to be the case during Prime Day, don’t hesitate to grab one as it could be a sign that they’re not going to be around much longer (and certainly not at these prices).

Should I shop on Prime Day or wait until Black Friday?

If you’re looking for a new iPad, waiting until Black Friday (and in extension, Cyber Monday) won’t do you any good. This is because prices won’t vary much on Black Friday compared to Prime Day. You’ll also see large shipping delays if you shop on Black Friday because unlike Prime Day, the deals are not exclusive to Prime members. The heavy demand during Black Friday season might also drive the iPad you want out of stock and so you’ll lose your chance to get your holiday shopping done in time. Take advantage of these Prime Day iPad deals now so you can get the tablet you want, at the price you want, before it runs out of stock.

Are any Prime Day iPad deals too good to be true?

You can never really go wrong with any Apple products. That said, if you are looking for a new Bluetooth keyboard or cover to go with your iPad, you’re likely to buy products from other companies. When looking at non-Apple products to go with your new iPad make sure you put a little bit of basic research in. Make sure you look at product reviews and ratings and pick your iPad accessories from a company that you’ve previously heard off. If you see a heavily discounted Bluetooth keyboard or iPad cover from a company you don’t recognize, it’s safe to say that the deal is suspicious and may be too good to be true. Stick to these simple tips and you’ll save yourself from heaps of disappointment come Prime Day.

How to choose an iPad

There’s a decent quantity of iPads available out there, especially with Apple announcing the new iPad Air at its September event this fall. That said, which iPad should you choose? It all depends on what you plan to use your tablet for.

If you want an iPad that most closely resembles a conventional PC, go with the iPad Pro. The iPad Pro is powerful, has thin bezels and an edge-to-edge display, and lengthy battery life to keep you productive all day long. It also has a pixel-packed liquid retina display giving you clarity like no other tablet has before. If you’re big on using heavy-duty apps like Photoshop and want to replace your work computer with something more compact, buy the iPad Pro. It’s the priciest iPad on the market, but its A12X Bionic processor and sleek design make it worth the investment.

For those of you who want a tablet that offers the workhorse functionality of the iPad Pro without the hefty price tag, buy the iPad Air (2020). Available in October, this iPad carries the newer, more powerful A14 chip processor and has gorgeous slim edges making it the lightest, most powerful tablet at its price tag. It’s definitely a step up from its predecessors and like the iPad Pro, can also be paired with the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, turning it into a stylish, 2-in-1 device. It also uses Touch ID unlike the iPad Pro, so if you’re not a fan of Apple’s Face ID, this is the tablet for you. Not to mention it’s about $200 cheaper than the iPad Pro.

If you’re looking for an even more affordable and compact option, the iPad Mini is for you. It’s considered a small-screen tablet but still carries some of the best features of the iPad Pro and Air. It has a power-packed retina display and integrated Touch ID for added privacy. It can also be paired with an Apple Pencil so you can use it to take notes or illustrate at your leisure. Though the A12 bionic chip isn’t as powerful as that of the iPad Air or iPad Pro, you can still multitask with ease on this mini-tablet. What’s more, it weighs just a little over half a pound making it the most portable Apple tablet out there.

Finally, the latest iPad 10.2 is every bargain hunter’s favorite option. It’s only priced at $329 (without any Prime Day discounts) and has almost all of the same features as the iPad Mini except for having a larger screen. If you’re looking for an affordable iPad with a great retina display and decent multitasking capabilities, go with the latest iPad 10.2.

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