Apple announced a number of new products at its September 2020 event, including an update to its 10.2in iPad from 2019.
The 8th-gen iPad now comes packed with an A12 Bionic chip that promises better performance, twice the graphics power, and all the benefits of the Neural Engine (more on this below).
Perhaps the greatest news of all is that the new iPad is also cheaper than the previous model (hooray!).
The latest iPad went on sale on Friday 18 September 2020 over at Apple.
Here we’re looking at all the retailers offering the iPad 2020 and where you can get the best deal. The good news is, we’ve done some digging however and have found all the places you can buy the iPad 8 right now – whether on its own or on contract.
Where to buy the iPad 2020 (8th Gen.)
You can buy the 10.2in iPad directly from Apple, but there are plenty of third-party retailers that also stock the entry-level tablet.
Currys has the device is in stock, where it’s available for free standard delivery (3-5 days), collection, or next day delivery (for £5). Get the iPad 8 from Currys now.
Here are all the retailers that are selling the iPad 8th gen (2020):
1. Apple iPad 10.2in (2020, 128GB, cellular)
Now: £519.97 (£39.03 off)
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The 2020 10.2in iPad gets a notable performance upgrade over its predecessor and retains Apple Pencil support too. This WiFi-capable model benefits from a nice discount on Amazon.
2. Apple iPad 10.2in (2020, 128GB, Wi-Fi)
Now: £396.99 (£32.01 off)
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It’s a price that’s hard to beat from Costco on this 128GB Wi-Fi only model. The only catch is you’ll need a Costco membership.
3. Apple iPad 10.2in (2020, 32GB, Wi-Fi + Cellular)
Now: £430.69 (£28.31 off)
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Apple’s 32GB iPad (with cellular) has £28 off from Amazon.
4. Apple iPad 10.2in (2020, 32GB, Wi-Fi + Cellular)
Now: £449.82 (£9.18 off)
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Apple’s entry-level iPad with Cellular (4G) also has £9.18 off from KRCS
5. Apple iPad 10.2in (2020, 32GB)
Now: £307.99 (£21.01 off)
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Amazon’s outstanding price of £274.17 from the start of July has now ended, but this tidy discount from Costco is a solid second-best.
6. Apple iPad 10.2in (2020, 32GB)
From: Laptops Direct
Was: £329
Now: £319.97 (£9.03 off)
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Laptops Direct is offering £9 off the 32GB entry-level model right now.
7. Apple iPad 10.2in (32GB, 2020) with 10GB data
From: O2
Was: £31 per month, £20 upfront
Now: £27.50 per month, £20 upfront (with 6 months of Disney+)
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O2’s deal includes 6 months of Disney+ with the iPad 2020. Keep in mind this contract is for 48 months. You can choose shorter terms, but that will raise the monthly rate.
8. Apple iPad 10.2in (32GB, 2020) – Wi-Fi only
Now: £329 (with 5 months of Apple News+, Arcade and Music)
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The iPad 2020 with 32GB storage doesn’t have a discount from Currys PC World, but you do get 5 months of Apple services for free, along with free next-day delivery.
We can’t see the 10.2in iPad at the Refurbished Store at the moment, but here are a few alternatives worth checking out:
See our full guide to buying a refurbished iPad.
How much does the iPad 2020 cost?
The new iPad is available in 32GB and 128GB storage capacities, both of which are available with cellular connectivity:
- iPad 10.2in (2020, 32GB): £329/$329/AUD$499
- iPad 10.2in (2020, 128GB): £429/$429/AUD$649
- iPad 10.2in (2020, 32GB, cellular): £459/$459/AUD$699
- iPad 10.2in (2020, 128GB, cellular): £559/$559/AUD$849
This makes the 8th generation iPad £20 cheaper in the UK than its 2019 predecessor, which had prices as follows (though US pricing remains the same) :
- Wi-Fi, 32GB – £349/US$329
- Wi-Fi, 128GB – £449/US$429
- Wi-Fi + Cellular, 32GB – £479/US$459
- Wi-Fi + Cellular, 128GB – £579/US$559
Is there an Apple Education discount on the iPad 2020?
Yes, if you’re affiliated with a university – whether a student, staff, or parent of a university student – you can get an Apple Education discount. Apple’s current promotion includes a credit towards a free pair of Apple AirPods.
Read more about Apple’s Back to School sale.
Should I get the 10.2in iPad 8th gen (2020)?
The 10.2in iPad 8 comes with several improvements. First off, it is the first iPad with Apple’s Neural Engine. If you’re not sure what that means, it’s essentially Apple’s AI and machine learning software that allows its devices to operate more energy-efficiently, while improving speech recognition and image processing. This translates to faster performance, better AR (augmented reality) experiences, and of course a more natural interaction with Siri.
The A12 Bionic chip also means CPU performance ramps up by 40% compared to the 7th gen iPad, which is still available to buy, but more expensive. Apple claims the A12 chip upgrade should make the iPad 2020 “up to three times faster than the top-selling Android tablet”. It’s not difficult to imagine Apple alludes to Samsung’s offerings, which released the Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7 Plus tablets on 21 August 2020.
Of course, Samsung’s wares sit in an ultra-premium tier, starting at £619/US$649 for the Tab S7, and £799/US$849 for the S7+. Those prices are closer to the upcoming iPad Air which starts at 579/$599, which isn’t surprising as both the Air 2020 and Galaxy Tab S7 feature stronger processors (you get a high-end Snapdragon 865+ on the Tab S7 range and the A14 Bionic on the Air 2020).
The Tab S7 screens are larger, however, with a 12.4in display on the S7+ and an 11in display on the S7.
If a smaller 10.2in screen isn’t an issue, the iPad 2020 is a no brainer – especially if you were already considering buying the 7th generation (which you definitely should not buy new, now that the 8th gen is out). The 8th gen iPad marries performance with a palatable price, and trade-in deals make the device even more attractive.
See our round-up of the best tablet deals of the month, along with the best Galaxy Tab S7 range deals. For more Apple iPad deals see all the best offers over at our sister site Macworld UK.
