For the past few years, the iPad Air has been a halfway house between the entry-level iPad and high-end iPad Pro. It’s been for people who need some extra power, but don’t want to spend hundreds of pounds on a device which may not replace their laptop. 

However, at Apple’s ‘Time Flies’ event, the new Air got its moment in the spotlight. Despite a design shift to look similar to the latest Pros, the slate was the very first Apple device to come with the A14 Bionic chip, as well as moving Touch ID to the power button. 

While Apple didn’t reveal a release date at the event, the Air eventually went on sale from 23 October. Here are the best places you can buy the device on both sides of the pond. 

For more information and detailed testing, read our iPad Air (2020) review.

When was the new iPad Air released?

The 2020 iPad Air was announced at Apple’s 15 September ‘Time Flies’ event. Pre-orders were live from 16 October, with the device officially available from 23 October. 

This followed the same schedule as the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, although we have to wait until November for the Mini and Pro Max. 

How much does the new iPad Air cost?

There are four configurations to choose from, all of which are noticeably more expensive than the equivalent 2019 Air models:

  • iPad Air 2020 (64GB, Wi-Fi): £579/$599
  • iPad Air 2020 (256GB, Wi-Fi): £729/$749
  • iPad Air 2020 (64GB, cellular): £709/$729
  • iPad Air 2020 (256GB, cellular): £859/$879

Where to buy the new iPad Air

It perhaps goes without saying that the new iPad Air is available to buy from the Apple site in the UK and US.

The following third-party retailers are currently stocking the device in the UK:

In the US, this is the current lineup:

What features does the 2020 iPad Air have?

The new iPad Air is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, now sporting a design similar to that seen on the 2018 iPad Pro. A new 10.9in screen size has much smaller bezels, with Touch ID now built into the power button instead of below the screen. However, there’s no Face ID support.

Don’t forget to pick up a case for the Air 4 – see the best ones here.

Impressively, the Air is the very first device to sport Apple’s new A14 Bionic chip, with a serious boost in performance expected over last year’s A12. The single rear camera has also been upgraded to a 12Mp, f/1.8 sensor. 

Elsewhere, the new iPad Air also follows the Pro in shifting to USB-C, while there are new green and blue colour options to add to the existing Silver, Space Grey and Rose Gold.

For a more in-depth look at the device, check out our iPad Air (2020) hands-on review.