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

Last chance to order Apple Pencil for delivery in time for Christmas

By Aaron Mamiit December 19, 2020

Apple Pencil — Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

For those who gave in to the temptation of this holiday season’s iPad deals, you should consider buying accessories to protect and maximize the tablet. Cases and screen protectors are must-haves for the iPad, but if you want to unlock its full potential, you should invest in an Apple Pencil, which is currently on sale with a $19 discount from Amazon to lower its price to $80 from $99. However, if you want to get it in time for Christmas, you need to click that Buy Now button as soon as you can.

The first-generation Apple Pencil allows you to more easily use the iPad as a canvas, as an artistic outlet for your drawings and doodles. However, the Apple Pencil is no longer just for graphic designers and artists, as iPadOS 14 introduces features that are helpful for everyone else. For example, the Scribble feature converts handwriting done with the Apple Pencil into text, which makes it easy to take notes with a mixture of words and images, for example. It’s not as fast as using an actual keyboard, but it makes more sense to take advantage of Scribble in certain situations. iPadOS 14 can also detect data such as phone numbers and email addresses, as well as identify shapes.

Not all iPad models are compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil though. The stylus will work with the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and the first- and second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro; the third-generation iPad Air; the fifth-generation iPad Mini; and the sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-generation iPad. To charge the Apple Pencil, you’ll have to reveal its charging point, which you’ll then plug into your iPad’s port. You’ll have to be careful though, as there’s a risk of catching the Apple Pencil on something while it’s there.

If the first-generation Apple Pencil is compatible with your iPad, you will be able to get even more out of your tablet if you purchase the stylus. If you’re sold on buying the accessory, Amazon is offering the Apple Pencil for only $80, after a $19 discount from its original price of $99, but if you want to have it in your hands by Christmas, you should click that Buy Now button immediately.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

Aaron received a NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was 4 years old, and he has been fascinated with…

Mobile

Best iPad deals: Save on iPad Air, iPad Pro, iPad Mini for the New Year

iPad Pro 2020 Screen.

There's a tablet out there for almost everyone, with designs available to accommodate anything from kids to creative professionals. The Apple iPad is one of the most popular tablet lineups, with the best iPads offering a wide range of options and capabilities. If you’re in the market for a new iPad, there are some great iPad deals worth shopping right now. In fact, not only are iPads some of the best Apple deals currently taking place, but some of the best tablet deals as well. We’ve rounded up what we feel are the best tablet deals to shop at the moment. They include iPads, iPad cases and covers, and iPad accessories, so read onward for more details.
Apple iPad 10.2 (9th Gen) 64GB Wi-Fi -- $249, was $329

Apple's A13 Bionic chip is no M1 or M2, but it still offers 64-bit architecture and neural engine support for excellent performance. In other words, this 10.2-inch iPad is incredible value. It has a 10.2-inch Retina display, 64GB of storage, supports Touch ID and Apple Pencil (1st Gen), and it's size, plus all-day battery life make it an excellent choice for anyone with an on-the-go lifestyle.

Mobile

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.

Mobile

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.