SAN FRANCISCO — Apple Inc. said its latest iPad tablet will arrive in China on July 20, as the world’s most populous country becomes an increasingly critical market for the company’s business.

The new iPad, which went on sale in the United States in March, will cost $499 to $829, depending on the amount of memory and if the device is compatible with a cellular service, Apple said Tuesday.

China has become Apple’s second-biggest market, after the United States, as rising wages give Chinese citizens more disposable income. China accounted for $7.9 billion of Apple’s $39.2 billion in sales in the fiscal second quarter, which ended March 31. That was more than triple the company’s sales in the country a year earlier.

Apple said the new iPad will be available for purchase by reservation only at Apple retail stores. It also will be available for sale at authorized resellers and at the company’s online store.