Verizon new iPad using cellular data when I'm on WIFI?

So, I've been shocked at how much data my LTE Verizon iPad has used.

Just doing the same things as my iPad 2, (mostly forum browsing, checking email, twitter and the RARE youtube video, it's several times higher. I even went several days without watching any video at all and it's still high.

I know there is a lag of a few hours before it has been reported and visible in the Cellular Data section of the settings app ( where you log in, not under usage) so is been going up even when I'm home on wifi, but that could just be data from late in the day. I've been taking screenshots of the usage screen and just checked this morning again.

Since Friday at about 4:30 it has been at home and connected to wifi the whole time. Between 9:00 Saturday PM and 9:06 Sunday AM it used 27 megabytes of cellular data. WTF? After 30 hours surely all the data has been reported from Friday. If this is the case typically every day/night, that's close to half my data allowance used up when it should be on wifi.

Now, I never tracked it like this on the iPad 2 but I never had issues staying under 2 gig, except one month when it was just over. I'm at 1526 now after 10 days. Does it fall back to LTE when it is idle all night? I would assume it would use wifi when it could as it gets better battery life that way. Am I going to have to manually switch cellular data off when I get home?

I have not set up iCloud so it is off and don't have auto downloading of anything on.

I'll just start turning cellular data off when I'm on wifi.

It would not such a big deal if data usage was not so darn high already with the new higher res screen.

IllIllIll said:

Ummm, unless you are streaming HD video the "new higher res screen" has nothing to do with higher data usage.

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I was under the impression that some websites detect your resolution and serve content based on that. I know Maps is downloading much higher resolution tiles right from the beginning as its obvious and I've tested that side by side with the iPad 2 my wife is now using.

It's the only thing I can think of as to why, doing the exact same things I did on the iPad and iPad 2, this thing is using a multiple of the amount of data. Unless Verizon or the new iPad has some issue with correct data measurement.

I too would be interested in finding some alternate app to measure my usage, if one exists that does not require a jailbreak. Also, is there a way to get an accounting of the usage from Verizon on a no contract plan?

richpjr said:

I like DataUsage.

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Thanks. I downloaded it and it's working well.

Of course, I just used up all 2 gig after 10 days. I guess I misread as I thought its was widely reported an extra 1 gig was 10 bucks, but that's not the case on the pay as you go plan. (should have realized that and not believed everything I read - d'oh) So, for now, I changed to the 5 gig for $50 plan and I'll try not to use the thing as much or just get used to paying more.

I'm still not totally understanding how I can use data up so much more quickly doing the same things as before with my iPad 2 and I'm not totally happy with the fact that there seems to be no way to get an accounting from Verizon showing what I've used. I guess I need to look into the postpaid plans. I just don't really want to be on a contract with this thing.

Archer1440 said:

Now you know why those of us w unlimited data are careful not to let those plans go.

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Oh yeah! I still have the unlimited plan on our iPhones. Our original iPad was wifi only and I bought our iPad 2 after they had eliminated the option or I would have definitely stayed with AT&T.