iPad 3: AT&T or Verizon (Buying in US before going home to Europe)

hey

you can buy any at&t version but do not buy verzion..

so no worries you can get at%t i have the same and i use it it germany or sometimes asia

I would go for the AT&T model, as it can utilize LTE on the 700 mHz and AWS frequencies whereas the Verizon just has the 700mHz bands.

Depending on your country and your provider, you might be able to use those. Otherwise, both the AT&T and the Verizon models will roam on GSM/UMTS HSDPA 21.1 Mbps.

Raelthorne said:

Hi folks,

Quick question about the iPad 3. I'm off to the States for a long holiday on Sunday, touring the east coast area and I'm going to get the new iPad.

Originally I was going to get an iPad 2 until the new one was announced I was going for the 3G model and from researching it, I knew I'd have to get the AT&T model (which was unlocked and compatible with any microsim & European GSM networks) and not the CDMA Verizon version which wouldn't take a microsim.

I was wondering, with the new iPad and the AT&T and Verizon versions, does it matter which one I get (I'm primarily interested in European use for when I get home). The Apple site says that both the ATT and Verizon model of the new iPad can roam worldwide on GSM/UMTS networks. So in effect, does it really matter which version I get?

Thanks for any and all help,

Thorne

Click to expand...

While it is true that both devices will work equally well in Europe on 3G networks, if you ever plan to use it the states, you might want to research the LTE coverage. Verizon has better coverage presently. But depending on where you may go, AT&T may have adequate coverage. Also, with the Verizon model, you can still get AT&T 4G (not LTE).

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Kralledr said:

hey

you can buy any at&t version but do not buy verzion..

so no worries you can get at%t i have the same and i use it it germany or sometimes asia

Click to expand...

Why not Verizon?

As long as it is the New iPad then it won't matter if it is AT&T or Verizon. They both have the same international functions when using a SIM from that country.

Raelthorne said:

Thanks for the advice folks.

Just to confirm, whichever version I pick its, it doesn't matter which version with the microsim for 3G in Europe, but it'll effect 4G speeds in the US when travelling there?

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This is my interpretation. I have asked multiple resources and got this response. Also, if you look at the specs for both iPads on the Apple site you will notice that they both use the same GSM/Edge frequencies which is what the international plans will use.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

The only thing you need to be careful of is if your country will only allow you to purchase a data plan if your iPad was bought in that country. For example, In Japan if you want data for an iPad you need to go through a cell company called Softbank. This company will only give data plans to residents and, from my understanding, iPads that have been purchased in Japan. This probably is not the case with your country but I think double checking won't hurt.

Regardless, looking at the specs, Verizon or AT&T will be fine.

Coverage and quality is much better on Verizon than on AT&T all over the USA. That is not just my experience, it is what Consumer Reports magazine, a nonbiased, ad-free source, has reported for two years running, across multiple cities all over the USA. Here on the west side of Los Angeles our iPad3 gets LTE whenever we turn it on, no problems. We used to have trouble everywhere with AT&T just getting carrier for our non-smart phones. Not a bit of trouble after we switched to Verizon.

Just remember that the Verizon warranty will not be valid outside of the US, whereas the AT&T model is.

reclusive46 said:

Just remember that the Verizon warranty will not be valid outside of the US, whereas the AT&T model is.

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The iPad comes with an Apple warranty, not a carrier warranty.

cfs said:

As long as it is the New iPad then it won't matter if it is AT&T or Verizon. They both have the same international functions when using a SIM from that country.

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I am confused. I was in the Apple store today and the blue shirt told me that the Verizon iPad3 does not have a sim card and can only be used via Verizon roaming overseas and it is carrier locked to Verizon.

old-wiz said:

I am confused. I was in the Apple store today and the blue shirt told me that the Verizon iPad3 does not have a sim card and can only be used via Verizon roaming overseas and it is carrier locked to Verizon.

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The blue shirt is an idiot. It does have a sim card tray and I believe that all iPads are sold unlocked.

old-wiz said:

I am confused. I was in the Apple store today and the blue shirt told me that the Verizon iPad3 does not have a sim card and can only be used via Verizon roaming overseas and it is carrier locked to Verizon.

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As the guy above me said, the guy was an idiot. The Verizon iPad does have a SIM card or else it wouldn't work with LTE.

It is also unlocked. You can get a Verizon new iPad to work on AT&T's 3G network with an AT&T sim and changing a few settings.

old-wiz said:

I am confused. I was in the Apple store today and the blue shirt told me that the Verizon iPad3 does not have a sim card and can only be used via Verizon roaming overseas and it is carrier locked to Verizon.

Click to expand...

That used to be true with the iPad 2. With the iPad 3, as everybody else has been saying, it does have a SIM card slot, and is unlocked for use with foreign carriers' SIM.

thanks to all! Some of the blueshirts are better (and worse) than others.

See post #17 in this other thread for my best attempt at summarizing my knowledge on this subject. Hope it helps -- others please chime in where I am wrong: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1390443/

So which version did you buy and did it work for you?

Someone recently wrote they took a Verizon iPad 3 to Europe (France) and he couldn't get it to work with either of 2 carriers. Has that been your experience too?

elefantrider said:

So which version did you buy and did it work for you?

Someone recently wrote they took a Verizon iPad 3 to Europe (France) and he couldn't get it to work with either of 2 carriers. Has that been your experience too?

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Sorry for the couple day delay in replying... Just saw your post.

Currently writing this on my bought in the US Verizon New iPad. In Germany using my Telekom iPhone 4 sim card - Moin, moin!

Couple notes. When I put my Telekom sim card in the iPad it let me know it was sim locked, I hit unlock and inputed my pin - just like I do on my iphone4. The iPad gongulated for a couple seconds after I turned cell data on and then found the Telekom.de network.

My cell data page under settings changed, Verizon specific buttons to log into my Verizon account disappeared, and an APN link showed up (that was not previously there). I can go into APN and change the settings if required -- but it auto inputed them and started working with no inputs required by me. Though I had the APN settings handy if they were required.

The personal hotspot page under settings disappeared - my Telekom account does not have personal hotspot - so that was almost expected.

BL: no issues with US Verizon iPad new/3 working with a German sim. My iPad is not JB btw and running 5.1.1.

Of note - my SIM card is normally running in an iphone4 - ie is already activated. Sometimes the activation period for a new sim card can take a bit. I have a no contract Tschibo sim I use in a MiFi. Activation took 24 hrs when I was setting it up a while back. It's a regular size SIM but I have been thinking of cutting it/finding a micro SIM card punch to fit it in my iPad - will report results when/or if I do that. Suspect previous problems reported from people in Europe are either operator error or Sim cards that haven't been activated. (activation period seems different based upon carrier - last summer when vacationing in Sweden I bought a Telenor sim that was activated out of the box...)

e

Ps - while finishing this post I got a pop up notification letting me know new carrier settings were available and would I like to update them. As this is my normal cell sim I hit no - I don't have a specific to iPhone contract with Telekom but better safe than sorry!

Little E said:

Sorry for the couple day delay in replying... Just saw your post.

... cell data page under settings changed, Verizon specific buttons to log into my Verizon account disappeared, and an APN link showed up (that was not previously there). I can go into APN and change the settings if required -- but it auto inputed them and started working with no inputs required by me. Though I had the APN settings handy if they were required.

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For ***** and giggles I just put my US Verizon sim card back in the iPad - APN link went away and the Verizon view account link came back - even though I obviously have no Verizon service here in Germany. Appears much of that stuff is specific to the SIM card/account/carrier.

e

Little E said:

For ***** and giggles I just put my US Verizon sim card back in the iPad - APN link went away and the Verizon view account link came back - even though I obviously have no Verizon service here in Germany. Appears much of that stuff is specific to the SIM card/account/carrier.

e

Click to expand...

You post about the differences between AT&T and VZW iPad was the most useful. That has helped me to make a decision to purchase the VZW version.

Thanks for letting us know the account settings / APN settings screen is SIM dependent.

I think the carrier usually store the APN setting on the SIM. That explains why you don't have to enter it manually. But nice to know you have the ability to change it in Europe. Maybe Europeans are far more technical then the Americans.

Thanks much! I pulled the trigger on a Verizon unit because their service is better in So.Cal. - looks like I made the right choice for both places.

Only reason I'd avoid vzw version is incase you need service, your local apple store in Europe most likely stocks the AT&T version instead of vzw (since its US only). You may have warranty issues down the track.

Would someone confirm if the Verizon iPad works on HSPA+ internationally (like say... China, France and or Brazil)? HSPA+ is plenty fast for me and having LTE at home would be a bonus.

bogatyr said:

Would someone confirm if the Verizon iPad works on HSPA+ internationally (like say... China, France and or Brazil)? HSPA+ is plenty fast for me and having LTE at home would be a bonus.

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In the UK, I am getting HSPA+ with my VZW iPad, and I am constantly getting 15M+ Down and 5M Up in London. With 4G LTE in San Fran, I'm getting 20M Up and Down. The 20M Up is nice, but unless you are uploading large video files, you are not going to see much of a difference.

I think Europe is just going to skip LTE and head straight for the proper 4G.

Little E said:

My cell data page under settings changed, Verizon specific buttons to log into my Verizon account disappeared, and an APN link showed up (that was not previously there). I can go into APN and change the settings if required - but it auto-inputted them and started working with no inputs required by me. Though I had the APN settings handy if they were required.

Click to expand...

I think Apple has preset carrier profiles for all of their official carrier partners worldwide. Assuming your iDevice is unlocked, whenever you insert a SIM from one of such carriers, it will recognize it accordingly and apply proper settings. If you insert a SIM from any other carrier, it will present you with APN settings that you can put in manually.

I had the same thing happen on my unlocked iPhone 4S. Although I am on AT&T right now, I purchased a pre-paid T-Mobile plan and their MicroSIM to double-check that the phone is in fact unlocked. Whenever I insert T-Mobile SIM, the APN settings appear and I have to apply them manually. When I remove that and put back AT&T SIM, APN settings disappear and are configured automatically.