Wi-fi Only iPad, will I regret it?

I ordered my first wifi only too. I can hotspot my phone, so I'm not really worried about that aspect, but I will miss the iPad being able to find my location. Not sure how well that works in a wifi only model with no gps. I use maps quite a bit, but never for navigation. Always for reference from a stationary position.

That's really only a question you can answer. Where do you intend to use your iPad?

I only use my iPad at home, school, or at work where WIFI is available. I don't travel much and I drive myself to work. I leave the iPad at home when I'm out and about, unless I'm visiting friends/family, but they've all got wifi too. So, for me, the 4g is a waste and I'd rather spend the money on nice apps/accessories.

rneglia said:

Guys, I just got my first iPad, due to arrive on Friday. It's a 64gb with wi-fi only. I went with that because I sort of hate Verizon and AT&T and don't want to pay them any money all all.

I know the iPad data plans are month to month, so I realize I could turn it on and off when needed.

Did I make a mistake getting wi-fi only?

Thanks!

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I never used 3G on my iPad 1 (even though I purchased the 3G version). So when I buy the new iPad I'm getting just the Wi-Fi version. With a 4S, it would be overkill for me to get an LTE iPad.

rneglia said:

Did I make a mistake getting wi-fi only?

Click to expand...

Yes.

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applefan289 said:

I never used 3G on my iPad 1 (even though I purchased the 3G version). So when I buy the new iPad I'm getting just the Wi-Fi version. With a 4S, it would be overkill for me to get an LTE iPad.

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It's not overkill. It's convenient, and I prefer to save my 4S battery for talking on my phone. YMMV.

I had a Wifi only iPad before and preordered a new Wifi only iPad. I don't regret it at all, as I've never felt the need to use 4G and I'm almost always near a Wifi hotspot anyway. You can search the App Store for a free Wifi hotspot finder.

Not really if you have WiFi at home and places you take it. I got the WiFi version as well and if I made a mistake later, I could get a MiFi from Verizon if I had to.

Best of luck with the new iPad

Where are you going to use it?

I went Wifi only with my gen 1 as I had and still don't have any need for the 3g. I'm either at home, in the library, in the lecture theatre, or driving when i can't use it anyway.

My gf has never used the 3g on hers for similar reasons.

I wondered the same thing. I have 3G in my current ipad.
I used it for a while, short while, then opted for a mifi unit.
No regrets having the mifi.
Check craigs list or ebay for a device. I picked one up for $100, I can connect 5 devices if needed and sell it if I no longer needed it. Can't do that with the built in hardware.

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I am thinking wifi, as I can drop my AT&T unlimited and teather using my phone if I need to for an extra $20 a month. So far most hotels I stay at include wifi in our corporate rate, so it has not been a big stumbling issue for me.

Losing the ability to turn the iPad into a 4g lte mifi isn't a big loss, as most places don't have lte yet, and I never carry both an iPad and a full laptop.

One thing to consider is the loss of the gps. The wifi location works great, but it is useless for turn by turn. Simple location services (like restaurants near a hotel search) works great however.

I have an xgps150 iPad compatible gps, I use this for aviation purposes where even the iPhone internal gps has issues. It's $100, so while needed for aviation, for surface uses (driving, boating, etc) the 4g iPad would be almost the same cost as the wifi only plus a gps add-on.

I ordered a 32gb Wifi....I have a 4s jailbroken and loaded with MyWi....I'll take the $130 i saved from not buying a 4G iPad and purchase a phone suite battery case to counter the battery drain from tethering.

I debated 4g vs wifi as well....and eventually I went with wifi.

-I would need to drive 1.5 hours to get to the nearest LTE coverage area

-I am almost never without wifi in places where I can or would use the ipad

-I always have my unlimited plan on my iPhone if I get get caught without wifi...I cans till check email or do some browsing from that no problem; I have for years.

My family bought my stepdad a 64gb 3g original ipad for his birthday a couple years ago....he has yet to use the 3g connectivity. IMO, if it fits your lifestyle and it's something you're already using or constantly catch yourself wishing you had it, go for it. I personally doubt I would use it very often if ever. The only time I think I would use it would be when I'm visiting relatives, but they have terrible coverage out there anyway and even then I still have my phone.

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I thought the same thing but i figured if i end up needing traveling data, id just add the hotspot feature to my verizon account. To me... i just cant justify the extra cost for the lte model and then the monthly feature.

vulsker said:

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I thought the same thing but i figured if i end up needing traveling data, id just add the hotspot feature to my verizon account. To me... i just cant justify the extra cost for the lte model and then the monthly feature.

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I thought this was the case for me, and I even went so far as to get a virgin mobile mifi pay as you go interenet for all my devices to work off the wifi. Just decided to go 3g after that and it was the best choice I ever made. So OP you might regret the limitations even if you have some alternatives like I did.

From the many threads on this, I think the overall answer is: If you have a smartphone, no. If you don't, very likely.

I don't have a smartphone, and I regret it. There have been many times while traveling away from wifi that Internet would have been very useful, even if I didn't buy it every month. I am definitely getting it on my next iPad.

This is a common question people have. In the end, it depends on where you live and how you are going to use it. For me, I live in a very tech-savvy region, so there are wifi hotspots all over the place. Shopping malls, coffee shops, even hair stylists and certain bus routes have free wifi. And for me, if I'm somewhere with no wifi, I have a smart phone I can use instead of the iPad.

But if wifi isn't so prevalent where you live, or the places you go a lot where you would use the device online have no free internet, or you just want to be able to use the device online no matter where you are and don't mind paying the extra $130, then it would make sense to get a cell-enabled iPad.

coolosxapps said:

I had a Wifi only iPad before and preordered a new Wifi only iPad. I don't regret it at all, as I've never felt the need to use 4G and I'm almost always near a Wifi hotspot anyway. You can search the App Store for a free Wifi hotspot finder.

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I've got a wifi finder app.... Unfortunately, I always find myself needing it when I don't have an Internet connection to use it with. Kinda defeats the purpose. Sure, I can plan ahead sometimes, but it's a bit of a pain to plan for every stop I might possibly make on a trip - and still doesn't help while I'm in the car on a road trip or at my grandma's house.

porcupine8 said:

From the many threads on this, I think the overall answer is: If you have a smartphone, no. If you don't, very likely.

I don't have a smartphone, and I regret it. There have been many times while traveling away from wifi that Internet would have been very useful, even if I didn't buy it every month. I am definitely getting it on my next iPad.

Click to expand...

+1. I regretted my iPad 2 wifi purchase. But getting the LTE iPad now. But honestly if I had an iPhone or other tetherable smartphone and was already paying for a data plan I would get the wifi version.

This will be my third iPad without 3/4G. I mainly use it at work or at home where there is wifi available. There were times I wish I had cellular connection, but I have my phone for that. It's pretty difficult to walk and use the iPad at the same time.

I'm actually thinking the opposite as you. I bought the 4G LTE version and I'm wondering if that was a bad decision.

I don't know how much I'll use it. I had an iPad 1 that was wifi only and never really had any issues where I was like damn I wish I had 3G on this thing.

I went with the 4G LTE this time just to see if I figure out ways to use it, otherwise I'll know for next time to stick to Wifi only.

rneglia said:

Did I make a mistake getting wi-fi only?

Click to expand...

How could anyone possibly answer this question for you? What do *you* need the iPad to do for *you* and where do *you* intend to use it?

ZBoater said:

Yes.

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It's not overkill. It's convenient, and I prefer to save my 4S battery for talking on my phone. YMMV.

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It's definitely convenient for when you need it, but for the two years I've had my first generation iPad, I have never activated the 3G once.

So this time around, I'm not going to waste $130 extra on a capability I probably will never use.

Another reason is that I'm already paying for data per month on my 4S, and would lean toward not wanting to purchase data for the iPad, just as a matter of principle, considering I can access the same info on my iPhone.

It sounds though like rneglia did not want to support AT&T or Verizon. If it's for that reason only (and they have a use for LTE/3G), then maybe they would have made use out of the 3G/LTE.

But I personally don't see a need for it in the iPad, especially since I have a 4S I pay monthly data fees for.

rneglia said:

Guys, I just got my first iPad, due to arrive on Friday. It's a 64gb with wi-fi only. I went with that because I sort of hate Verizon and AT&T and don't want to pay them any money all all.

I know the iPad data plans are month to month, so I realize I could turn it on and off when needed.

Did I make a mistake getting wi-fi only?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

If you travel once in a while, perhaps you'll regret it. Free wi-fi ain't everywhere and when you travel you could easily sign up for a month.

If you never travel, I do not think you'll regret it.

I remember not using the. Ellular for near 6 months on my iPad. Then all of a sudden I am where there is no WiFi and cellular save my day! I guess I could have lived without it but after that one time being somewhere for a week with no WiFi, I would never own another iPad with out it.

You got to make your own choices.