Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

saintforlife

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 25, 2011
1,046
329
Will it function as well as an LTE iPad would? Is there any loss in data speeds when going through the iPhone? The maps in the larger screen of the iPad mini is definitely better to look at than the tiny iPhone screen.
 
Will it function as well as an LTE iPad would? Is there any loss in data speeds when going through the iPhone? The maps in the larger screen of the iPad mini is definitely better to look at than the tiny iPhone screen.

Yes it can, but I believe the accuracy of your location will not be as good as if you had a cellar model iPad. The cellular model iPads have a GPS built into the device whereas the wifi only model does not.

I am about 99% sure this is the case but if someone has a better/correct answer please chime in. Either way, to answer your question, YES you can use the iPad as a GPS for the bigger screen.
 
The Wi-Fi model uses nearby hotspots as reference points for determining its location, even if the iPad is connected to an iPhone. However, I've heard you can buy a GPS unit that connects to the iPad via Bluetooth.


You might want to consider buying the Wi-Fi + LTE model instead, which has a GPS chip.
 
Will it function as well as an LTE iPad would? Is there any loss in data speeds when going through the iPhone? The maps in the larger screen of the iPad mini is definitely better to look at than the tiny iPhone screen.


ipad mini wifi is not meant for navigation. Map yes. but navigation, NO.

Use your iPhone for navigation.

Teether is ok, but why waste two devices' batteries?

I never buy tablets without cellular. more expensive, but having cellular "OPTION" is well worth the extra cost.
 
ipad mini wifi is not meant for navigation. Map yes. but navigation, NO.

Use your iPhone for navigation.

Teether is ok, but why waste two devices' batteries?

I never buy tablets without cellular. more expensive, but having cellular "OPTION" is well worth the extra cost.

Then again.. how useful is GPS on a tablet anyway? It's cumbersome in a vehicle and your iPhone is way more useful
 
Then again.. how useful is GPS on a tablet anyway? It's cumbersome in a vehicle and your iPhone is way more useful


True. Haha. Options.

Then again, not EVERYWHERE has wifi (or free wifi). So, having Cellular 4G can guarantee you that as long as there is cell phone service, there will be wifi.

Why haven't Starbucks and McDonald's have free wifi yet?
 
Can you elaborate? How can it work without a data plan?

GPS by itself doesn't use data. Data is needed to load the maps though. Otherwise you'd just have a blue dot on a blank screen. You could buy the cellular version so that it has the GPS chip and then tether it to an iPhone to get the data to load the maps.
 
Last edited:
GPS by itself doesn't use data. Data is needed to load the maps though. Otherwise you'd just have a blue dot on a blank screen. You could buy the cellular version so that it has the GPS chip and then tether it to an iPhone to get te data to load the maps.
Or just download navigon or one of the many map apps that have maps saved locally.

You don't have to use data this way but I'd still go cellular ipad for the agps chip. Data is handy for traffic updates tho ;)
 
Can you elaborate? How can it work without a data plan?


apps like navigon or tomtom download the maps to your device so you don't need data to load new map sheets. i have used navigon in areas with no cell service and it worked great
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.