No, I haven't signed up for a plan yet. But I'm glad I got the LTE-enabled iPad, because I like using GPS-enabled apps.
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All iPads Do you find yourself needing cellular?
- Thread starter xNYMetsx
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I currently have a 3rd gen ipad. The free 200mb/month from tmobile was enough to get me to consider a LTE ipad, but I decided to go with wifi. Everyone's situation is different - for me, there aren't any situations where there's no wifi and I can't do what I need to do on my iphone.
For longer trips, we've done just fine without data on the ipad - just download a couple of movies and play games that don't require data. If I find that I really need data on a trip, I'll just pay for mobile hotspot for that period of time, which ends up being prorated of $30/month.
For longer trips, we've done just fine without data on the ipad - just download a couple of movies and play games that don't require data. If I find that I really need data on a trip, I'll just pay for mobile hotspot for that period of time, which ends up being prorated of $30/month.
After speaking to a Verizon rep today about my share everything plan and whether or not to go cellular or not, even she said I don't need it. She herself tethers to her iPhone using wifi and said it's rarely been a problem. I can see where peops who travel a lot feel the need but I pay enough for my iPhone service that I'd prefer not adding another $10 bucks a month. Plus, I've seen several posts here where folks who bought cellular last time, found they only needed it a couple times.
It's been real interesting reading the replies here. About a year ago, IIRC, most said get cellular. Now, the gap is closing between cellular vs wifi users to an almost 50/50 difference. As for the GPS, I can use my iPhone 5 for that or my Garmin in my car. So it comes down to your usage and how much you think you need cellular. With the iPad Air reporting a 2X increase in wifi, I think for me, I'll be fine tethering when outside my home.
It's been real interesting reading the replies here. About a year ago, IIRC, most said get cellular. Now, the gap is closing between cellular vs wifi users to an almost 50/50 difference. As for the GPS, I can use my iPhone 5 for that or my Garmin in my car. So it comes down to your usage and how much you think you need cellular. With the iPad Air reporting a 2X increase in wifi, I think for me, I'll be fine tethering when outside my home.
That's because adding tethering to phone plans used to cost $30-50 while the tablet data plans were very reasonably priced comparatively speaking and very easy to sign up for on the iPad. Personally, I don't mind paying the $130 and extra $10/mo for the convenience.
I wouldn't say I need it, however I would only buy a cellular iPad, it just makes life easier, and the monthly cost is pretty cheap.
I wouldnt choose it over Wi-Fi of course.
I wouldnt choose it over Wi-Fi of course.
Ah, that makes sense. Since I haven't been able to purchase an iPad before, I wasn't sleuthing around as in depth as I am now.
Thanks for explaining.
I take my iPad with me everywhere I go. An iPad with out cellular, for my needs, is useless. Some say hotspots are everywhere and I would disagree with that. It is rare I can find a hotspot. When I do they are often expensive, and grant access to slow and congested networks. I love just leaving cellular on and when I leave my home I dint have to even think about losing my connection or having to find a new one.
That being said if your iPad never leaves your home the wifi model is obviously better.
Ummmm, more elegant? Than built in LTE?
Ummmm, no. Cheaper if you already have a phone, yes. More elegant? No.
Question for those of you who have cellular...
I've read where some have had their data plans get eaten up pretty fast by the iPad. How do you control that? Do you switch the cellular off at times or something?
I've read where some have had their data plans get eaten up pretty fast by the iPad. How do you control that? Do you switch the cellular off at times or something?
I've had an iPad for about a year and a half now and haven't really found myself wishing it had cellular. I have on occasion tethered with my iPhone (which is free as long as I'm jailbroken) but for the most part I've never really been somewhere or needed to do something that has made me think "Man, I really wish I could connect to LTE right now."
I'm gonna upgrade from my 3rd Gen iPad to an iPad Air in the next couple of months and would seriously consider the T-Mobile iPad because of their free 200mb/month; however, I am likely moving overseas soon and wouldn't benefit from the cellular anyways. They make a very compelling case for getting a cellular iPad. 200mb would be pretty perfect for filling those couple times a month that I feel like it'd be nice to have cellular.
I'm gonna upgrade from my 3rd Gen iPad to an iPad Air in the next couple of months and would seriously consider the T-Mobile iPad because of their free 200mb/month; however, I am likely moving overseas soon and wouldn't benefit from the cellular anyways. They make a very compelling case for getting a cellular iPad. 200mb would be pretty perfect for filling those couple times a month that I feel like it'd be nice to have cellular.
Trust is irrelevant. It's a subjective matter. Your preference doesn't dictate the preference of others.
Switch it on only when needed.
Thanks takeshi. It would freak me out to wake up and find my data plan used up over night (as some reported on various forums).
I'm going to buy it this time due to tmobile 200 mb free deal. I usually just tether to my phone when traveling. It will be kinda worth it I guess.
Agreed. Hotspoting through the iPhone is a pita. I hate how it drops the hotspot every so often.
Which apps do you like that require GPS to be enabled? Just curious. I only pre-paid for two months with my iPad 3 LTE and did WiFi the rest of the time. I did pay for tethering on my unlimited Verizon iPhone when I went on vacation, but it was for less than a month and so it was prorated.
This time around I think I'm going for just the WiFi version.
I've had ipad 3 and currently 4 with cellular. But never used sim in my ipad. I got it for GPS chip only.
Apps like Yelp, Tripadvisor and Redfin use your current location. Very helpful when traveling. You can't use location-based services on WiFi only.
Jack, would those apps work if the iPad is tethered to a 4G iPhone? I know some apps I use on my IP5 can tell where I am, so am curious if this carries over to a tethered iPad. This may be a stupid question, I honestly don't know.
Cellular iPad is crippled by design. You need WiFi to download/update large apps or update iOS. Some video streaming apps will also lower the bitrate on cellular.
The few times I've needed the cellular in my iPad I have been annoyed at not being able to do everything on cellular and it forced me to tether either way.
If you are connected to a WiFi, yes you can.
Always cellular for me. The whole point for me is the mobillity, connectivity and ease of use with the iPad. It needs to be a portable device always connected on its own without any need for tethering or wifi hotspots.
I can however understand the point of the wifi only, it all depends on what you expect the iPad to do and how convenient it needs to be.
I can however understand the point of the wifi only, it all depends on what you expect the iPad to do and how convenient it needs to be.
The only problem I see with having a 4G/LTE capable iPad is the fact that its functionality is way too dependent on wireless carriers and their rate plans. The original cellular iPad was hugely successful because of AT&T's $30 unlimited data plan. Nowadays the carriers have turned data plans into a drug of sorts.
I have a 30min train ride to work every day which is an hour a day on the train that i find cellular very useful on, checking work emails, surfing the internet, watching some occasional sky go.
I've had wifi ipads before and i would never go back now, tethering is a pain in the ass, especially on a train where your signal inevitably cuts in and out all the time, plus not to mention i have an old S3 which doesnt have LTE anyway, and the 4G mini is noticeably faster at surfing.
Got a 4G EE deal through carphone warehouse for £10 per month for 3GB data.
Think EE also offer "multi device" plans too, i havent looked into pricing though, but essentially you buy one plan but you get many sims and you share the data with all your devices
I've had wifi ipads before and i would never go back now, tethering is a pain in the ass, especially on a train where your signal inevitably cuts in and out all the time, plus not to mention i have an old S3 which doesnt have LTE anyway, and the 4G mini is noticeably faster at surfing.
Got a 4G EE deal through carphone warehouse for £10 per month for 3GB data.
Think EE also offer "multi device" plans too, i havent looked into pricing though, but essentially you buy one plan but you get many sims and you share the data with all your devices