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

iPad Air 2 WiFi Only

I

iPadSquirrel

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 18, 2017
5
0
Westport, MA
My iPad 2 died and I need a replacement iPad Air 2 was suggested. I currently have WiFi but Im moving in May. I'm not sure was type of connection I'll have.

So, I need recommendations for a replacement capable of using any connection, comparable to iPad 2, under $600 and simple to learn for an amnesiac.

Thank you.
 
iPadSquirrel said:
My iPad 2 died and I need a replacement iPad Air 2 was suggested. I currently have WiFi but Im moving in May. I'm not sure was type of connection I'll have.

So, I need recommendations for a replacement capable of using any connection, comparable to iPad 2, under $600 and simple to learn for an amnesiac.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Then if you need any connection, I would certainly invest in cellular and Wi-Fi as stated from another forum member.
 
I had a cellular iPad 2 and then went to a WiFi only Air 2. Definitely miss the cellular capability. I have a 7Plus, so its not like I have a 'small' screen, but sometimes I just want to use my iPad while out and about.
 
I have never bought a Wi-Fi only device. I Enjoy the freedom of being able to use it everywhere. I highly recommend buying an iPad Air 2 with cellular capability, it is very fast and stable. My wife has one and users it always. I have a Mini 4 same. I can't imagine having to rely on Wi-Fi while out and about.
 
Channan said:
Full retail for the cellular 32GB Air is $530 and different retailers do regular discounts of $100 if you can wait, but even full retail is within your budget.
Click to expand...
Exactly what I was going to recommend.

After owning Wi-Fi only iPads for a while, I won't even consider them now.
 
I only buy wifi only for iPads. Don't see why I should give more money to Apple.

My iPhone has hotspot capability if needed but I only use my iPad on wifi.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Beachguy
bufffilm said:
I only buy wifi only for iPads. Don't see why I should give more money to Apple.

My iPhone has hotspot capability if needed but I only use my iPad on wifi.
Click to expand...
I used to feel the same way, but I have unlimited data on Verizon and hotspot is an extra $30/month. My parents have the unlimited plan with DirecTV and it's $40 for me to add my iPad to their plan.

The extra $130 for a cellular iPad plus the $10/month difference between hotspot vs. an additional line is worth it to save the battery life on my phone and having unlimited data on the two best networks in the US. Not to mention the added bonus of GPS (though not a deciding factor for me at all) and the ability to use the hotspot on my iPad with unlimited data still.

It's really nice also now that I'm back in school and the school's Wi-Fi is not very reliable. I can activate my iPad's hotspot from my MacBook Pro without even taking it out of my backpack and the much larger battery lasts much longer than my phone's, and I still have a mostly charged phone by the end of the day.
 
Thanks to all. The cellular and wifi models all mention certain cellular services. I don't want to incur extra charges each month for cellular service. I figure at least $50 a month just for that.

I'm shopping online at Target since I have a card there. I can't find an iPad that doesn't specify the carrier. I saw one I liked but they don't ship it.

I had hoped to find one and ordered it already
 
iPadSquirrel said:
My iPad 2 died and I need a replacement iPad Air 2 was suggested. I currently have WiFi but Im moving in May. I'm not sure was type of connection I'll have.

So, I need recommendations for a replacement capable of using any connection, comparable to iPad 2, under $600 and simple to learn for an amnesiac.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

If you want to have a connection at all times you will need to add cellular. You will find it expensive so you need to get WiFi set up at home.
 
iPadSquirrel said:
Thanks to all. The cellular and wifi models all mention certain cellular services. I don't want to incur extra charges each month for cellular service. I figure at least $50 a month just for that.

I'm shopping online at Target since I have a card there. I can't find an iPad that doesn't specify the carrier. I saw one I liked but they don't ship it.

I had hoped to find one and ordered it already
Click to expand...

If you have an iPhone with hotspot capability (or a feature you are willing to add to your cellular plan) with instant hotspot on iOS devices its very intuitive to connect the iPad to the iPhone and have data anywhere.

Any smartphone with hotspot can be used just requires you to turn it on on the phone and log in on the iPad if its not an iPhone.

I always have my phone on me so I only buy wifi iPads and use it everywhere. When I had a cellular model I didnt take it out of the house enough to justify the added expense of an additional data plan.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RudySnow
Newtons Apple said:
If you want to have a connection at all times you will need to add cellular. You will find it expensive so you need to get WiFi set up at home.
Click to expand...

It's simple...ask yourself what you need cellular for and how often.

Hotspot is free for me (in fact, I've yet to use it once since I got my 6s) and my iPhone does GPS duties, so wifi only suits me best.

YMMV.
 
Remember, you don't have to have service all the time on a 4G iPad. You can turn it off if you find that you aren't using it often and just tether to your iPhone or use on WiFi. Assuming of course you don't buy the iPad directly from a cellular provide like Verizon and get a discount. I know Verizon used to give $200 discounts on iPads, but it required a 2 year contract, not sure if they still do that.

Like the other poster mentioned, only the 4G models have GPS, which I find very useful on road trips. The larger map is great, and it seems like the GPS tends to be a bit more accurate/get better signal in some locations. I'm not sure if it has bigger/better antennas or what. When I was in the Smoky Mountains my iPhone would sometimes lose the GPS signal or show me way off from where I was actually located, while my iPad tended to be more accurate or not lose the signal.
 
$600 is a lot of money that means you would be able to afford wifi with cellular connection. T-Mobile is cheap with cellular data plan. Good luck! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back