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Should I ditch my iPhone for an iPad?

  • Go for it!

    Votes: 8 34.8%
  • The world is not ready for this yet

    Votes: 15 65.2%

  • Total voters
    23

mosiejczuk

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 9, 2009
85
20
Warszawa, Poland
I am thinking of getting rid of my phone altogether and replacing it with an iPad with unlimited data plan. I don't really call much anymore so I guess nothing major will change in my life if I stop answering 3G calls. I can think of several pros/cons:

pros:
+ finally one device to serve all purposes
+ reading and typing while commuting will be easier and more pleasant
+ can contact 95% of my friends and family via FaceTime, Google Hangouts or Messenger
+ no more telemarketing calls​

cons:
- awkward voice calls in public (basically headphones or no call)
- awkward photos in public
- those 5% friends and family who will be unable to call me
- some services require authenticating codes sent via standard Text, it would be a hassle to get them all switched to email (some services might not allow it at all)​

What do you think?
 

Shirasaki

macrumors P6
May 16, 2015
16,250
11,745
I would say, at some point, you gonna need a phone number to do something. Instead of having an iPhone, you can buy a dirt cheap burner phone and still receive occasional text and phone call, and use everything else on your iPad.
 
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NoBoMac

Moderator
Staff member
Jul 1, 2014
6,251
4,937
^^^This.

Friends and family get my cell number, everyone else gets my Google Voice number. And I have not had issues getting authentication texts/codes through that number.

Believe you can make/take calls as well via earbuds/earphones that have inline mic on iPad.

Won't totally get rid of telemarketer calls unless you get Google Voice and go to town re: getting their contacts system setup and then setting up who gets rung through vs sent to VM immediately. I run mine with Do Not Disturb turned on all the time, so, never rings, and get an email when there is a missed call or VM.

Now, yes, you will be "one of them" as you hold up your tablet to take a picture. Just looks so awkward, dorky. Deity forbid when trying to selfie with that slab o' glass.

ADD: if GV is not available in Europe, can look at some other similar service. For example, in the States there is Burner, TextFree to name two services. Skype number?
 

mosiejczuk

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 9, 2009
85
20
Warszawa, Poland
I already have a burner phone (heck, I also own an iPhone) but I'd like to not have to carry any of them with me.

As for Google voice - I looked into that, but unfortunately it is unavailable in Europe from what I've seen :/
 

RudySnow

Suspended
Aug 27, 2016
486
892
Tyler, TX
I thought about this once, to save money. But as long as the iPhone is necessary for an Apple Watch (which I actually love), it’s not possible for me yet.
 

mofunk

macrumors 68020
Aug 26, 2009
2,421
161
Americas
One of the reasons I got a mobile phone was incase of emergencies. Then before I got an iPhone I was using my iPod Touch to send messages to friends. Most stores I visited I could use their apps because they had wifi ie Starbucks.

Now idk if I would want to carry an iPad around with me 24/7. iPod touch yes.
 
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mosiejczuk

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 9, 2009
85
20
Warszawa, Poland
I now think I'll settle for a cheap Nokia (a week battery life) plus an iPad. I already carry a Moleskine with me 90% of the time so it won't really add much weight to my bag
 
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Starfia

macrumors 65816
Apr 11, 2011
1,011
846
I’ve been over a decade without any phone service, which I think has seriously improved my life – that all just seems like an inefficient use of time and money. Skype Credit gets me by when phone calls are important, which is rare for me.

But I couldn’t personally do without a pocket device and I love the watch; since the iPhone’s launch I’ve always had at least an iPod touch or a removed-from-current iPhone and relied on Wi-Fi.
 

jerwin

Suspended
Jun 13, 2015
2,895
4,652
in my experience,

A phone fits in a pocket and and can be used one handed.

An ipad-- particularly a full sized ipad-- can't.

But then again, I walk around a lot.
 

mosiejczuk

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 9, 2009
85
20
Warszawa, Poland
A phone fits in a pocket and and can be used one handed.

An ipad-- particularly a full sized ipad-- can't.

But then again, I walk around a lot.

I thought so too, but how often do you have to use your phone and just can't stand for a moment to use both hands? And how often do you use your phone in more comfortable conditions when you could actually use a bigger screen? With 90+ min of daily commute I find it less and less of a reason to keep my internet device pocket-small
 

dmillar74

macrumors regular
Apr 22, 2011
220
126
Livonia, Michigan
Simple solution would be to get an iPhone SE too because then you can answer texts when need be put still pocket the device and answer phone calls like a normal person. As in the SE is an Apple device, all your iMessages will be in sync too.
 

mosiejczuk

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 9, 2009
85
20
Warszawa, Poland
I've already got an iPhone SE :) The problem is while it is a perfect *phone*, I'd love to get a bigger device for more comfortable reading and writing. But then again, if I'm getting an iPad, why not just ditch the phone altogether and not worry about having to charge or sync both devices? Hence the idea to start this thread ask you folk for your opinions.
 

hajime

macrumors 604
Jul 23, 2007
7,910
1,308
I am thinking of getting rid of my phone altogether and replacing it with an iPad with unlimited data plan. I don't really call much anymore so I guess nothing major will change in my life if I stop answering 3G calls. I can think of several pros/cons:

pros:
+ finally one device to serve all purposes
+ reading and typing while commuting will be easier and more pleasant
+ can contact 95% of my friends and family via FaceTime, Google Hangouts or Messenger
+ no more telemarketing calls​

cons:
- awkward voice calls in public (basically headphones or no call)
- awkward photos in public
- those 5% friends and family who will be unable to call me
- some services require authenticating codes sent via standard Text, it would be a hassle to get them all switched to email (some services might not allow it at all)​

What do you think?


That is similar to what I did few years ago. My Samsung Galaxy Note PRO 12.2 was my tablet and Phone.

Some forum users suggested a way to make/receive phone call from the iPad. What app is that? Do I have to have internet connection all the time in order to be able to do it? I cannot find that thread.
[doublepost=1521425211][/doublepost]
I just wish there'd been a phone app for the iPad. Since the device runs a SIM card anyway why isn't it possible?

Evil Apple made us buy both an iPhone and iPad.
[doublepost=1521425322][/doublepost]
One of the reasons I got a mobile phone was incase of emergencies. Then before I got an iPhone I was using my iPod Touch to send messages to friends. Most stores I visited I could use their apps because they had wifi ie Starbucks.

Now idk if I would want to carry an iPad around with me 24/7. iPod touch yes.

That is one of my concerns. Even with Google Phone, do we still need to have internet connection 24/7 to make the iPad like a phone?
 

jerwin

Suspended
Jun 13, 2015
2,895
4,652
I thought so too, but how often do you have to use your phone and just can't stand for a moment to use both hands? And how often do you use your phone in more comfortable conditions when you could actually use a bigger screen? With 90+ min of daily commute I find it less and less of a reason to keep my internet device pocket-small
I live in a highly walkable neighborhood, and read while doing so.
 
Last edited:

Newtons Apple

Suspended
Mar 12, 2014
22,757
15,254
Jacksonville, Florida
I am thinking of getting rid of my phone altogether and replacing it with an iPad with unlimited data plan. I don't really call much anymore so I guess nothing major will change in my life if I stop answering 3G calls. I can think of several pros/cons:

pros:
+ finally one device to serve all purposes
+ reading and typing while commuting will be easier and more pleasant
+ can contact 95% of my friends and family via FaceTime, Google Hangouts or Messenger
+ no more telemarketing calls​

cons:
- awkward voice calls in public (basically headphones or no call)
- awkward photos in public
- those 5% friends and family who will be unable to call me
- some services require authenticating codes sent via standard Text, it would be a hassle to get them all switched to email (some services might not allow it at all)​

What do you think?

What I think is that the average person is far from ready to get rid of a phone in their life. Might be good for you, best of luck.
 

ACST

Suspended
Sep 5, 2016
290
598
If you have room for a tablet in whatever you're using to carry that than you also have plenty of room for a small phone. Only reason I can think of to replace your phone for a tablet is that you want to look interesting and be a 'oh look at me being different' kind of person. Don't be that person and just have a phone like a normal person, it's otherwise just you being annoying for everyone around you.
 

pika2000

Suspended
Jun 22, 2007
5,587
4,903
Unfortunately since iPad doesn’t support regular cellular calls, you will still need a phone. Heck, apps like WhatsApp cannot be installed on an iPad, and other messaging services like line and WeChat relies on the phone version as the primary app, while the iPad version only act as secondary.
 
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B.A.T

macrumors 6502a
Oct 16, 2009
861
768
Idaho
I tried this in the iPad3 era and it didn't work for me. If you can make it work for yourself more power to you. Good luck.
 

bensisko

macrumors 65816
Jul 24, 2002
1,471
1,307
The Village
I am thinking of getting rid of my phone altogether and replacing it with an iPad with unlimited data plan. I don't really call much anymore so I guess nothing major will change in my life if I stop answering 3G calls. I can think of several pros/cons:

pros:
+ finally one device to serve all purposes
+ reading and typing while commuting will be easier and more pleasant
+ can contact 95% of my friends and family via FaceTime, Google Hangouts or Messenger
+ no more telemarketing calls​

cons:
- awkward voice calls in public (basically headphones or no call)
- awkward photos in public
- those 5% friends and family who will be unable to call me
- some services require authenticating codes sent via standard Text, it would be a hassle to get them all switched to email (some services might not allow it at all)​

What do you think?

I would be very interested in your expirament because I have often thought of the same thing - especially with AirPods.

As for your cons, taking pictures in public on your iPad is only awkward if you care what other people think. For me, I take pics using my iPad all the time and i really couldn’t care less if someone else doesn’t like it or thinks it looks stupid.

Calls are the same way. I haven’t put a phone up to my ear since the original iPhone. Now I have AirPods so it doesn’t matter how/what device i’m Talking on.

For me, I would LOVE to get rid of the iPhone, but there are still too many “iPhone only” things, including:
  • Health app
  • Apple Pay (physical locations)
  • Apple Watch Connectivity
  • Phone calls (very minor)
At the end of the day, If Apple would treat iPads and iPhones the same and enable any device to connect with data and devices, I wouldn’t buy a phone!
 

B.A.T

macrumors 6502a
Oct 16, 2009
861
768
Idaho
Simple things like going for a run don't work with an iPad. Bike commuting to work with iPad don't work as well either....at least not for me.
 

subjonas

macrumors 603
Feb 10, 2014
6,234
6,711
I thought so too, but how often do you have to use your phone and just can't stand for a moment to use both hands? And how often do you use your phone in more comfortable conditions when you could actually use a bigger screen? With 90+ min of daily commute I find it less and less of a reason to keep my internet device pocket-small

Well, the other question is how often does one really need a big screen for every task? The answers are different for different people of course. A big screen by far wouldn’t be worth the sacrifice in mobility for me (even phablets aren’t worth it to me), but it could be very worth it for you. I agree with the idea of keeping a cheap, small, non-smart prepaid phone in the bag though. Its cheapness, tiny footprint, and insane battery life will make it invisible, but always there for emergencies and other occasional times you might need it. A standalone cellular watch would also work, but I don’t know if Apple will ever allow the AW to be fully functional without an iPhone.
 
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