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All iPads LTE vs wifi

I bought the LTE 16 GB version because more often than not the Wi-Fi at my school is slower than LTE. Moreover, most of the time it doesn't work because there are too many students using the Wi-Fi. So far I'm very happy with it and I don't mind the extra $15/mo. Having LTE on my iPad whilst on the train ain't too shabby either. :)
 
We only get the LTE versions of iPads now since we often use them outside the house and while traveling. It's nice not to have to rely on hotel or public wifi access. We have a family share plan, so it's only $10/month to add them to the plan. It's worth the money to me not to have to tether to my iPhone. $130 is an expensive upgrade, but I'm fine paying extra for the convenience.
 
I got LTE primarily for the gps. Yes one can do that on one's phone, but being able to see a much larger map is very helpful (plus the gps on my phone wasn't working when I got it). If it weren't for that, I probably wouldn't have opted to pay for it, but once one has it, it is very nice to be able to access the web even when there are no public wifi spots nearby.
 
Wifi is fine for me. Have it at home and work. For everything else my iPhone is fine. Cellular is a waste of $.
 
I swore tethering was he solution to all my data needs for years. After two years with a wifi only iPad 2 I made the decision to go LTE on the Air. Convenience, better hotspot battery to serve my laptop, security...the list goes on but it was worth the extra cost for me.

That said it really is a matter of what device matches your usage. Same could be said about storage.
 
If you travel for business at all, the cellular capability is a must.

Airports, hotels, and the like don't always have solid connections. You don't want to be caught in a situation where connection is critical and you are dependent on someone else's network.
 
I'll be going with LTE (likely T-Mobile for the free 200mb). There's some comfort in knowing apps can update consistently, I don't need to depend on having wifi available, etc.

And regarding tethering/hot spot, unfortunately my Verizon cell service negates using the hot spot and taking voice calls simultaneously -- and my profession requires fairly heavy phone call time.
 
richardbb85 said:
Why would ppl do that when they have a cell phone already

Apple fanboi always find a reason to buy into a product when is not necessary
Click to expand...

You don't need a cell phone if you use goggle voice, skype, etc. Or you can just get a cheap dumb phone from net10 for $25 a month and 750 minutes of talk and unlimited text, pay $30 a month for 3 GB of data on your ipad through AT&T and your combined monthly bill is only $55 a month. Plus you can route your google voice calls to your cheap phone. Same smartphone plan on verizon and AT&T will cost you more than $100. You save $600 a year doing it that way. That will get you a free ipad mini every year.
 
wxman2003 said:
You don't need a cell phone if you use goggle voice, skype, etc. Or you can just get a cheap dumb phone from net10 for $25 a month and 750 minutes of talk and unlimited text, pay $30 a month for 5GB of data on your ipad through AT&T and your combined monthly bill is only $55 a month. Plus you can route your google voice calls to your cheap phone. Same smartphone plan on verizon and AT&T will cost you more than $100.
Click to expand...

N why aren't there many ppl doin this
 
Gps by itself is pretty handy. But not quite enough by itself. Did VZW two pads ago, expecting to attach it to a cell plan. When they required it to have its own plan, it never got activated. Went with WiFi last time and didn't miss it.

With TMO, I'm going back with LTE this time around. I expect to use it less than monthly, in high priority situations.
 
Free TMO 200mb and GPS made the choice for me.

It will be nice to be able to use cellular whenever needed instead of being tied to wifi only. And GPS on a bigger screen will be nice as well.

If there was no free data available, then I would have probably gone for the wifi version because I wouldn't use the cellular data enough to justify paying for a plan or data pass.
 
richardbb85 said:
Why would ppl do that when they have a cell phone already

Apple fanboi always find a reason to buy into a product when is not necessary
Click to expand...

I don't use Google voice but I do use Skype and FaceTime. My husband works overseas and phone calls are so expensive that we just can't do it. But he can Skype me for free. And if I'm not home I turn on the LTE and receive his calls. Yes, I could do so on my phone but the iPad is easier especially when the grandkids are there and want to talk and actually see him.

/rant

So many people on the forum these days really need to realize that not everyone is like you. Not everyone has the same needs. Not everyone has the same wants.

Sheesh, asking why someone makes a choice (whether it's LTE, storage, Mini vs Air) is fine. People state their reasons and others may find something they can relate to. But calling someone out because their choice is different from yours is just plain out and out wrong. Speaks to being so self-centered that they cannot relate to someone who is different. Got news for all of you, EVERYONE is different. Personally I think this is in large part what causes the current discord throughout the world.

Sorry but just had to rant.
 
patseguin said:
On the subject of LTE, I was considering canceling my unlimited data plan on my iPhone so I can tether. AT&T themselves told me I'd be crazy to drop the no longer available data plan. However, I don't know if I come anywhere close to using enough data to be be unlimited and not have tethering capability.
Click to expand...

If you're willing to change phone numbers, just sell it. I just sold my AT&T unlimited data phone plan on ebay for $535 and kept my phone. It's so valuable, even if you don't want it. It'd be a shame to just throw it away.
 
KylePowers said:
I tend to go with Wi-Fi, since the majority of places I frequent have Wi-Fi (girlfriend's, friends', mom's, dad's, grandparent's, libraries, malls, etc.).

If I'm in need of internet whilst away from Wi-Fi, then I can either (a) use my iPhone, or (b) hotspot/tether my iPhone.

But, if people want to spend an additional $130 up front, plus however much it costs to connect via cellular (I know AT&T is $10/month for Mobile Share, and they also have separate one-time costs), that's on them and they clearly find that convenience valuable.
Click to expand...



GPS.

Cellular may be able to work as a Garmin
 
I got the 3G version of the iPad 1. Never used it due to a combination of the iPad 1 being too slow and 3G not being fast enough for the money.

That being said I got the LTE version of the rMini since where I live I have access to LTE, LTE is faster than my DSL connection, and I feel that LTE is fast enough to justify the cost.
 
This is the first iPad I didn't get cellular. I have gotten it everytime before and the only time I used it was to test it out. Using the hotspot on my 5s works great. Few clicks and I'm connected. Battery is not a concern for me since I would never use it for more than an hour on average and with my tests that only drains my phone 5%.

I wanted to get cellular so bad. Just didn't make sense though. Instead got an Air and a rMini that I tether to my phone seamlessly. And no I don't miss GPS. I just use my phone for that like everyone else in this world.
 
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