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All iPads what are some of the reasons for buying iPads with cellular data capability?

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beerseagulls

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 18, 2021
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what are some of the reasons for buying iPads with cellular data capability?

I bought one with cellular data, but I've never used it.... because I can't really think of any situations where I need it. (bought it because wifi version wasn't available at the time) Am I better off just returning it now and wait for the wifi to be in stock again sometime in December?

Thanks!
 
I recommend you search the iPad forum for a while, that topic is coming up occasionally. The cellular iPads have a GPS chip built in.

Personally I don’t need the cellular connection, my iPads live at home or in places where WiFi is always available, and if not I can quickly connect to my iPhone’s personal hotspot in no time.
 
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Let's go to the source, Apple's marketing department:

"Wi‑Fi when you have it.
Cellular when you don’t.
Cellular capability means iPad keeps you connected from just about anywhere. So you don’t miss a beat even if you’re away from Wi‑Fi."

www.apple.com

iPad 10.9-inch (10th generation)

iPad has an all-screen Liquid Retina display, the A14 Bionic chip and four color options. And it supports the Magic Keyboard Folio.
www.apple.com
 
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I will occasionally activate mine but mainly for trips and peace of mind locating it with Find My. Other than that it will always be synced with your messages, push notifications and app updates. I've only used an iPad once for navigation to free up my phone for a cross country road trip.

Instead of exchanging it for wifi only I'd just hold on to it since it will be easier to sale when it comes time and will get a little more in return.
 
KaliYoni said:
Let's go to the source, Apple's marketing department:

"Wi‑Fi when you have it.
Cellular when you don’t.
Cellular capability means iPad keeps you connected from just about anywhere. So you don’t miss a beat even if you’re away from Wi‑Fi."

www.apple.com

iPad 10.9-inch (10th generation)

iPad has an all-screen Liquid Retina display, the A14 Bionic chip and four color options. And it supports the Magic Keyboard Folio.
www.apple.com
Click to expand...

Sum's it up for me.

Can certainly understand the desire or need to be budget conscious so it is up to the individual to put a value on it; there's nothing wrong with paying for unlimited cellular data and using it, just like there's nothing wrong with avoiding having to do it. To each their own.
 
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-- You may need cellular to connect if not on wi-fi
-- You may prefer cellular to connect if you don't trust the wi-fi in your location
-- You may need the location accuracy provided by the GPS chip

That's about it, I think. I have it on my iPad Pro and have never used it because I always connect that device to my phone's hotspot. I didn't get it on my iPad mini and don't miss it. But if you need it to connect when not on wi-fi, that need might be mission-critical.
 
Cellular + VOIP app + headphones/buds with mic makes iPad into a fully functional "phone." Dirt cheap data plan like T-mobile 5GB or 5 Months for $10 makes it a 5G continuously-connected "phone" for only about $25 PER YEAR.

I opt NOT to have an Phone too. iPad Mini 6 + the above covers all phone needs (voice + texting). Never feel like I'm missing a thing and anyone on the other end of calls or texts can't notice a difference either.

AND, cellular bring GPS which makes all things that use GPS "just work" better than wifi-only triangulation.
 
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HobeSoundDarryl said:
Cellular + VOIP app + headphones/buds with mic makes iPad into a fully functional "phone." Dirt cheap data plan like T-mobile 5GB or 5 Months for $10 makes it a 5G continuously-connected "phone" for only about $25 PER YEAR.

I opt NOT to have an Phone too. iPad Mini 6 + the above covers all phone needs (voice + texting). Never feel like I'm missing a thing and anyone on the other end of calls or texts can't notice a difference either.

AND, cellular bring GPS which makes all things that use GPS "just work" better than wifi-only triangulation.
Click to expand...

And GPS location anywhere cellular is not available.
 
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Isn’t it obvious? Cellular provides internet access where wifi is not available, or you do not want the hassle or security issues of public wifi. If you don’t know you need (or want) it, you probably don’t.

For me, personally, there is an added benefit that my iPad uses a different cellular provider than my phone. This means that if one isn’t getting a decent signal, or is having some other issue, chances are the other one will work.
 
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To answer the question some may have of Why not just tether to your phone? My Verizon has a cap on amount of tethered data while my iPad plan doesn’t. There have been some months when I’ve used 30-50gb of cell data. I also like to reserve my tethering data for my laptop.
 
its nice to have when the wifi is down because Spectrum sucks and it happens so much. Also, its faster than tethering which takes a few steps every time you dive into settings to do it and sometimes there is lag via tethering. the phone saves the connection for next time, but I've found that it still kinda forgets it and I have to open wifi settings to get it to tether again.

I have a cellular one that isn't activated but I'm going to activate it this week, and had experienced all the tethering situations above, while driving using Waze.
 
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Let's not forget that one can also turn your iPhone into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Now, if I was using an iPad in a highly mobile work environment (deliveries, construction sites, etc.) I'd expect my employer to pay for that internet connection. In this BYOD world, I would not volunteer to use my personal iPhone as a hotspot for a work iPad.
 
ApfelKuchen said:
Let's not forget that one can also turn your iPhone into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Now, if I was using an iPad in a highly mobile work environment (deliveries, construction sites, etc.) I'd expect my employer to pay for that internet connection. In this BYOD world, I would not volunteer to use my personal iPhone as a hotspot for a work iPad.
Click to expand...
But the hotspot isn’t so great… kinda laggy sometimes
 
Arctic Moose said:
Isn’t it obvious? Cellular provides internet access where wifi is not available, or you do not want the hassle or security issues of public wifi. If you don’t know you need (or want) it, you probably don’t.

For me, personally, there is an added benefit that my iPad uses a different cellular provider than my phone. This means that if one isn’t getting a decent signal, or is having some other issue, chances are the other one will work.
Click to expand...

This is actually an underappreciated reason to get cellular. Carrier service definitely isn’t consistent across all carriers.
 
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If you seriously want to go on a road trip, use maps, location, etc (you may think there is no cell service but there is), for some reason my experience "tethering" or "hot spotting" to the iPhone, while driving SUCKS...
2¢
 
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I always go for the cellular variant. iPads with SIM have GPS. Also don’t prefer using Hotspot on iPhone to connect iPad as it drains iPhone battery. iPad with SIM also means that the iPad is always connected to the internet even if my iPhone is not nearby.
 
My previous iPad Pro has cellular, but it ended up a big waste of money. Because.
1. You pay more
2. Your mobile subscription also increases

So when I bought the M1 12.9 iPad Pro, I bought the Wifi version only and just hotspot from my iPhone.
 
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glenthompson said:
To answer the question some may have of Why not just tether to your phone? My Verizon has a cap on amount of tethered data while my iPad plan doesn’t. There have been some months when I’ve used 30-50gb of cell data. I also like to reserve my tethering data for my laptop.
Click to expand...

Well, you could still calculate all your mixed cellular bandwidth and get this plan for your phone, tethering (sharing) it between all your devices, as needed?
 
I use iPad cellular version for my side job delivering food.

- Easier to use a separate device for tracking mileage
- Watch videos during any downtime
- Use as backup cellular, in case iPhone has no service*

* iPad - AT&T; iPhone - eSIM Verizon, SIM T-Mobile
 
I had cellular on the very first iPad, the original one, and then skipped it on all my iPads, including the 2021 12.9" Pro, but have decided now again to get the cellular version of the mini 6.

I expect mini to be more out and about with me than the Pro and prepaid data plans are relatively affordable where I live so it's mostly for convenience. Even if I don't end up using it much, I expect to keep the mini 6 for at least 2.5-3 years so I don't mind the price difference over that timeframe.
 
If you own an iPhone, there’s not much point. You’re paying for another data plan, when you can just use the one you already have.
 
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