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

iPad Pro Whats the point of a WiFi Only iPad Pro ?

I've always used my iPad at home or at work where there is very fast wifi. This go around with the Pro I decided to get the LTE model and figured I can justify the extra $130. Instead of sitting in a dim break room at work I can go eat in the car and enjoy the nice summer weather, thats an hour every day. Once a month usually I'm in the car 2 hours round trip where I'm not the one driving. And every August we go on vacation 3 hours away so thats 6 hours in the car again. I'd say for those 3 reasons along is worth it to me.

Its better than what I did the last 2 vacations, Buy a $30 prepaid T-mobile SIM to put in my iPhone and tether which then means that no one can contact me if needed since my AT&T SIM wouldn't be in the phone. T-Mobile has the 200MB data promo each month and I can always pay $35 when I need to for 6GB of data with Binge On as well. If I don't need anything more than the free data I can just cancel until I need to use it.
 
I had a iPad Air 2 with LTE and 128gb of storage. While it was nice to have LTE coverage I rarely used it. Had a 5 month 5GB promo plan with T-mobile and only used 3GB of it and that's with my pushing all my data on it whenever possible near the end to use it up. I'm at school or home where I would use the iPad and both have WiFi.


With the iPad pro I would want the 256gb model so that would be around $1100 or so after sales tax which is way to much for a. IPad..... My Macbook Pro 13 inch with 256gb of storage was around $1200....
 
I had an LTE iPad Mini 2. Used it all the time. But $150 extra and $20 per month was a bit much. Turns out it's super easy to tether it using Bluetooth to my ATT iPhone6. So, no need for LTE built in and it was cheaper allowing me to afford the Smart Keybord.
 
Count Blah said:
I hear ya. If you have a "friendly" data plan, and your routine warrants it, then it makes perfect sense. For situations as you describe, I generally use my phone. Long car rides is a very good example, but I am invariably the one driving :p

Like you, I can think of any number of examples where it might be useful. But for me, and many others it seems, these examples do not demand Cellular in an iPad, when we also have our phones with us. Far from the "Who in their right mind" the OP stated/trolled.
Click to expand...
Definitely not saying it's a necessity. I find it pretty darned convenient, though. :p

My first iPad was the 2 which I usually just tethered to my iPhone 4 (kills the phone battery in 3-4 hours). Because of this, I mostly just left the iPad 2 at home and didn't use it all that much. With the iPad 3, I got the LTE version and with built-in internet, I found myself taking the iPad with me daily. It's just made the iPad so much more useful. I'd be willing to give up a couple of dinners out if that means I can have cellular on my iPad. I'm on a Mobile Share plan and I use 200-500MB on my iPhone and 15+GB on the iPad. I've sometimes considered nixing the smartphone and just going for pure data plans but on the rare occasions I'm actually on my iPhone, the built-in data has been useful.
 
The only time I take my iPad out of the house is into my back garden... It's a home device for me, when I go out I don't have time to sit in coffee shops writing down invention ideas..
 
  • Like
Reactions: StPatty33 and omni
TheRealAlex said:
.......Which got me thinking who in their right mind buys a WiFi only iPad Pro model ?

How do you justify a WiFi only purchase ?
Click to expand...

havent read the rest of this thread, but i'm sure the penny dropped early on for you mate.
personally, my ipad NEVER leaves the house unless making client presentations. so, whats the point in cellular for me?
 
  • Like
Reactions: StPatty33
Must have cellular. Cellular is the only model that has GPS. I use my iPad for navigation.

Yes you can tether to load map data but the iPad doesn't receive the iPhone's current location also so you're out of luck.

I wish the iPad Wifi had GPS as well. Otherwise no need for cellular model.
 
  • Like
Reactions: haruhiko and Beerstalker
I am using AT&T but if you tether with Verizon and actively using data do voice calls go to voicemail?
 
Manatlt said:
Must have cellular. Cellular is the only model that has GPS. I use my iPad for navigation.

Yes you can tether to load map data but the iPad doesn't receive the iPhone's current location also so you're out of luck.

I wish the iPad Wifi had GPS as well. Otherwise no need for cellular model.
Click to expand...

I'm curious - why not use a phone for gps/navigation?

An iPad jut seems cumbersome.
 
David58117 said:
I'm curious - why not use a phone for gps/navigation?

An iPad jut seems cumbersome.
Click to expand...
Because it drains your phone battery faster.

Because you have a bigger screen.

And I'll have all my music. My iPhone is 16GB, don't want to stream my music through iTunes Match all the time.
 
You can sure tell those that never travel outside the country - a cellular iPad is an absolute necessity for those of us who do.
 
Manatlt said:
Because it drains your phone battery faster.

Because you have a bigger screen.

And I'll have all my music. My iPhone is 16GB, don't want to stream my music through iTunes Match all the time.
Click to expand...

Car charger?

Mines always plugged in when I need to use the GPS.

I don't see the point of the bigger screen when driving. Directions are given through the speaker, and the picture is pretty easy to follow.

Ill usually just stream a few podcasts or so.

I guess I could see if you're not in the US.
 
  • Like
Reactions: StPatty33
RedOrchestra said:
You can sure tell those that never travel outside the country - a cellular iPad is an absolute necessity for those of us who do.
Click to expand...

I live in Europe and travel to another country at least once a month (and within countries rather more frequently), I'm perfectly happy with wifi only.
 
  • Like
Reactions: StPatty33
David58117 said:
Car charger?

Mines always plugged in when I need to use the GPS.

I don't see the point of the bigger screen when driving. Directions are given through the speaker, and the picture is pretty easy to follow.

Ill usually just stream a few podcasts or so.

I guess I could see if you're not in the US.
Click to expand...
Yes, let's stick another wire in to the device.

It's much easier to tap selections and stuff with a bigger screen.

And if someone rings you, it can interrupt things.

The UK is just as good as the US in terms of networking/connectivity, so I don't know why you're bringing that up.
 
Last edited:
Manatlt said:
Must have cellular. Cellular is the only model that has GPS. I use my iPad for navigation.

Yes you can tether to load map data but the iPad doesn't receive the iPhone's current location also so you're out of luck.

I wish the iPad Wifi had GPS as well. Otherwise no need for cellular model.
Click to expand...
Yes. GPS was the main reason that I got the cellular iPad Air 2 years ago. I used it for navigation and mobile hotspot on a two-week international road trip. After that I never used the GPS and only used a few MB a month on the free T-Mobile plan. Having a jailbroken iPhone to tether from on the AT&T unlimited data plan worked well enough but I only miss it a couple of times a year now that I'm on stock iOS 9.
This time I decided to save the extra $200 and go wifi on the iPad Pro 12.9 (128GB open box was only $772 at Best Buy).
 
RedOrchestra said:
Which wifi networks do you use when you're travelling around?
Click to expand...
Whatever ones are available! My hotels have them, as do many cafés if I'm out during the day and need to check in. Many transport networks also have free wifi which is very useful. That said, I'm not reliant on having wifi.
 
Another thing is about convenience. It's just faster and easier with a cellular iPad to connect to the web, do navigation etc. I use Personal Hotspot sometimes, but that's because if I want to do some heavy downloading, streaming video and things I have a much better data limit on my phone then in my iPad.

Also it feels great to have all the features the iPad has to deliver. The Wifi model lacks a number of things (which yes, may not suit their needs anyway) but it's nice to have.
 
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