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

Four reasons why the Verizon iPad 3 beats the AT&T model

L

LennyFL

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 10, 2012
95
38
Good Article, I thought. Don't want to start an argument but thought it might help people decide on which service to use.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/four-reasons-why-the-verizon-ipad-3-beats-the-at-t-model/12722

As good as it seems though, If I had unlimited data, I don't care how fast it is I wouldn't switch.

Since I started from scratch I went with Verizon. I have it for my cell phone and am pleased. The guys I work with all have AT&T and I always have had better coverage no matter where in the country we are.

Lenny

I just called Verizon and tried to get the 4gb for the price of 2gb and it doesn't apply. It only applies to smart phones. :mad:
 
Last edited:
Pretty sure that the $30 for 4GB only applies to 4G LTE smartphones, not the iPad. At least, it's definitely not an option via prepaid on the iPad.

The personal hotspot is a nice touch, but as AT&T expands their 4G network, their speeds will improve, along with coverage. Plus, AT&T will enable the hotspot in the future too.

However, for now, Verizon trumps AT&T for the iPad IMO.
 
The carrier debate is always subjective to location. For me, traveling between NYC & Long Island, Verizon offers better coverage and speeds.

The Apple store gave me an AT&T ipad (I asked for Verizon), and I really wanted it to work out for me. (it was a birthday gift and I've been drooling over getting in to the Apple ecosystem for awhile now) So when I had to travel out to the Island for the Easter holiday I brought both the AT&T ipad and a Verizon Xoom w/LTE.

Where I live in Queens, the AT&T LTE destroyed the VZW LTE speed, I didn't write down each speed test result but it was between 5 - 15MB faster each time (down at least). However as soon as we got more East towards the Queen/Nassau border and I dropped to HSPA+, the VZW Xoom was still on LTE and the comparison was not even close.

I'll be moving out to Long Island in a month or so, so the VZW LTE foot print is important for me to consider, combined with the 4G plan for half price (is there any special way to get that plan or does everyone get it?) and tethering already available, I returned the iPad on Monday and ordered a VZW one online (shipping in 1 - 2 weeks, bummer...).

I've used VZW LTE on the Xoom A LOT over the past year, last summer out in Montauk I needed to use it to tether to my laptop to get some work done on vacation (just 3G at that point but still decent for being "in the sticks"), more recently on an Amtrak down to DC and it's never let me down. I just feel more comfortable with VZW at this point.

All that being said, if you live in an area with a strong AT&T LTE foot print and don't frequently travel out of it and have no need to tether and not a lot of network congestion, I'd hardly consider it a bad choice.
 
2 of those points are kind of moot. First, Verizon has plenty of LTE spectrum in Philadelphia, so to average around 15Mbps isn't that great. That's what AT&T users should expect in LTE areas with half that Verizon spectrum. Second, the double data promo applies only to smartphones; heck, the picture the editor posted even says it right there!

Smart writing, ZDNet...
 
In my case, it doesn't matter so much to me what LTE speeds are in the area I live, since at home I'll be on wifi and not using an expensive data plan. What matters is what the network is like in areas that I travel to. AT&T (at this point) tends to cover smaller cities and rural areas with faster service than Verizon--and those are the areas I tend to go to and want to use my iPad.

I tested my AT&T iPad recently on a trip and even the HSPA+ speeds were as fast as my home wifi (sad for home wifi I know). Verizon covers the area with its much slower 3G service. In another year Verizon may come out ahead.

I don't really need a hotspot feature on my iPad but it would be nice I suppose to have it.

I believe the Verizon data special (4GB for $30) is only available if you sign up for a postpaid data plan. Since I don't need data service every single month this is completely irrelevant. Considering just the prepaid options, the 3GB AT&T plan for $30 is the best value compared to the prepaid 2GB Verizon plan for $30.

A lot of people have been having trouble with the sim cards in their Verizon iPads. Apparently, you can disable the sim card permanently if you cancel your account--and I hear Verizon will not give you a new prepaid sim under any circumstances right now.

So, while I think the Verizon iPad is tempting and an excellent choice depending upon where you will use it -- I wouldn't say it beats the AT&T model. It will be interesting to see how they compete--maybe we'll see better data options soon.
 
Another plus for Verizon is that it can get AT&T data, whereas the AT&T cannot get Verizon data. Flexibility can be important.
 
LennyFL said:
As good as it seems though, If I had unlimited data, I don't care how fast it is I wouldn't switch.
Click to expand...

The unlimited data plan is the only reason that I'm staying with AT&T. They say that they won't throttle the iPad unlimited plan, but I'm sure that they can always change their mind. :)
 
Pipper99 said:
The unlimited data plan is the only reason that I'm staying with AT&T. They say that they won't throttle the iPad unlimited plan, but I'm sure that they can always change their mind. :)
Click to expand...

Sure, they won't throttle you as long as you don't exceed what they determine to be an excessive level of data use. They'll find a way to screw you.
 
I haven't used the hotspot feature on my iPad at all even. This might be a dumb question but how do I use it or set it up?
 
pelicanflip said:
Pretty sure that the $30 for 4GB only applies to 4G LTE smartphones, not the iPad. At least, it's definitely not an option via prepaid on the iPad.

The personal hotspot is a nice touch, but as AT&T expands their 4G network, their speeds will improve, along with coverage. Plus, AT&T will enable the hotspot in the future too.

However, for now, Verizon trumps AT&T for the iPad IMO.
Click to expand...

I *think* if you go with a contracted post-paid iPad plan with Verizon you can get the 4GB for $30. I have not checked, but last year I checked on iPad 2 and it seemed their normal post-paid plans applied to iPad. Most folks only setup post-paid for iPad when using it for business and having their company pay for it.

UPDATE: Comments on the source article do indicate that some folks have confirmed that the double-data promotion only applies to smartphones. I assume that since they talked to a Verizon rep that they are correct. If somebody wants to try setting up their iPad on a post-paid plan and gets the double-data, please let us know.
 
lol, Verizon has their disclaimer as well:

They will THROTTLE YOU for ** 60 ** days if you are top 5% bandwidth user. This is for their so called unlimited data plans.
 
I want the Verizon model. I've had ATT in the past and want to try Verizon.
 
Last edited:
Pipper99 said:
Yep, and when they do, my next iPad will be with someone else.
Click to expand...

The fact of the matter remains that AT&T does not, nor has stated any plans to, throttle iPad users with unlimited data.

For smartphone users with unlimited data, AT&T gave out notice months in advance.
 
Easiest reason for me is using my MiFi SIM (via cut) in the Verizon LTE iPad... I get 5GB for $38/month including taxes via corporate discount (post-paid). Add that to my extensive travel in the US + Hotspot feature, it's a no brainer. I do however much prefer AT&T to Verizon and always have... only in this circumstance I went with Verizon because of the deal I outlined.. and more LTE in more places. My iPhone 4S remains AT&T and always will. ;)
 
Sort of off-topic question: It looks like I can always upgrade to a higher data plan when realizing that I've used up my data, without paying more (e.g. the Verizon 1 GB --> 2 GB). Why would somebody pay for a higher plan right away? Just for convenience (i.e. not having to upgrade to the higher plan later on)?
 
macbook123 said:
Sort of off-topic question: It looks like I can always upgrade to a higher data plan when realizing that I've used up my data, without paying more (e.g. the Verizon 1 GB --> 2 GB). Why would somebody pay for a higher plan right away? Just for convenience (i.e. not having to upgrade to the higher plan later on)?
Click to expand...

I had the same question. Here is what I understand. If you signup for the 1GB plan for Verizon data for iPad you pay $20, but the catch is that when you finish that 1GB, then next 1GB costs $20.

If you signup for the 2GB plan for $30, then you when or if you finish the 2GB, you can add 1GB at a time at $10 per GB.

So with the $20 plan, you would pay $20 for 1GB, $40 for 2GB, $60 for 3GB .... but with the $30 plan, you pay $30 for 2GB, $40 for 3GB, $50 for 4GB.....

Hope that helps.
 
Carrier selection is all about location, location, location. In SD I get 47.38 Mpbs down and 12.43Mpbs up with AT&T. Much faster than my cable modem. Unlimited data and the coverage and speeds I want made it a no brainer to stick with AT&T.
 
noah1999 said:
I had the same question. Here is what I understand. If you signup for the 1GB plan for Verizon data for iPad you pay $20, but the catch is that when you finish that 1GB, then next 1GB costs $20.

If you signup for the 2GB plan for $30, then you when or if you finish the 2GB, you can add 1GB at a time at $10 per GB.

So with the $20 plan, you would pay $20 for 1GB, $40 for 2GB, $60 for 3GB .... but with the $30 plan, you pay $30 for 2GB, $40 for 3GB, $50 for 4GB.....

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Actually, what I was talking about is that Verizon seems to allow me to upgrade to a higher plan while I'm using up a lower plan.
 
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