iPad Pro Is it worth to spend extra $$ on iPad Pro with cellular?

[daddyd302]

The last 2 pro's I bought the 10.5 and 12.9 M1 both had cell and I thought I would use it. I just ended up wasting money as I never used the cell feature aka sim card. For the 13 M4, I just went with the wi-fi version. I don't need it because I can hotspot my Iphone 15 PM for cell connection. I always have my Iphone with me.

 

[bevsb2]

I always get cellular for ease of use. It's convenient to have if electricity is off for any reason and it's perfect for travel as I don't like to use public wifi.

 

[Chancha]

Didn't add it for my first iPad 3, didn't know what I missed and used it mostly indoors as it was when iPads were hella heavy, no loss.

Then cheaped out when getting the 10.5" Pro, turned out I travelled a lot during the ownership and quite regret not having SIM, had to deal with spotty public WiFi all the time overseas, and iPhone tethering absolutely sucks.

With the M1 12.9" I made sure to add it since the iPad together with the KB and Pencil is a sort of large investment, so may as well. Then pandemic came... used the SIM slot a grant total of once. Was supposed to travel more recently but I found out how good the portable modems have become, so ended up not needing the iPad's internal SIM at all.

If I were to get an iPad Pro M4 right now I would save the 200 bucks.

 

[polyphenol]

Well, it's another £200 here in the UK.

Just a note:

In the UK, cellular is £200 more on iPad Pro, but "only" £150 more on Air, standard and mini.

Is cellular on an iPad Pro any different to what it is like on the other devices?

 

[ipaddaro]

10 years with cellular model, never used once.

Bought iPad Pro M4 11 without…

 

[ipaddaro]

10 years with cellular model, never used once.

Bought iPad Pro M4 11 without…

Ah, here price difference is about € 250 for the 256 GB model, if i remember well

 

[Chancha]

Just a note:

In the UK, cellular is £200 more on iPad Pro, but "only" £150 more on Air, standard and mini.

Is cellular on an iPad Pro any different to what it is like on the other devices?

When 12.9” was exclusive to iPad Pro, one would argue it had the largest antenna which obviously helps. But now the Air also gets that size; don’t know if Pros and Airs have the exact same antenna layout / shape though.

Then I think the previous Pros had mmWave that the Air never had (?). But then now the Pro lost that. Really the markup difference just feels arbitrary.

 

[JSRinUK]

Just a note:

In the UK, cellular is £200 more on iPad Pro, but "only" £150 more on Air, standard and mini.

Is cellular on an iPad Pro any different to what it is like on the other devices?

On buying a refurb M1 iPad Pro 11” recently, the cellular option was £100 extra. Had it been £200 like on non-refurb/new devices, I would not have gone for it. Glad I did, though.

 

[Jackbequickly]

Only reason I get cellular on all of my iPads is having a real GPS. I use maps a good bit and the GPS can pinpoint which chair I am sitting in in my sunroom. If I need my iPad to connect when away from my WiFi, I use my iPhone as a hotspot as it is free!

 

[polyphenol]

On buying a refurb M1 iPad Pro 11” recently, the cellular option was £100 extra. Had it been £200 like on non-refurb/new devices, I would not have gone for it. Glad I did, though.

That is pretty much why I ended up with my cellular iPad Pro (though a 2018 model).

And, having found a super-cheap SIM that lasts for a very long time, and is on EE network (whereas my phone is on Three network), I am glad I did. Provides just enough to cover emergencies when Three signal not available. However, I'd actually prefer the same deal on an ESIM and bung that on my phone!

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you buy the iPad from Apple, you can then do T-Mobile 5GB /150 days for $10 option.

 

[rui no onna]

If you buy the iPad from Apple, you can then do T-Mobile 5GB /150 days for $10 option.

That’s available to all unlocked US region cellular iPads. You don’t need to buy from Apple specifically.

I haven’t tested iPads from other regions if that same plan shows up on those.

 

[aurora_sect]

I have used iPads for ten years now and never got a cellular model for the same reasons you mention - if I do not have a WiFi around, I just tether it to my iPhone. So far I have never been in a situation saying “if only my iPad had cellular!”.

Same, haven't missed it once in nearly seven years.

 

[lsara]

As someone who has had both iPads with and without cellular over the last 12 years, I don’t find it necessary. When I do need to connect when I’m on the go I just tether to my iPhone. If I am overseas then I do the same. No issues anywhere I’ve been.

 

[sparksd]

If you buy the iPad from Apple, you can then do T-Mobile 5GB /150 days for $10 option.

Good plan, I've been using it on my Mini 6.

 

[SierraVista]

I always get cellular for ease of use. It's convenient to have if electricity is off for any reason and it's perfect for travel as I don't like to use public wifi.

Agreed 100%. I travel quite a bit for work and to me, built-in cellular means not having to worry about public WiFi networks that are often throttled or outright block streaming, corporate VPN, etc. With wideband 5G expanding, in places like airports I’ve found cellular can be anywhere from 5-20X faster than the available WiFi networks. I’ll also use the iPad as a hotspot for my laptop, for the same reasons.

 

[DarkSorrow82]

I always get cellular devices just in case I’m out I can still do things like check emails.

 

[*~Kim~*]

That’s available to all unlocked US region cellular iPads. You don’t need to buy from Apple specifically.

I haven’t tested iPads from other regions if that same plan shows up on those.

Not in the UK. T Mobile were a standalone network here until 2010 when they merged with another network to become EE.

None of the four traditional networks come up on the e-Sim. There are only three options on it IIRC, and I hadn't heard of any of them despite spending much of the last decade jumping ship to whichever MVNO was offering the best deal at the time. They appear to global operations that just happen to offer a service in the UK, which probably explains why they're uncompetitive.

 

[AVBeatMan]

I’m away and the moment and paid £5 for 2GB (30 days) and am writing this on a motorway service. Getting 5G and is blisteringly fast on my 11”. M4. This will do me as don’t go away a lot so will just put £5 on as and when needed.

 

[rui no onna]

Not in the UK. T Mobile were a standalone network here until 2010 when they merged with another network to become EE.

None of the four traditional networks come up on the e-Sim. There are only three options on it IIRC, and I hadn't heard of any of them despite spending much of the last decade jumping ship to whichever MVNO was offering the best deal at the time. They appear to global operations that just happen to offer a service in the UK, which probably explains why they're uncompetitive.

I expect the plan only shows up while in the US as it’s offered by T-Mobile US. I’m just not sure if it’s available to all unlocked iPads or unlocked US iPads only.

 

[wib]

Thank you to everyone in this thread for your opinions and use cases. It really helps to make decisions.

The price difference is quite big here, and people have been telling me it's a waste of money, but it's been niggling at me and I think I will go cellular again.

My 10.5 is cellular and I had a shared data plan with my old carrier. When I upgraded my phone, I changed carriers and lost that option. On the rare occasions I've wanted to use the internet when I've been out, I completely forgot about the tethering option and had to wait until I got home to my Wi-Fi. It was really frustrating. Then I kicked myself for not thinking of it. For me, it would just be easier to have it there when/if I need it.

 

[Runaway Train]

I always get cellular. No fumbling around with insecure WiFi networks, asking for Password. Connection is everywhere and 5G kills saturated public hot spots. I would never not get cellular - but that’s me.

 

[swagginman]

Always cellular for me. GPS for trails/maps I record routes and locations on, and I can't handle public WiFi performance for most of my work. First few iPads (I've owned almost all of them) I didn't get cellular, then changed starting with the first Pro I bought (4 iPads ago) and haven't looked back since. Lowest storage with most gigs of RAM, cellular, and biggest iPad are all my defaults anymore.

 

[M5RahuL]

Cellular always, for me. Besides the obvious ‘ avoid public / free WiFi ’, ‘ GPS’, ‘ convenience‘, etc Cellular iPads make excellent hotspots too. Plus, having a free tablet line from TMobile has been a great incentive as well

 

[FrozenDarkness]

i tend to think if you need it, you would already know.