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Which Apple iPad Pro to buy?

  • Apple iPad Pro - LTE

    Votes: 58 66.7%
  • Apple iPad Pro - Wifi Model

    Votes: 29 33.3%

  • Total voters
    87

rylim

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 17, 2017
113
22
I'm getting the Ipad Pro to replace my Macbook and mainly will be used for photography and graphics post-processing.

Therefore, I wonder if it is worthwhile to pay an extra of $149 for the LTE model?
 
My phone plan gives me 15 gb of tethering per month on top of my "unlimited" 22 gb plan (this is Verizon.) iOS has made it SO, SO easy to tether since iOS 11, you don't even need to turn it on via your phone anymore, you just go into wifi settings in the iPad and tap your phones name and you are connected instantly (directly from iPad, no phone interaction at all, no entering a password), almost as easy as turning the airplane mode switch off etc. For me this is more than good enough, not just to save hundreds of dollars purchasing the iPad but also what would be $240 a year for me extra on my plan. my iPhone XS does not get warm tethering.

PS: I travel constantly with the iPad for my job but we do get free wifi in all hotels we stay in paid for by the company so my use of LTE will be limited to short bursts elsewhere or in hotels where the wifi seems painfully slow, in which case I'll plug my iPhone in so it doesn't drain during extended tethering sessions.
 
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My first iPad was a 3G model. Having to pa a second phone bill got old pretty fast.

Now I just use Personal hotspot when necessary. I’m with my phone 100% of the time anyway
 
I'm getting the Ipad Pro to replace my Macbook and mainly will be used for photography and graphics post-processing.

Therefore, I wonder if it is worthwhile to pay an extra of $149 for the LTE model?

depends on how you want to use it. if you intend to use it like how you use your MB, then wifi is fine. in fact, you can easily airdrop files between your ipad and iphone (i presume you use that) or use hotspot, so it is still rather convenient if you need urgently need to post a picture on social media or work on and email a document etc. of course, it is not ideal if you are doing this often.

The cost of LTE isnt just $149, there is still the monthly recurring charges.
 
depends on how you want to use it. if you intend to use it like how you use your MB, then wifi is fine. in fact, you can easily airdrop files between your ipad and iphone (i presume you use that) or use hotspot, so it is still rather convenient if you need urgently need to post a picture on social media or work on and email a document etc. of course, it is not ideal if you are doing this often.

The cost of LTE isnt just $149, there is still the monthly recurring charges.
The charges are only monthly and recurring if you want them to be. You can activate by the day on some networks, if you want to. I did that for years. Activated on the fly for a week at a time when traveling.
 
The charges are only monthly and recurring if you want them to be. You can activate by the day on some networks, if you want to. I did that for years. Activated on the fly for a week at a time when traveling.

yup that is true. realised i wasnt very clear, but i was making a comparison between if you use it frequently, you have these extra charges on top of the $149, but if you dont, then there is airdrop and hotspot to consider
 
Does anyone on T-Mobile know the details on adding an iPad to your phone plan? I have an unlimited plan so would that mean my iPad would have the same and both devices just share the data (and quicker throttling I assume)? And does anyone know the extra fee added?
 
Does anyone on T-Mobile know the details on adding an iPad to your phone plan? I have an unlimited plan so would that mean my iPad would have the same and both devices just share the data (and quicker throttling I assume)? And does anyone know the extra fee added?

If you have a phone plan and auto pay it’s $20 unlimited data on the tablet
 
This will be my 2nd iPad on LTE. I will never be able to go back to just the wifi model.

Yes, my iPhone can be a personal hot spot but I do not want to drain its battery. I find myself using LTE on my iPad the majority of the day as my job does not allow us to use its wifi for personal devices. Also, when I am on travel it is really nice not having to connect to or search for free public wifi.
 
If you have a phone plan and auto pay it’s $20 unlimited data on the tablet

Yup I have both of those so thanks for the info. One last question, can it be start/stopped at will or once you add it, it’s there period until you remove it from the account? Thanks again for the help.
 
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Does anyone know if the antenna lines are also there on the WiFi version?
 
Whilst it is extremely easy to tether your iPhone to the iPad, the cellular version just makes everything so flexible and instantaneous when it comes to synchronization and notifications.

My emails and apps are always synced up and so are notifications. The sim slot is also beneficial when traveling, as I can purchase a data sim for my iPad and keep my phone sim in place. And of course, I don't have to worry about battery drain on the phone.
 
Yup I have both of those so thanks for the info. One last question, can it be start/stopped at will or once you add it, it’s there period until you remove it from the account? Thanks again for the help.

I couldn’t tell you all of that maybe you should give them a call, but I’m pretty sure you just have to purchase the Sim card and I think you can do whatever you want with it with the data plan
 
Does anyone know if the antenna lines are also there on the WiFi version?
WiFi model solely has a line at the upper most part of the back of the iPad and doesn't extended to the edges. There are none to be found on the bottom and there are no further lines around the edges unlike the cellular version
 
I carry two phones, and my secondary phone has unlimited tethering. The fact that the new iPad Pro can charge out to an iPhone has eliminated the need for spending more for built in LTE. And if my battery dies, I can either charge it from the iPad or be fine without it since it’s my second phone.
 
I'm getting the Ipad Pro to replace my Macbook and mainly will be used for photography and graphics post-processing.

Therefore, I wonder if it is worthwhile to pay an extra of $149 for the LTE model?

Feel free to browse these iPad boards in more detail, this question comes up every few weeks by someone else - should be a sticky for years already.

Personally, I’m not going to throw extra money at a carrier in Canada, they are all ridiculous with their pricing.
 
I always loved the idea of LTE, but actually never use it. So this year, I'm going 12.9" 256gb WiFi. I'm more concerned i chose the right size over the LTE/WiFi thing. Especially considering you can charge your iPhone using the iPad.
 
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