[Closed] iPad (Pro) cellular SIM options help...

A quick google suggests you can get 8gb of data for £8 pcm. Possibly better deals than that if you shop around.

The iPad will take a nano SIM. All SIM cards these days come in multi-size. You just snap off the pre-cut excess to get the size you need.

Nothing difficult about activating a data SIM. Pop it in, got to the web site of the provider and follow the activation instruction.

If mainly for home use, check network coverage. I’m in a bit of a black spot but have found EE to give the best service here (compared to O2/Tesco and Vodafone).

WiFi only versions are cheaper tethering is easy that’s all I do. I’ve a an unlimited data sim only deal with 3 for my phone so I can stream and surf as much as I need.

Yeah, I know WiFi only is cheaper (150£) I'm asking to find out what is best functionally, not cost wise 😁

I am running 4gee broadband at present but my router overheats and fritzs out after a short time on video calls/Skype. As I'm, unsurprisingly, working from home these days (and see at least part of the time for the foreseeable future) it gives me resilience and portability if wifi+cellular.

I'm tempted to take the sim offer as it'd give me an additional 100Gb which I can allocate to whatever device I need. Plus a second mobile used as a tether makes sense (as I said I have a spare Nokia 6.1 kicking about doing nothing).

Was hoping for someone who has a cellular iPad to give me advice if poss....

Ok, sim issue clarified with EE.

Looks like it’ll work.

Just got to make my mind up now to spend the extra!

A separate sim connected tablet only makes sense if you're going to need to use it as a purely standalone device when you won't be able to tether to your phone or is say business needs dictate that you use a dedicated connection (security issues with place of work for example).

You're not going to get a better signal using a sim enabled iPad than a tethered phone connection and you pay £150 or so more for the device and then have to fund a data plan as well - just doesn't make sense.

No need to even have a second phone to tether to - just use your normal phone assuming you have enough data on your mobile plan.

I have a Wifi iPad Air as a personal iPad and a works iPad with a Vodaphone sim in it. As mentioned above no issue with the tethered phone on speeds or connectivity. Yes, the iPad with the sim is handy for us at work while on site. For personal use, I can not see the point in taking out a contract on a second sim if you already have a data allowance on your phone.

I went the tethered route, I just couldn’t find a way to make two sims make any financial sense (even when I was working with EE). Had no issues, including working abroad using the iPad+iPhone combo. In practice, I never have the iPad without the phone… doubt you will either, will you?

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice, it is appreciated.

I do hear what people are saying about a second contract but as my livelihood is dependent on connectivity and my WFH has pushed my 4gee allowance beyond its limit (fortunately I’m able to ‘gift’ data from my phone) it’s running a bit close to the wind and with the current situation set to continue for the next 12-18 months I’ve ordered up a new sim as additional 100Gb is definitely more than my current (combined) allowance.

I’ll experiment with tethering my existing iPad Air and see how I feel about it before I take the plunge (also there is a spare cellular iPad at work i can borrow to test it out...).

Ability to take device in and out of work (when it returns to that) without tethering may also be of use... ok, I’m clutching at straws here now...

A SIM is a SIM, there's no such thing as a "phone SIM" or a "tablet SIM."

A SIM allows you to connect to the GSM ("cellular") network. Again, how you do this makes no odds (assuming equivalent capabilities in the hardware, 3G / 4G / 5G) whether it's a SIM in the tablet, tethering to a second phone or tethering to your primary phone even.

As Kuco said, it's surely more cost-effective to run a single SIM for everything unless you can get a silly deal on a data-only card or something.

Smarty are doing a monthly 30GB for ten quid at the moment, that's pretty hard to beat.

But some networks don't allow tethering. Especially for any 'unlimited' data plans. So check the terms of the contract.

Yeah, I know WiFi only is cheaper (150£) I’m asking to find out what is best functionally, not cost wise

Like I say tethering is easy it’s just like connecting to wifi, you use a dongle if you don’t want to use your phone. It makes sim version iPads pretty pointless it’s so simple.

A SIM is a SIM, there’s no such thing as a “phone SIM” or a “tablet SIM.”

True, but not all contracts are equal. Due to the stated 4g router connectivity issues and that my livelihood depends on it for the foreseeable future I’ve decided on the second sim, it’s ordered.

Also I live in The Scottish Highlands (rural, north of Inverness) EE is the best signal and runs decent speeds hereabouts, 20-30x faster than any available (copper) broadband... if I had access to high speed fixed broadband then I wouldn’t be contemplating this, I’d be all over the tethering solution (and no need for a second sim).

I’m most likely Nd and my thought processes are quite particular and this is a solution that gives me robustness and will (hopefully) keep my anxiety issues minimised. And I can afford it (plus, you know I’m looking at an iPad Pro with pencil, they ain’t cheap!). I like to compartmentalise certain things (I have an iPod touch for instance... yeah, I know. In this day and age?). But I’m happier this way.

I had a team meeting this afternoon where my router overheated and kept dropping out after about 20-25 minutes. I’ve had this before, it seems to an issue and EE are sending me out a replacement unit but I’m not expecting this to solve all the issues... a second non-router dependent solution is required.

Just trying to think everything through... decide if it’s worth the premium... 🤷🏼‍♂️

Then I suppose one consideration might be, is it going to be permanently connected?

Most Wi-Fi hotspots I've used will quietly disable themselves to save power if no devices are connected. So depending on your usage you may find yourself having to keep switching on the hotspot and reconnecting the iPad. Given your scenario it might be worth getting the xG-enabled iPad simply for less faffage.

Well, I’ve ordered a WiFi+cellular one!

It’s all cougars fault (not really) but the final deciding factor was the always connected comment. As I run 4gee it’s a battery thing that’s portable so not always on. This means I won’t have to go through the switch on the router/remember to switch it off when I’m finished, have to start it up again because I forgot to do/check something... has the router enough charge...

I do miss the ‘always on’ of normal broadband...

Have you considered a different router? Something maybe a bit more industrial that isn’t going to overheat?

I’ve a cellular iPad. Tethering is all well and good and sounds suitable for you, but when I want to use it on the move I then end up draining the phone battery, where as I prefer to use the bigger iPad battery. You now get a data options from alwaysonline, gigsky I have no idea if they are resellers of data but might be worth a look.

Mobile router from Belkin might be an option, I used one once when living in a basement flat and sold it for what I bought it for.

Well, not only did I order a cellular pro I got so fed up with the mobile router failing (the EE replacement was, if anything, worse than the original and Tuesday was particularly bad overheating wise, and the whole system seemed sluggish) I’ve now got a mains powered 4g sim router...

I’d forgotten the joys of ‘always on’ broadband.

One thing less to drive my anxiety 😌

Of course it undermines my cellular decision but hey ho, it’s only money.

Sim arrived Wednesday. My pencil arrived yesterday, still waiting on the iPad (due Monday). Just hope it all lives up to my expectations 🤪🤔🤣