topic Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION in Electronics

iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Moonchilde — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 23:03:26 GMT

I have a question that I've been googling for the past hour and am still not clear on. I know that in the 9.7" iPad Pro there is an embedded Apple Sim. What I'm not clear on is whether I'm good to go with a wifi-cellular model purchased *from Apple* on Verizon, vs purchased at a Verizon store. I was burned/lied to with my iPhone and that's not happening again, believe me.

I don't want to buy from Apple and then find out I can't use that specific device on Verizon. I'm looking at a $130 off refurb on the Apple website - great deal, but not if I can't connect to Verizon.

Does anyone know how this works *for sure*, i.e. you were in this situation?

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

egeria — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 00:06:55 GMT

Hi, Moonchilde.

When I was researching the iPad Mini 4 wi-fi and cellular, I read that it came with a SIM card that would enable it to work with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. If you want it to work with CDMA carriers like Verizon, you need to contact the cellular company to obtain its own SIM card. (With Verizon, the SIM card was/is free.)

I also noticed when doing a mock order on the Apple website that Apple asked if you needed a Verizon SIM card, which it would order for you. There was no charge for that.

if you have not already done so, I would verify directly with Apple that the model you want will accept a Verizon SIM. I wound up not purchasing the Mini 4 but when I get around to it (or the next mini model) I will re-confirm my original research info, as things do tend to change quickly in the world of electronics.

Good luck and I hope this info helped.

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Moonchilde — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 00:30:55 GMT

Thank you, @egeria!

Verizon seems to be more "with the program" now. What I was reading about Verizon store people not being helpful and giving out incorrect info was about 1-1/2 to 2 years ago, and I couldn't find clear current info. I do know that Apple hates the games Verizon plays.

I ended up calling Verizon CS, and FWIW they said I just needed to get a Verizon SIM card. You can get them either by mail - $25 fee, looked like to me - or supposedly in a Verizon store. AFAIC it *should* be free - after I sign up, I AM going to be paying them! And from the Tutorial I would want the Verizon store to install it and get me up and running.

Unfortunately for me, Verizon is the only carrier that gets ANY service at my house, so I honestly have no choice. And the reason I'm considering this is that my cell phone's LTE is faster than our wifi 😫 so I could use it *sometimes* for things like Youtube clips.

I'm going to try and speak to someone at Apple too.

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

meem120 — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 02:26:40 GMT

When you place your order on apple they will give you the choice of which carrier you want.

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Moonchilde — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 03:24:34 GMT

@meem120 wrote:
When you place your order on apple they will give you the choice of which carrier you want.

Thank you, @meem120 :-)

Yes, if you're buying a NEW iPad. I tested it out with the refurbished iPad and a new iPad. The option to include a free Verizon SIM card comes up when you order a new iPad; it does not come up as a choice when you buy a refurb. I even called Apple CS and asked them and they assured me it WOULD come up for the refurb just like with a new one - but it didn't. Frustrating! And I've been told that Apple stores don't have the Verizon SIMS.

And I get very conflicting responses from/about Verizon - yes the store will give you a free one, yes but they'll charge you, or no if you don't buy the iPad in their store they'll refuse you the SIM card.

And bizarrely - a new iPad is $829, the refurb was $699 - and a new one bought from Verizon is over $1000 - something like $1070! For the SAME iPad. Verizon gets to charge $200 more for theirs?

I will most likely just give up the idea of a cellular model. Sheesh! Still waiting to hear comments on a Verizon forum. Thanks for trying to help.

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Lilysmom — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 17:27:07 GMT

@Moonchilde, I can't help with your Verizon question but I can tell you I am beyond trusting those that sell the gadgets, Apple included. They told me when I bought my MacBook Pro laptop that I couldn't use my ereader (Sony which I love) because the software was too old. It is 5 years old. I went and bought a new ereader. I played with the Sony and got it to work in every way except for borrowing epub books from the library. I found a library called Calibre and used that.

I returned the ereader I bought and am using my Sony no problem. I was going to go Ipad Pro next time but now I think I am just going to do the mini. I can use that to borrow epub books and for travel. I never use my ipad since I got my new computer, which I love.

With those gadget sellers, it is buyer beware as you obviously know. When I bought iphone 6+, I signed on with Virgin. They(Apple) promised me my monthly bill would never rise. I gave Virgin great grief when they tried to increase it. The wound up giving me an even better deal than I originally had to keep me as a customer. My phone is unlocked. Not before a big fight though. Luckily, I had the name of the guy that sold me the phone. I was after Virgin to go get him lol.

Happy New Year! LM

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Lilysmom — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 17:28:22 GMT

@egeria @Moonchilde @meem120, does anyone know when the next version of ipad mini comes out? I was waiting for the Pro in the Spring but am now looking at a mini. TIA. LM

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Moonchilde — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 19:43:11 GMT

@Lilysmom, no one knows for sure. Rumor has been saying Spring 2017, but I have read recently that it might not be until summer. I didn't want to wait that long if it wasn't REALLY important. I was reading about the latest best guesses from tech experts as to what any improvements would be.

As far as anyone has guesses/opinions about what a new iPad *might* have, it doesn't seem like anything will change that will matter greatly to me. I care most about the visuals - the screen and how things will look to me. It seems doubtful that anything much about the screen will change, so I started looking at the current Pro 9.7, which has a "better" screen than the 12" device. They have a few refurbished ones on the Apple site at a nice discount.

I have no problems with Apple - my annoyance is with Verizon being as obstructionary and unhelpful as possible if you don't put money directly in THEIR pockets. I may well give up the idea of buying a cellular model if I keep getting nothing but kwap from Verizon. It'll just be their loss of a monthly sum if I do.

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Nuttmeg — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 19:54:13 GMT

Best Buy has an online sale of the iPad Pro's.

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Moonchilde — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 10:08:49 GMT

Update:

Have not made final decision yet, but Verizon is having a sale that ends Saturday and I can get a NEW iPad Pro for $629 where the Apple refurb was $699. Can't beat that. Not sure which plan I will get, or whether I will get a MiFi or not.

The manager at the Verizon store spent a lot of time with me and gave me a new SIM card for my phone as well. So I'm thinkin' it's a Go once I verify prices with him.

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Nuttmeg — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 10:24:27 GMT

@Moonchilde

Data calculator

https://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/dataShareCalculator.jsp

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

glb613 — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 11:49:01 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
Update:

Have not made final decision yet, but Verizon is having a sale that ends Saturday and I can get a NEW iPad Pro for $629 where the Apple refurb was $699. Can't beat that. Not sure which plan I will get, or whether I will get a MiFi or not.

The manager at the Verizon store spent a lot of time with me and gave me a new SIM card for my phone as well. So I'm thinkin' it's a Go once I verify prices with him.

I've owned 2 iPad since they came out. The first one was Wifi only and the second is Wifi plus cellular. I haven't used the cellular option even once since I've owned it. If I ever get another iPad, it will be Wifi only. There are too many places with free internet access to pay for cellular. If I do need cellular access, I can use my phone.

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

geezerette — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 15:30:51 GMT

@Moonchilde

I tried the Verizon MiFi a while ago; a friend recommended it. She had satellite internet and I had a local service, neither of us happy with either. We both got the MiFi so that we could hook up our printers. Hers went without a hitch, and she's still using it. Mine, not so much. My printer wouldn't work with it. So I returned it and am sticking with what I have.

Do know that when using the MiFi your speed isn't quite as fast as the direct cellular. Mine slowed to the point that it wasn't any faster than my (slow) service, and I'm in direct line of a cell tower about a half-mile away.

My ipad has cellular and I do use it when my regular wifi service is out, which is often. I got it specifically for this purpose. And the direct cellular reception, for me, is pretty fast. Of course, this depends on your location to the tower. For my use, if I had decent internet I wouldn't have gotten the cellular option. But since I don't, it's been great to have that option.

Good luck with your choice. I know that dealing with Verizon can be a pain!

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Nightowlz — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 18:00:41 GMT

Sorry I cannot help with Verizon. We only get service with AT&T here. I have an iPad with cellular & use AT&T. The only time I use the cellular is when we are traveling. It gives me something to do in the car. I just buy the prepaid data connect pass from AT&T when I need it so I don't have to pay an additional monthly charge for it. I can use our Wi-Fi when we are at home.

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Moonchilde — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 19:10:11 GMT

@glb613 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
Update:

Have not made final decision yet, but Verizon is having a sale that ends Saturday and I can get a NEW iPad Pro for $629 where the Apple refurb was $699. Can't beat that. Not sure which plan I will get, or whether I will get a MiFi or not.

The manager at the Verizon store spent a lot of time with me and gave me a new SIM card for my phone as well. So I'm thinkin' it's a Go once I verify prices with him.
I've owned 2 iPad since they came out. The first one was Wifi only and the second is Wifi plus cellular. I haven't used the cellular option even once since I've owned it. If I ever get another iPad, it will be Wifi only. There are too many places with free internet access to pay for cellular. If I do need cellular access, I can use my phone.

My first two iPads were both wifi & cellular but since I lived in a huge metropolitan area with excellent wifi I rarely used the cellular. I had planned to save the money and just buy wifi only when I upgraded.

But, I now live in a rural area and my house is almost a dead zone for both wifi and cellular. My cellular speed is actually better than my wifi speed. I don't run around taking my iPad with me or hang out at McD's or Starbucks, I use it at home - which is where I need the best possible signal. Since at my home the cellular speed is better than the wifi speed, yes, a cellular model is pretty necessary for me, even though I could wish that wasn't the case.

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Moonchilde — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 19:18:35 GMT

@geezerette wrote:
@Moonchilde

I tried the Verizon MiFi a while ago; a friend recommended it. She had satellite internet and I had a local service, neither of us happy with either. We both got the MiFi so that we could hook up our printers. Hers went without a hitch, and she's still using it. Mine, not so much. My printer wouldn't work with it. So I returned it and am sticking with what I have.

Do know that when using the MiFi your speed isn't quite as fast as the direct cellular. Mine slowed to the point that it wasn't any faster than my (slow) service, and I'm in direct line of a cell tower about a half-mile away.

My ipad has cellular and I do use it when my regular wifi service is out, which is often. I got it specifically for this purpose. And the direct cellular reception, for me, is pretty fast. Of course, this depends on your location to the tower. For my use, if I had decent internet I wouldn't have gotten the cellular option. But since I don't, it's been great to have that option.

Good luck with your choice. I know that dealing with Verizon can be a pain!

@geezerette, thanks for this! Very valuable info. They really wanted to sell me the MiFi but I think it's more because I mentioned more people/devices on it than just mine. I'm going to clarify that with them. If it's just me using it, the regular signal might be just fine.

It's not so much a tower issue for me as it is physical location. We live on a hill, but in the *middle* of the hill. The people above us have good signal, and the people below have pretty good. Being in the middle, we are pretty blocked. I suppose an antenna or extender might help. I wouldn't pay for the extender, but if they wanted to give it to me free/at a discount ... ;-)

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Moonchilde — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 19:23:43 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
Sorry I cannot help with Verizon. We only get service with AT&T here. I have an iPad with cellular & use AT&T. The only time I use the cellular is when we are traveling. It gives me something to do in the car. I just buy the prepaid data connect pass from AT&T when I need it so I don't have to pay an additional monthly charge for it. I can use our Wi-Fi when we are at home.

When I lived in the city I had ATT. I used it when my wifi went out, and with occasional traveling. But where I live now there is noooo signal except Verizon. I hadn't thought my next iPad would need to be cellular, but it does only because although both wifi and cellular signal are lousy, the wifi is *really* lousy. Hair-pulling lousy. Gaah.we need to pick up the house and move it further up the road!

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Moonchilde — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 19:35:37 GMT

@Nuttmeg wrote:
@Moonchilde
Data calculator
https://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/dataShareCalculator.jsp

Thank you, @Nuttmeg - I had a hard time finding it last night, so having a direct link is great. If I used it completely like I'd want to, we're talkin' the 24GB, but I have to be reasonable & use my kwappy wifi half the time, so will maybe go for the 12GB or less.

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Moonchilde — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 04:16:44 GMT

Bought the iPad Pro for $200 off from Verizon. Starting out with a 4 GB plan and if I like the speed will buy a larger plan. I have the MiFi but so far am not overwhelmed. May return it. Was able to get a cool keyboard case I like better than Apple's keyboard case for less than theirs, paid for by my trade-in. Experimenting for the next couple of weeks.

Re: iPAD PRO CELLULAR QUESTION

Nuttmeg — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 05:12:09 GMT

Enjoy your new tech toys.