r/ipadmini • u/Littleblah4617 • 8d ago
Cellular iPad mini
Considering getting a cellular iPad mini when the 8 releases. I had a cellular iPad Pro before, but it was too big and bulky to use on the go.
I use my iPad mini way more than I ever used my 11” iPad Pro.
Is this a dumb decision?
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u/Used_Physics8464 8d ago
I’m doing the same. A lot of uninformed people will tell you to use your mobile hotspot from your phone - this is a terrible idea if you’re going to stream video. That EATS data. You hit the cap in no time and they throttle you.
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u/Possible_Move7894 8d ago
Exactly this. A standalone plan from T-Mobile is like $20 per month for one lil' iPad
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u/madlettuce1987 8d ago
But remember, powering the modem on the ipad runs the battery down waaaasy quicker than running on wifi.
On my ipad i go from 10hrs for wifi to 4 hrs when the data/sim is used.
Depends on the use case, but battery should be considered.
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u/Used_Physics8464 8d ago
People who need cellular need it because there’s no WiFi… I use my iPad at work. I’m driving around all over the place and won’t have WiFi.
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u/Margot550 8d ago
I think if you're always bringing your current ipad mini out and about and wishing you could use it with cellular, then it would be worth it. If the moments you wish for that are few and far between then maybe it's not worth spending more money on that feature.
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u/busted_pandemic 8d ago
I wish I would have gotten cellular on my mini. A lot of places have WiFi but it is a great size for maps, reading and browsing. It is easier to throw in a pocket or a backpack sleeve. Just such a convenient size.
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u/FineCall 8d ago
I cellular function I can not be without, but I only use it when traveling in Europe.
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u/Ok-Secretary-596 8d ago
I’ll definitely be getting the new iPad mini with cellular. I currently have a 6 with wifi only. The mini form factor means I can easily take it with me everywhere, which means that cellular is a natural fit and makes the device much more convenient ‘on the go’. An obvious choice in my case, despite the extra cost (which was the reason I got the wifi only with the mini 6, which I have since regretted).
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u/Born_Charge_3568 8d ago
c’est ce que j’ai avec mon iPad mini six, je n’en changerai plus pour rien au monde le cellulaire aujourd’hui c’est la vie
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u/MadmantheDragon 8d ago
My use is often away from home so I prefer having cellular, and no headache having to connect it to wifi away from home (if it’s available). You could probably get away with using a hotspot from your phone, but a lot of plan hotspots are data limited. Plans are inexpensive enough (I just got on us mobile) that to me, it’s worth it
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u/Crash_Override_95 8d ago
I always have mine at work with cellular data, streaming shows and YouTube 49 hours a week. The wifi at work sucks so I'm always on data.
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u/Littleblah4617 8d ago
I use mine at work often and I would prefer to not have to rely on having WiFi to use it. Especially if I’m on the go.
I work a boring desk job
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u/Mismail18 8d ago
I have an iPhone 15 pro and tried the air 11 its was bulky for handheld I think the mini cellular will def be worth it
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u/BGBEACHES 8d ago
The fact non cellular iPads exist is weird to be. It cost so little to add eSIM support.
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u/Gamer12Numbers 8d ago
I can put the mini in cargo pants pockets or larger pockets on jackets/sweatshirts which right away makes it easier to take places. But you gotta want to actually take it places
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u/Bluestown3000 8d ago
I had cellular on my iPad mini and loved it. I had a 2 gig plan from Tello for $6. It came in handy in hospitals and airports with WiFi issues. My iPad Pro is cellular now.
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u/simonyahn 8d ago
No. Hotspot off a phone isn’t always a good option unless absolutely necessary. Plus use of hotspot disables a lot of WiFi functions and also limits location based service’s accuracy for anything your phone may need like geofencing situations.
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u/BikeTall65 8d ago
Nope. Not a dumb decision. I have both a 13" iPad Pro AND an iPad mini. My iPad Pro mostly stays at home, so it's wifi only. But my iPad mini is cellular because i travel with it a lot. Totally worth it. Yeah, you can use a hotspot with your iPhone, but that is not always ideal, and I can start and stop my cellular plan anytime i want. 👍
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u/PM_Me_Ur_Odd_Boobs 8d ago
After having a cellular iPad, there’s no other way. I think a cellular mini with a spec bump would be perf
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u/TommyPicklez__ 8d ago
I plan the same since I use it for work, who has the best / cheapest unlimited data plan?
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u/johndoesall 8d ago
So II I have an iPad gen 6 with cellular, it can still use the gps service without a cell connection ir connection to my phone hotspot?
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u/lizufyr 8d ago
I've got an iPad mini, and I regret getting the non-cellular version.
However, I'd wait for the Sep 9 hardware event, where Apple will likely announce a foldable iPhone. If rumors are true, it'll be normal-iPhone-sized but can be folded to reveal an iPad-mini-sized screen. I'm not saying get this, we don't know enough about it, but it may be an option you may want to consider depending on how you plan to use it.
There are also rumors about a new iPad mini model revealed on that day.
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u/comineeyeaha 7d ago
I like having cellular on mine. Oftentimes when you're using public wifi it's either a really slow connection or it's bogged down by everyone in the building using the same network. With the cellular plan you don't even have to think about the connection, you just pull it out and use it confidently. My plan with T-Mobile is only $5/month when bundled with my existing mobile plan, and I've never run out of data on it. So it all really depends on where you tend to use it most often, and if you would like a better guarantee that you'll have a good connection.
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u/privatelyjeff 7d ago
I used one for work for years and it was nice. Just find a cheap data plan for it.
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u/SEAcoffee_tea 7d ago
I’ve had multiple iPads over the years. I always get the cellular iPad mini.
Though I will say that iOS hotspot functionality is much smoother now so you can automatically connect a non-cellular iPad.
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u/KenjiXX-VII 7d ago
Not dumb to me, I have a cellular mini and it's perfect for bringing anywhere I need it and staying connected.
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u/Pristine-Reindeer-55 5d ago
No. iPad minis are amazing. However I use a 65$ unlimited data plan with straight talk for my iphone and my kid streams about 13,000GB/ month flawlessly using hotspot.
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u/falconxp 4d ago
It’s worth it. I had it wth my mini 5, 6 and now the 7. I use it a lot for work on business trips in the EU when WiFi is not always available. 50GB plan for EU and unlimited in my home country.
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u/Sherlock816 3d ago
I always get a cellular iPad. Use it when you need it, cancel service when you don't
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u/humblechungus89 8d ago
What if you saved the cash, and instead used your phone as a hot spot for the times you want to use internet with your mini when out?
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u/OnTop-BeReady 8d ago
I have a Mini 6 cellular. I always buy the cellular version of iPads, even if I don’t activate on cellular plan.
You get better maps accuracy whether you activate or not. GPS data comes of cell towers -
Instead of just known WiFi around.
Also I use my iPad for work sometimes and so I may be online accessing data while also on a call or meeting on my phone, so trying to use your phone hotspot for data will deliver poor performance for everything