Thursday, March 10, 2011

If you want a 3G iPad, which should you buy: Verizon or AT&T?

If you want a 3G version of the iPad 2, which should you get, the AT&T or Verizon version? Since they are virtually identical, it comes down to a) coverage, and b) price.

Neither of the services require a contract. AT&T's pricing is as follows (we are adding in overage fees to make the two plans "equal")
  • $15 for 250MB, $15 for each 250GB overage, free AT&T wi-fi network use
  • $60 for 1GB, including 250MB plan plus overage fees to reach to 1GB
  • $25 for 2GB, $10 for each 1GB overage, free AT&T wi-fi network use
  • $30 for unlimited (if you are grandfathered in).
  • $35 for 3GB, including 2GB plan plus overage fees to reach 3GB
Verizon's pricing is:
  • $20 for 1GB, $20 for each 1GB overage, $35 activation
  • $40 for 2GB, including 1GB plan plus overage fees to reach 2GB
  • $35 for 3GB, $10 for each 1GB overage, $35 activation
Although Verizon doesn't force you into a contract, either, it does have that nasty activation fee. It's not a one time only fee, either. If you disable 3G for more than three months you are hit with Verizon's activation fee again.

On the other hand, since the Verizon iPad 2 will be CDMA, you won't be able to use it overseas. Considering the roaming charges on AT&T, you probably don't want to do that either, but you should be able to use a prepaid SIM overseas.

In terms of coverage, that depends on your location. Data speed however, is clearly skewed toward the AT&T network. If you can get coverage and don't have congestion issues in your area, AT&T is clearly faster. On the other hand, Verizon is clearly more reliable.

Another option, of course (though far less convenient and battery intensive) is to use your existing smartphone with a wi-fi only iPad 2. It saves $130 on the price of an 3G iPad. AT&T's tethering plan costs $20 extra per month and eats through a user's data allotment. Each each extra GB is another $10.

Verizon's tethering plan is also $20, but adds a separate $2GB "bucket" that's used separately when tethering, as opposed to the regular data allotment.

In both the AT&T and Verizon cases, the tethering really sucks through the battery on a smartphone.
We wouldn't recommend doing so unless you have some sort of charger nearby.

Via: AppleInsider

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