When buying an iPad, there are two main things to note and that is cellular iPad and Wi-Fi only iPad.
The two types of iPads are almost the same except for the fact that one has only Wi-Fi for it’s internet connection, whilst the other has both Wi-Fi and cellular data for it’s internet activity.
In this article I will focus more on the cellular iPad based on the topic we have here, how does cellular ipad work. So I will cover everything you need to know on cellular iPads even in 2022.
How does cellular ipad work?
Cellul iPad work in a way that cellular data can be used as a means of internet connectivity on the iPad. On cellular ipads, both cellular data and Wi-Fi are available whilst on Wi-Fi only iPad, there is no cellular data other than Wi-Fi.
Talking about the difference between cellular ipad and Wi-Fi only iPad, this is the typical difference. On cellular ipads, both cellular data and Wi-Fi are available whilst on Wi-Fi only iPad, there is no cellular data other than Wi-Fi.
For the fact that you heard or seen the cellular iPad do have cellular data or probably cellular network, you should think that you can use the cellular ipads to make cellular calls.
That is not possible except if your Network provider has a phone app that you will use in making Calle right from your iPad.
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Cellular iPad in terms of internet
On cellular ipad, we have both Wi-Fi and cellular data available on the iPad. This literally means that you can use Wi-Fi or cellular data for internet activity on your iPad.
If there is no active Wi-Fi available in your area, you can switch over to cellular data and surf the internet right on your iPad. This is something that Wi-Fi only cannot achieve, once there is no active Wi-Fi available, you can’t use internet on your iPad.
The truth is that, if you happen to buy a Wi-Fi only iPad, try and have a smartphone with you. In case there is no available Wi-Fi around, you can purchase a data plan for your iPhone and connect your iPhone internet to your iPad through mobile hotspot.
Talking about internet activity on cellular ipads, kindly note that you will have to purchase a data plan for your iPad if you prefer to use cellular data for your internet or both cellular data and Wi-Fi.
Every network has their data plan price so you should contact your network provider to subscribe to your preferred data plan.
The sim card on cellular ipad
Cellular ipad do have a sim slot which you can use a sim card in it. As long as cellular network service is required, you must use a sim card in your iPad and this means that sim card is very much compulsory if you want to use cellular data on your iPad.
Without an active sim card you can’t use cellular data on your iPad.
Note: An iPhone sim card will definitely work on any iPad that support a nano sim card. Also an android phone sim card will work in any iPad that support a nano sim card.
Wi-Fi only iPad has no sim slot for sim cards, whilst cellular ipads do have a sim slot for sim cards.
Making and receiving calls
For the fact that you seen that cellular ipads do have a sim slot for sim card, you may think that you can easily make cellular calls and receive calls on your iPad.
That is not possible.
You can’t make or receive cellular calls on cellular ipad because there is no provision for calls. That is you won’t see the phone app on any cellular ipads.
The only cellular network activity involved is the cellular data or internet.
This only requires you to purchase a sim card for your iPad or use any existing sim card, insert the sim card in your iPad and you will see a cellular network service.
Now subscribe to a data plan for your internet activity, and on your iPad enable the cellular data option and you are good to go. So the cellular network service is only available for internet activity and not calls.
In terms of calls, you will have to connect your iPad to your iPhone though I found it as something that doesn’t make sense and a complete waste of time as I can easily make the call using my iPhone.
Other options to make calls are through facetime, Google voice, whatsapp messenger, Skype, Facebook messenger, telegram, etc.
Sending and receiving text messages on cellular ipads
On cellular ipads, you cannot send and receive text messages using your cellular network service as there is no option for sms text messages on any type of iPad.
For text messages, you have the option of iMessage, Google voice, whatsapp messenger, telegram, Skype, Facebook messenger, etc.
Im these listed options iMessage is the best choice if the recipient is another Apple user, but if the case is different, Google voice is a good choice as it is similar to cellular network sms text messages and calls.
The recipient must not have a google voice account to receive your calls and text messages, and whereas the recipient will receive your calls or text messages just like the normal cellular network messages.
You can also receive calls and text messages just like the way it is on cellular network.
Trying to understand how does ipad cellular work, iPad cellular work in a way that cellular data can be used as a means of internet connectivity and as a Wi-Fi connection.
Is it worth getting iPad with cellular?
It actually worth getting an iPad with cellular especially if it is 5G as internet will be very fast compared to Wi-Fi only iPad where you will be sharing internet speed.
However, if you happen to have an iphone along with the iPad, you may chose not to get a cellular ipad. But for i prefer to buy the cellular iPad especially if i have the fund compared to buying Wi-Fi only iPad.
The only advantage of cellular ipad over Wi-Fi only iPad is that you can buy a 5G network ipad and enjoy high speed internet service on your iPad. If there is no active Wi-Fi around you, all you have to do is to switch over to cellular data and you are good to go.
Can I use an iPad with cellular without a data plan?
Yes you can use an iPad with cellular without a data plan as long as you have an active Wi-Fi around you. Here, the data plan is for internet activity especially if you don’t have an active Wi-Fi connection around you.
But for me, most of the free Wi-Fi I do get are not so fast especially when it comes to streaming movies online or watch live sports videos. This made me to prefer to go for cellular ipad with 5G network and I never regretted doing such.
Can you make phone calls on a cellular iPad?
The answer is no. Cellular ipad cannot make calls as there is no option for cellular calls. However, someone can use facetime in calling another Apple device user or the likes Google voice, whatsapp messenger, Skype, Facebook messenger, telegram, viber, etc can be used to call android users.
On cellular ipad, you cannot make and receive calls, send or receive sms text messages except for cellular data for internet.
Can you add cellular to iPad later?
You cannot add cellular to iPad later, once you bought a Wi-Fi only iPad, you can’t have access to cellular data. But if you bought a cellular ipad, you can choose not to use cellular data on the iPad except for Wi-Fi, then later on you can subscribe to a data plan and use cellular data on your iPad.
Can you put a phone SIM card in an iPad?
Yes you can put a sim card in an iPad but it must be on a cellular ipad as Wi-Fi only iPad don’t have a provision for sim card.
There is no sim slot on Wi-Fi only iPad whilst there is a sim slot on cellular ipad. But remember, you can’t make or receive cellular calls on cellular ipads as the feature is not available except for cellular data for internet activity.
Can iPad cellular receive text messages?
The answer is no. Cellular ipad cannot receive sms text messages or send sms text messages other than iMessages. There is no provision for cellular messaging on any type of iPad, be it cellular ipads or Wi-Fi only iPads.
If you want to send text messages, then you will have to use iMessage. If the recipient is not using iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple watch, then I recommend using Google voice to send and receive sms text messages as it works very similar to cellular messaging.
Why can’t I send a text from my iPad to an Android phone?
You can’t send a text from your iPad to an Android phone because there is no provision for sms text messages on ipads. Remember, sms text messages require cellular network service and not internet.
On ipad cellular, you only have cellular data but phone app or sms text message is not available. Once again you can use google voice, whatsapp messenger, Skype, Facebook messenger, telegram, etc in sending text messages to an android phone user.
