Ask Our Expert

Which iPad deal should I choose?

Our Broadband Expert says...

Dear Richard, sitting somewhere between a smartphone and a netbook, Apple’s latest device, the iPad, launched in the UK at the end of May. As well as being able to watch movies and YouTube videos on the iPad’s 9.7in screen, you can personalise your iPad by installing applications, or apps as they're also known. However, the iPad isn’t a mobile phone so you can’t use it to make phone calls - unless you're making calls over the internet using a service like Skype.

There are two major decisions that you need to make when choosing your iPad; how much memory you want and whether or not you want to fork out for the 3G version.

iPad 3G vs wifi

If you want to be able to go online while you're out and about, you'll need to stump up the cash for the 3G iPad, which costs £100 more than the wifi model. While this might seem a lot of money when you're already paying out at least £429 anyway, the extra investment does mean that you'll be able to check your emails on your way to work, watch YouTube videos while you wait for a train and use Googlemaps to make sure that you never get lost again.

Choosing the cheaper wifi-only model means that you'll only be able to get online at home or connected to a wireless hotspot at a coffee shop or hotel - which can be costly.

The iPad’s initial wifi problems were quite well documented and Apple has since released a software update that should sort the issue out. Update your iPad and you should get a much better wifi connection.

iPad memory

You have three options when it comes to the iPad’s internal memory, which is where you'll store everything from apps and videos to contacts and documents. You'll need to choose from the 16GB, 32GB or 64GB options - though you should bear in mind that unlike many other devices, you can’t add any external memory at a later date.

iPad tariffs

The 3G iPad uses new micro-sims to connect to the mobile broadband network, so if you want to get online on the go, you'll need to sign up to one of the providers offering a dedicated iPad plan. All iPad deals are either pay-as-you-go or on a rolling month contract. This means that you can switch packages if your needs and data usage change at any time.

3 iPad deals

3 (www.Three.co.uk) offers the UK’s cheapest iPad tariff, offering 1GB of data for just £7.50 a month. It also has a £15 tariff that comes with a 3GB monthly download allowance. 3’s iPad tariffs come with a rolling one month contract so you're not tied in and can make sure that you're always getting the best possible deal.

O2 iPad deals

O2 (www.O2.co.uk) offers three iPad 3G options; a pay-as-you-go mobile broadband plan allowing you to top on a daily basis for just £2 a day with a 500MB allowance or two rolling monthly contracts - a £10 option with a 1GB allowance or a £15 plan with a 3GB limit. All O2 iPad plans also come with “unlimited” access to its 7,500 Cloud hotspots.

Orange iPad deals

Orange (www.Orange.co.uk) offers the widest range of iPad packages on the market. As well as a pure pay-as-you-go option, charging a costly 5p per MB that you use (with a limit of £40 a month), you can also choose a £2 daily option giving you a 200MB allowance over 24 hours.

It also offers a weekly option offering of 1GB for £7.50 a week and two rolling monthly plans; 3GB a month for £15 or a generous 10GB a month for £25. Both of the monthly plans also offer “unlimited” access to BT Openzone hotspots.

Vodafone iPad deals

Finally, Vodafone (www.Vodafone.co.uk) offers a choice of three micro-sim deals. It offers a 1GB allowance for £10 a month, 3GB for £15 or 5GB for £25 a month, and again, all tariffs come with a flexible one month contract.

What does your data get you?

According to O2, a 1GB allowance lets you browse 10,000 web pages or download 200 music tracks or watch two hours of video downloads.

This means that:

• 3GB allows you to browse 30,000 web pages or download 600 music tracks or watch six hours of video downloads

• 5GB allows you to browse 50,000 web pages or download 1,000 music tracks or watch 10 hours of video downloads
• 10GB allows you to browse 100,000 web pages or download 2,000 music tracks or watch 20 hours of video downloads.

Check your coverage and track your downloads

Anyone looking for a mobile broadband package - whether you're after a dongle for your laptop or a micro-sim for your iPad - should run a postcode search before signing up to any ISP. Where one provider might not be able to offer a strong connection in your area, another might be able to give you a much better signal.

You should also keep track of your downloads through your online account. Some pay-as-you-go plans won’t let you exceed your set allowance, while pay monthly options might have costly out-of-bundle prices that can quickly push your bills up.

iPad prices

iPads range in price from £429 for the 16GB wifi model, all the way up to £699 for the top of the range, 64GB 3G iPad.

Wifi iPad:

• 16GB costs £429
• 32GB costs £499
• 64GB costs £599

3G iPad:

• 16GB costs £529
• 32GB costs £599
• 64GB costs £699

Ask us a question

If you have a general switching or provider query please email us at OurExpert@broadbandchoices.co.uk

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