Half of iPad 3s sold will sport 4G, says bank
More punters favour faster connectivtiy
Brits may have no need for the new iPad's 4G connectivity, but Americans are going to lap up the LTE-enabled tablet, UBS has forecast.
That, the bank believes, will result in heightened demand for the 4G iPad 3 to the extent that it will account for almost half of the iPad 3s sold by Apple.
The ratio of Wi-Fi only to Wi-Fi + 3G iPad 2s was more like 60:40, said UBS senior analyst John Hodulik, by way of GigaOm.
For its part, Apple has never broken down iPad sales into those with cellular network connectivity and those without.
“With an HD screen, faster processor and higher-resolution camera, we believe this device will drive demand for faster connectivity,” Hodulik told investors.
Our benchmarking shows the iPad 3 doesn't sport a faster CPU, but he's right about the other advantages. You can read our review of the Wi-Fi only iPad 3 here. We'll be looking at the 4G model shortly. ®
COMMENTS
Tethering
I bought a WiFi one. Its £100 cheaper, and i get actually unlimited tethering with my mobile phone contract (Three One Plan). So i just tether my ipad to my phone, all the time.
True, but - again - my phone does that, and I'd rather walk around an unknown city using my phone for guidance than a big, mugger-luring tablet, thanks. And I'd the phone's better for in-car satnav too.
If you have a smartphone...
Most Smartphones now will let you set up WiFi hotspot, and most of the Networks will allow you to tether, either as part of you data allowence, or for a small fee, usually about £5 you can add on a 'tethering' allowance. I am on 3, and i get actually unlimited, unlimited data (inc tethering), and the speed is fast enough to stream NetFlix.
If you were in a country with a LTE/4G network i can see the appeal of buying the 4G iPad. Some people might want to extra 4G speed, I'm not sure what for yet, as i said, i can stream NetFlix on 3G.
Maybe in a few years time when NetFlix et al stream in Full HD, and there is an actual 4G network in the UK i might consider getting the 4G iPad. I guess my phone would be 4G by then too, though?
I'd stick with the Wi-Fi only model because it's (a) cheaper, (b) it's lighter (slightly) and (c) I can use my phone as a hotspot on those occasions I want net access away from a WLAN.
Convenience is all very well, but not when it costs 100 quid extra.
Banks are evaluating iPads... next week El Reg does an in depth review of ISA savings accounts.
