<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;">
			<a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://www.allaboutiphone.net/2010/05/ipad-3g-vs-ipad-with-mifi/"><br />
				<img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://www.allaboutiphone.net/2010/05/ipad-3g-vs-ipad-with-mifi/&amp;source=allaboutiphone&amp;style=normal" height="61" width="50" /><br />
			</a>
		</div>
<p><img src="http://www.allaboutiphone.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/ipad.jpg" alt="iPad" title="iPad" width="250" height="153" class="floatright" />I recently looked at <a href="http://www.allaboutiphone.net/2010/05/cheapest-ipad-mobile-data-options-including-mifi-on-three/">the cheapest options for mobile data for your iPad 3G</a>. </p>
<p>But if you&#8217;re thinking of <a href="http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad">buying an iPad</a>, you may not want to splash out the extra £100 for a 3G model instead of a Wifi-only model. However, what if you do need mobile broadband? Maybe that £100 is worth it?</p>
<p>So here&#8217;s a comparison between the prices of the different iPad models, with their differing mobile broadband options.</p>
<p><span id="more-3880"></span>With an iPad 3G, you have built-in mobile connectivity, and a <a href="http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad/rate_plans_apple">choice of tailored tariffs from the mobile networks</a>. With the Wifi-only iPad, you have to roll your own. A good way of doing this is by using <a href="http://threestore.three.co.uk/broadband/">3&#8217;s Mifi router</a>, which uses the connectivity of their network, but gives you a wifi connection.</p>
<p>The other difference is one I&#8217;ve mentioned already &#8211; the setup cost. The 3G iPad costs £100 more than the Wifi-only iPad. On some of 3&#8217;s mobile broadband tariffs the Mifi router will cost you to buy, on some it&#8217;s free.</p>
<p><strong>How do iPad mobile data options compare?</strong></p>
<p>In order to compare tariffs, I&#8217;ve stretched them over 18 months, which is the minimum of some of 3&#8217;s tariffs. I&#8217;ve also removed the sub-1Gb, sub-30 day data tariffs, as they&#8217;re not good comparators over this length of time.</p>
<p>In the table, &#8220;Setup Cost&#8221; means either the cost of the Mifi router (if it&#8217;s a wifi-only iPad), or the extra money you&#8217;ll pay for the 3G model.</p>
<p>The full table is below, but here’s the headline:</p>
<p><strong>The cheapest way to get an iPad with mobile data is still 3 + MiFi</strong></p>

<table id="wp-table-reloaded-id-3-no-1" class="wp-table-reloaded wp-table-reloaded-id-3">
<thead>
	<tr class="row-1 odd">
		<th class="column-1">iPad Model</th><th class="column-2">Network</th><th class="column-3">Data Allowance</th><th class="column-4">SIM or MiFi?</th><th class="column-5">Cost (£)</th><th class="column-6">Setup Cost (£)</th><th class="column-7">Data allowance lasts for</th><th class="column-8">Contract Type</th><th class="column-9">Total Cost of Ownership, over 18 months (£)</th><th class="column-10">Activation Method</th><th class="column-11">Note</th>
	</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
	<tr class="row-2 even">
		<td class="column-1">Wifi-only</td><td class="column-2">3</td><td class="column-3">1Gb</td><td class="column-4">MiFi</td><td class="column-5">9.5</td><td class="column-6">0</td><td class="column-7">1 month</td><td class="column-8">18 month</td><td class="column-9">171.00</td><td class="column-10">Call Three to activate</td><td class="column-11"></td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-3 odd">
		<td class="column-1">Wifi-only</td><td class="column-2">3</td><td class="column-3">1Gb</td><td class="column-4">MiFi</td><td class="column-5">10</td><td class="column-6">49.99</td><td class="column-7">30 days</td><td class="column-8">PAYG</td><td class="column-9">229.99</td><td class="column-10">Call Three to activate</td><td class="column-11"></td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-4 even">
		<td class="column-1">3G</td><td class="column-2">3</td><td class="column-3">1Gb</td><td class="column-4">Micro-SIM</td><td class="column-5">7.5</td><td class="column-6">100</td><td class="column-7">1 month</td><td class="column-8">Rolling monthly</td><td class="column-9">235.00</td><td class="column-10">Call Three to activate</td><td class="column-11">Out of bundle charges of 10p per MB apply</td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-5 odd">
		<td class="column-1">Wifi-only</td><td class="column-2">3</td><td class="column-3">3Gb</td><td class="column-4">MiFi</td><td class="column-5">10</td><td class="column-6">69.99</td><td class="column-7">30 days</td><td class="column-8">PAYG</td><td class="column-9">249.99</td><td class="column-10">Call Three to activate</td><td class="column-11">MiFi pre-loaded with 3Gb data. Assumed lowest additional top-up.</td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-6 even">
		<td class="column-1">3G</td><td class="column-2">O2</td><td class="column-3">1Gb</td><td class="column-4">Micro-SIM</td><td class="column-5">10</td><td class="column-6">100</td><td class="column-7">30 days</td><td class="column-8">Rolling 30 day</td><td class="column-9">280.00</td><td class="column-10">Activate on iPad 3G</td><td class="column-11">Includes unlimited wifi with The Cloud and BT Openzone</td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-7 odd">
		<td class="column-1">3G</td><td class="column-2">Vodafone</td><td class="column-3">1Gb</td><td class="column-4">Micro-SIM</td><td class="column-5">10</td><td class="column-6">100</td><td class="column-7">30 days</td><td class="column-8">Rolling 30 day</td><td class="column-9">280.00</td><td class="column-10">Activate on iPad 3G</td><td class="column-11"></td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-8 even">
		<td class="column-1">Wifi-only</td><td class="column-2">3</td><td class="column-3">5Gb</td><td class="column-4">MiFi</td><td class="column-5">17</td><td class="column-6">0</td><td class="column-7">1 month</td><td class="column-8">18 month</td><td class="column-9">306.00</td><td class="column-10">Call Three to activate</td><td class="column-11"></td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-9 odd">
		<td class="column-1">Wifi-only</td><td class="column-2">3</td><td class="column-3">3Gb</td><td class="column-4">MiFi</td><td class="column-5">15</td><td class="column-6">49.99</td><td class="column-7">30 days</td><td class="column-8">PAYG</td><td class="column-9">319.99</td><td class="column-10">Call Three to activate</td><td class="column-11"></td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-10 even">
		<td class="column-1">Wifi-only</td><td class="column-2">3</td><td class="column-3">5Gb</td><td class="column-4">MiFi</td><td class="column-5">15</td><td class="column-6">54.99</td><td class="column-7">1 month</td><td class="column-8">Rolling monthly</td><td class="column-9">324.99</td><td class="column-10">Call Three to activate</td><td class="column-11">MiFi pre-loaded with 5Gb data</td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-11 odd">
		<td class="column-1">3G</td><td class="column-2">O2</td><td class="column-3">3Gb</td><td class="column-4">Micro-SIM</td><td class="column-5">15</td><td class="column-6">100</td><td class="column-7">30 days</td><td class="column-8">Rolling 30 day</td><td class="column-9">370.00</td><td class="column-10">Activate on iPad 3G</td><td class="column-11">Includes unlimited wifi with The Cloud and BT Openzone</td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-12 even">
		<td class="column-1">3G</td><td class="column-2">Orange</td><td class="column-3">3Gb</td><td class="column-4">Micro-SIM</td><td class="column-5">15</td><td class="column-6">100</td><td class="column-7">30 days</td><td class="column-8">Rolling 30 day</td><td class="column-9">370.00</td><td class="column-10">Call Orange to activate</td><td class="column-11">Includes unlimited wifi with BT Openzone in UK &amp; Eire. Out-of-bundle 3G data charged at 5p per mb, capped at £40/month. £10 initial credit.</td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-13 odd">
		<td class="column-1">3G</td><td class="column-2">Vodafone</td><td class="column-3">3Gb</td><td class="column-4">Micro-SIM</td><td class="column-5">15</td><td class="column-6">100</td><td class="column-7">30 days</td><td class="column-8">Rolling 30 day</td><td class="column-9">370.00</td><td class="column-10">Activate on iPad 3G</td><td class="column-11"></td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-14 even">
		<td class="column-1">3G</td><td class="column-2">3</td><td class="column-3">10Gb</td><td class="column-4">Micro-SIM</td><td class="column-5">15</td><td class="column-6">100</td><td class="column-7">1 month</td><td class="column-8">Rolling monthly</td><td class="column-9">370.00</td><td class="column-10">Call Three to activate</td><td class="column-11">Out of bundle charges of 10p per MB apply</td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-15 odd">
		<td class="column-1">Wifi-only</td><td class="column-2">3</td><td class="column-3">15Gb</td><td class="column-4">MiFi</td><td class="column-5">22</td><td class="column-6">0</td><td class="column-7">1 month</td><td class="column-8">18 month</td><td class="column-9">396.00</td><td class="column-10">Call Three to activate</td><td class="column-11"></td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-16 even">
		<td class="column-1">Wifi-only</td><td class="column-2">3</td><td class="column-3">15Gb</td><td class="column-4">MiFi</td><td class="column-5">25</td><td class="column-6">49.99</td><td class="column-7">30 days</td><td class="column-8">PAYG</td><td class="column-9">499.99</td><td class="column-10">Call Three to activate</td><td class="column-11"></td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-17 odd">
		<td class="column-1">3G</td><td class="column-2">Vodafone</td><td class="column-3">5Gb</td><td class="column-4">Micro-SIM</td><td class="column-5">25</td><td class="column-6">100</td><td class="column-7">30 days</td><td class="column-8">Rolling 30 day</td><td class="column-9">550.00</td><td class="column-10">Activate on iPad 3G</td><td class="column-11">Originally promoted as "unlimited", now changed to £5Gb.</td>
	</tr>
	<tr class="row-18 even">
		<td class="column-1">3G</td><td class="column-2">Orange</td><td class="column-3">10Gb</td><td class="column-4">Micro-SIM</td><td class="column-5">25</td><td class="column-6">100</td><td class="column-7">30 days</td><td class="column-8">1 month</td><td class="column-9">550.00</td><td class="column-10">Call Orange to activate</td><td class="column-11">Includes unlimited wifi with BT Openzone in UK &amp; Eire. Out-of-bundle 3G data charged at 5p per mb, capped at £40/month. £10 initial credit.</td>
	</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<p>For example, on an 18-month contract, 3 is £109 cheaper than any other network. Even if you go for the same 30 day option (PAYG on 3, rolling contract with the others), it&#8217;s £50 cheaper over the same period.</p>
<p>At the other end of the scale, 3 will give you 15Gb per month compared to Vodafone&#8217;s 5Gb, and it&#8217;ll cost you £100 less over an 18 month period. If you choose 3&#8217;s PAYG option instead of a contract, it&#8217;ll still cost £50 less than Vodafone for triple the bandwidth.</p>
<p><strong>The disadvantages of choosing MiFi</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>It&#8217;s a two-box solution, which means double the number of power chargers</li>
<li>You don&#8217;t get GPS built-in to your iPad</li>
<li>You won&#8217;t get on-device reminders of your data usage &#8211; you&#8217;ll have to phone 3 or visit their website, as their Mifi dashboard software won&#8217;t run on the iPad</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The extra advantage of choosing MiFi</strong></p>
<p>Apart from cost, there&#8217;s one little extra if you choose a MiFi: the iPad thinks you&#8217;re using a wifi network, not a cellular network. So, you won&#8217;t be faced with <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/03/ipad-3gs-non-wifi-video-playback-restrictions-detailed/">restrictions Apple has put in place when you&#8217;re using 3G</a>, such as being limited to downloads of less than 20Mb from iTunes.</p>
<p>James Burland has written about <a href="http://www.ipadcreative.com/blog/2010/5/27/my-mifi-experience.html">his experience with a MiFi and iPad</a> over at iPad Creative.</p>
<p><strong>The absolute cheapest option?</strong></p>
<p>Well if you&#8217;re going to roll your own mobile broadband, why not go the whole hog? <a href="http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&#038;_trksid=p3907.m570.l1313&%23038;_nkw=unlocked+mifi&%23038;_sacat=See-All-Categories">Buy an unlocked Mifi from eBay for about £90</a>, and while you&#8217;re at it, buy a data SIM from any network you like off eBay as well. As we&#8217;ve been looking at 3, <a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-PAYG-SIM-CARD-MOBILE-BROADBAND-HSDPA-1-YEAR-12GB-DATA-/290435128845?cmd=ViewItem&#038;pt=UK_Mobile_Home_Phones_Sim_Cards_CV&%23038;hash=item439f485e0d">here&#8217;s one for sale that&#8217;s £34.99 for 12Gb data</a>, and it lasts for a year!</p>
<p>That&#8217;s £90 plus £35 = £125 for 12 months. Even if you add on another 12Gb data SIM, then the total cost is still less than the cheapest official 3 Mifi router, you get more data, and you get to use it over the year as you see fit. Nice.</p>
<p>One last option: forget the MiFi, just buy the normal data SIM off eBay, then <a href="http://www.johnbenson.net/How_to_Convert_a_SIM_to_a_MicroSIM_with_a_Meat_Cleaver/How_to_Convert_a_SIM_to_a_MicroSIM_with_a_Meat_Cleaver.html">apply a meat cleaver to make your own micro-SIM</a>. Proceed at your own risk!</p>
<p>So what&#8217;s it going to be?</p>
<blockquote><p><b>Partner&#8217;s message:</b><br />
It&#8217;s important to research Apple iPad sim offers before you buy.  Find and compare UK <a href="http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk/mobilebroadband/ipad">iPad SIM card</a> deals and <a href="http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk/mobilebroadband/free-laptop">free laptops</a> with Broadband Genie.</p></blockquote>
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/allaboutiphonedotnet/~4/qISmc9pq3ms" height="1" width="1"/>