Apple’s tablet iPad is the talk of the country right since the pre-launch buzz to the store debut and the euphoria at Regent Street at London last Friday. For some of the people who decided late to get the funky tablet are in two minds whether to get the 3G or the WiFi model.
Sporkings editor, Calvin Robinson reviewed both the versions over the extended weekend, our verdict is that you should go for WiFi iPad and not for the 3G version. Here’s why
1) Wireless Internet access
iPad 3G provides always on Internet connectivity independently due to its 3G Sim and not unlike the iPad Wi-Fi model does not require a Wi-Fi network or hotspot, with the easy availability of both public Wi-Fi hotspots and paid services such as Three’s Mi-Fi dongle and BT’s openzone, the edge 3G Model has in providing Internet access fades a lot.
2) Price and Availability
Due to its lower cost compared to higher end models, most lower cost 3G iPad models are already out of stock with future shipping likely to be extremely constrained. In the iPad 3G range, 16GB and 32GB 3G models leads the most expensive 64GB model in popularity and demand, which retails at £700 which is 60% more than the basic 16 GB Wi-Fi model and on a model-to-model comparison WiFi versions are £100 cheaper than their comparable 3G version models. Going for the 3G less version makes financial sense.unless you want to test your patience and weeks on a preorder queue, then get a WiFi-only version.
2. Device Weight & Battery life
iPad WiFi weighs 680g device and the 3G model tips the scales at 730g which is 50g or 7.4 percent less than the WiFi-3G model, not only in weight it also is mean in power consumption, according to reports, 3G iPad has a battery life of around 8 hours and 38 minutes while the WiFi-only model has a battery life of up to 10 hours 21 minutes in average usage. So opting for a WiFi only version could add just short of two hours worth of usage, and long battery life means a lot for mobile devices, what is the joy If you have to spend lots of time near a power outlet .
