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iPad Bro

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 2, 2021
392
290
So, I’ll be buying an iPad mini within the next month or two and I was interested in getting the cellular model, but I don’t want to add it to my AT&T bill. Do any of you know of a good prepaid monthly plan service for 4G LTE tablets? I would greatly appreciate the help.

Thanks! 🙂👍
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,570
12,682
T-Mobile Prepaid One-Time Pass: $10/5GB/150 days

T-Mobile $10 5GB.png
 
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jdb8167

macrumors 601
Nov 17, 2008
4,739
4,446
T-Mobile Prepaid One-Time Pass: $10/5GB/150 days

View attachment 2016091
The monthly prepaid plans aren't too bad either. I've contemplated switching to the $10/2 GB/month plan. With the iPad mini I'm going through the 5GB much faster than 150 days now where with my iPad Pro I usually had the time run out before the data. I need to over my recent updates and see if I would save money with the 2 GB plan.

IMG_0025 (1).png

Edit: Going through my T-Mobile receipts, I get this:

06/06/2022 40 days
04/27/2022 61 days
02/25/2022 154 days
09/24/2021 60 days
07/26/2021 152 days
02/24/2021 156 days
09/21/2020 180 days
03/25/2020 100 days
12/16/2019 161 days
07/08/2019 89 days
04/10/2019 154 days
11/07/2018 ...

I received the iPad mini 6 on Sept 24, 2021. First pass was the normal 150 days, since then less than 3 months before I used up the data. Before the iPad mini, I only got a new pass twice before the 150 days was up.
 
Last edited:

sparksd

macrumors G3
Jun 7, 2015
9,172
29,117
Seattle WA
The monthly prepaid plans aren't too bad either. I've contemplated switching to the $10/2 GB/month plan. With the iPad mini I'm going through the 5GB much faster than 150 days now where with my iPad Pro I usually had the time run out before the data. I need to over my recent updates and see if I would save money with the 2 GB plan.

View attachment 2017267

It's been a while for me, but I thought you could renew the 5/150 plan before the end of 150 days if the full 5GB has been used.
 
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rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,570
12,682
The monthly prepaid plans aren't too bad either. I've contemplated switching to the $10/2 GB/month plan. With the iPad mini I'm going through the 5GB much faster than 150 days now where with my iPad Pro I usually had the time run out before the data. I need to over my recent updates and see if I would save money with the 2 GB plan.

View attachment 2017267

To me, it doesn’t make sense to go for the monthly plans unless you need more than 20GB per month.

$10 5GB - $2/GB

$10 2GB - $5/GB

$20 5GB - $4/GB

$30 10GB - $3/GB

$40 30GB - $1.33/GB
 
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jdb8167

macrumors 601
Nov 17, 2008
4,739
4,446
It's been a while for me, but I thought you could renew the 5/150 plan before the end of 150 days if the full 5GB has been used.

You now have to remove the used up pass before signing up again. It still works but it is slightly less convenient. Just start with Remove Plan from the Cellular Data page. You then sign up from scratch by including all of your contact information again and setting up a credit card.

To me, it doesn’t make sense to go for the monthly plans unless you need more than 20GB per month.

$10 5GB - $2/GB
$10 2GB - $5/GB
$20 5GB - $4/GB
$30 10GB - $3/GB
$40 30GB - $1.33/GB

Yeah, it still doesn't quite make sense for me yet either. It would be just for convenience. If they let you roll over the data month to month it might make sense but as it is, the slight inconvenience of removing the plan and then signing up again doesn't warrant more than doubling the cost per GB.
 

sracer

macrumors G4
Apr 9, 2010
10,309
13,076
where hip is spoken
So, I’ll be buying an iPad mini within the next month or two and I was interested in getting the cellular model, but I don’t want to add it to my AT&T bill. Do any of you know of a good prepaid monthly plan service for 4G LTE tablets? I would greatly appreciate the help.

Thanks! 🙂👍
Are you set on staying with AT&T? My BoostMobile prepaid plan is $35 for unlimited talk/text and 10GB 5G/4G data hotspot. I use my phone as the hotspot. That allows me to save money by not having to buy the LTE model iPad and the extra cost of additional service for the iPad.
 

sparksd

macrumors G3
Jun 7, 2015
9,172
29,117
Seattle WA
You now have to remove the used up pass before signing up again. It still works but it is slightly less convenient. Just start with Remove Plan from the Cellular Data page. You then sign up from scratch by including all of your contact information again and setting up a credit card.
Good info - thanks.
 

Phineasgage1848

macrumors member
Jun 26, 2016
65
113
You now have to remove the used up pass before signing up again. It still works but it is slightly less convenient. Just start with Remove Plan from the Cellular Data page. You then sign up from scratch by including all of your contact information again and setting up a credit card.



Yeah, it still doesn't quite make sense for me yet either. It would be just for convenience. If they let you roll over the data month to month it might make sense but as it is, the slight inconvenience of removing the plan and then signing up again doesn't warrant more than doubling the cost per GB.
Thank you for explaining this. I was so confused why I couldn’t add the plan back like I used to be able to.
 

iPad Bro

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 2, 2021
392
290
Are you set on staying with AT&T? My BoostMobile prepaid plan is $35 for unlimited talk/text and 10GB 5G/4G data hotspot. I use my phone as the hotspot. That allows me to save money by not having to buy the LTE model iPad and the extra cost of additional service for the iPad.

That sounds pretty much perfect for me. My contract doesn’t run out until October. That’s when I’ll have my phone paid off. I assume you can bring your own phone to Boost Mobile? I have an iPhone 11 Pro Max. Also, how much of that data do you use up? For instance, can you watch some TV shows or Movies? I’d like to get able to, but browsing and Spotify are what I really need the most.

Thank you so much for help!
 
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