iPad mini Receiving calls on iPad?

[blairh]

Can someone confirm to me that if I have a cellular iPad Mini and a tablet data plan with my carrier, then I can forward calls from my iPhone to my iPad Mini while driving?

I ask because I'm thinking about using an iPad Mini in my car but I want to be able to make and receive calls on it while I drive. Yes my iPhone will be in the car too at the same time. Thanks.

 

[MacNerd01]

Not unless you have a hotspot in your car (or on your phone). iPads can take calls if the iPhone that is receiving the call is on the same Wi-fi network.

You should be able to do this at home with no problem, but in the car, you’ll need a hotspot.

 

[MacNerd01]

See this: https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/make-and-receive-phone-calls-ipadf97892b2/ipados

 

[blairh]

Not unless you have a hotspot in your car (or on your phone). iPads can take calls if the iPhone that is receiving the call is on the same Wi-fi network.

You should be able to do this at home with no problem, but in the car, you’ll need a hotspot.

Well that stinks.

 

[rui no onna]

Depends on the phone carrier. I know for sure this is doable on AT&T with WiFi calling enabled (limit 5 devices, iirc).

You don’t even have to use the same carrier on the iPad. I’ve got my iPhone on AT&T and I can receive calls on the iPad on T-Mobile $10/5GB/150 day plan even if I forget my iPhone at home.

 

[wilberforce]

Yes you can, with some caveats. The caveats are such that it is simpler, at least for me, to just use the phone.
See this post of mine and other posts in this thread:

Using iPad Mini as phone replacement?

Perhaps you already know this, but just to clarify: the cellular service on a iPad is only a data service, not a phone service. So any "calls" you make or receive on an iPad need to be done via a data connection, not a phone connection: like making/receiving a call on a computer - such as using...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[blairh]

Yes you can, with some caveats. The caveats are such that it is simpler, at least for me, to just use the phone.
See this post of mine and other posts in this thread:

Using iPad Mini as phone replacement?

Perhaps you already know this, but just to clarify: the cellular service on a iPad is only a data service, not a phone service. So any "calls" you make or receive on an iPad need to be done via a data connection, not a phone connection: like making/receiving a call on a computer - such as using...

forums.macrumors.com

If I have to use a hotspot it’s a fail for me while driving. I was hoping it would just forward calls to my iPad as I drive.

 

[blairh]

Depends on the phone carrier. I know for sure this is doable on AT&T with WiFi calling enabled (limit 5 devices, iirc).

You don’t even have to use the same carrier on the iPad. I’ve got my iPhone on AT&T and I can receive calls on the iPad on T-Mobile $10/5GB/150 day plan even if I forget my iPhone at home.

I wanted it while I drive away from Wi-Fi and would rather not use a hotspot.

 

[wilberforce]

If I have to use a hotspot it’s a fail for me while driving. I was hoping it would just forward calls to my iPad as I drive.

You don't need a hotspot. I don't have or use a hotspot. Perfectly possible to receive calls without even your phone on, without wifi, just through the cellular data plan. I have done it. Read my post again?
But you do have to have a cellular DATA connection, not a cellular PHONE connection

 

[rui no onna]

I wanted it while I drive away from Wi-Fi and would rather not use a hotspot.

It works without hotspot. It even works when the iPhone and iPad are in 2 different countries as long as the iPad has a reliable internet connection. We've done this with iPhone on AT&T left in the US so as not to incur roaming charges and iPad on local Philippine SIM (~$2/week for 3-4GB, iirc).

From the Apple support link:

 

[blairh]

It works without hotspot. It even works when the iPhone and iPad are in 2 different countries as long as the iPad has a reliable internet connection. We've done this with iPhone on AT&T left in the US so as not to incur roaming charges and iPad on local Philippine SIM (~$2/week for 3-4GB, iirc).

From the Apple support link:

View attachment 1939273

As long as the iPad allows me to receive calls while I’m driving without a hotspot then I’m good.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I had a cellular iPad last year and I was fairly certain the cellular data plan was enough for me to receive calls when out on cellular (iPhone would forward the call to the device using the cellular data plan on the iPad). It was handy to have a pair of AirPods to do the call comfortably though.

I didn’t keep my cellular iPad and I had the problem where spam calls were forwarded to the iPad despite the iPhone being set to “send unknown callers to voicemail” - the iPad would be constantly bothered by calls. So I stopped forwarding my calls to other devices for this reason.

I opted for a cellular watch to grab important calls when I’m out and about. Been working for me for a few years now.