Buy 4G LTE or WiFi Only?

[Father Tech]

I'm trying to decide whether I should buy the WiFi-only version of the Nexus 7 or spring for the 4G LTE version. (This will be my first tablet!)

I have a strong WiFi signal at home and at work, and there are plenty of free WiFi hotspots in my metropolitan area. And, if I find myself in a place with weak or no WiFi but a decent 4G/3G signal, I understand I can tether my phone and turn it into a WiFi hotspot for my tablet.

So why would someone consider buying the 4G LTE version of the N7?

 

[physioprof]

I am perfectly happy with my Wi-Fi only Nexus 7, and I use it all the time tethered to my phone while on the train or otherwise out and about. I guess the one downside for me is that I am using both phone and tablet battery.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[YAYTech]

For you, I'd say save the money & get a wifi only. A couple reasons folks would want the LTE version:

- Can afford the extra cost (for some it's as little as $10/mo), and it's just worth it to them to not have to do tethering when not around wifi. This could include someone using their tablet for business.
- Don't have a smartphone, or their smartphone isn't set up to tether, and they want to use their tablet wherever they go.

 

[Unicorn Rancher]

I'm trying to decide whether I should buy the WiFi-only version of the Nexus 7 or spring for the 4G LTE version. (This will be my first tablet!)

I have a strong WiFi signal at home and at work, and there are plenty of free WiFi hotspots in my metropolitan area. And, if I find myself in a place with weak or no WiFi but a decent 4G/3G signal, I understand I can tether my phone and turn it into a WiFi hotspot for my tablet.

So why would someone consider buying the 4G LTE version of the N7?

Because their situation and needs are different from yours.

For example, tethering may not be an option for somebody with a work-issued smart phone.

 

[Jeremy8000]

I'm trying to decide whether I should buy the WiFi-only version of the Nexus 7 or spring for the 4G LTE version. (This will be my first tablet!)

I have a strong WiFi signal at home and at work, and there are plenty of free WiFi hotspots in my metropolitan area. And, if I find myself in a place with weak or no WiFi but a decent 4G/3G signal, I understand I can tether my phone and turn it into a WiFi hotspot for my tablet.

So why would someone consider buying the 4G LTE version of the N7?

1. If price (unit and service cost) aren't a concern;
2. If they don't have similarly capable 4g connection on another device to which they can connect;
3. If they won't always have with them another device to which they can connect;
4. If they don't want to expedite the drain of available battery strength on their phone; or
5. If they want coverage redundancy by activating their N7 on a different network than their phone.

 

[Father Tech]

Thanks to everyone for your advice, which was all very logical. I just wanted to be sure there wasn't something unusual that I was forgetting about.

I'm sold on the WiFi-only edition. If I need to, I can tether. It's not as convenient as having LTE built in, but not so inconvenient to justify the extra cost. Besides, 4G ain't all it's cracked up to be.

 

[Thrasherx2k1]

Thanks to everyone for your advice, which was all very logical. I just wanted to be sure there wasn't something unusual that I was forgetting about.

I'm sold on the WiFi-only edition. If I need to, I can tether. It's not as convenient as having LTE built in, but not so inconvenient to justify the extra cost. Besides, 4G ain't all it's cracked up to be.

Another thing people are forgetting is the 4G speeds on AT&T and Verizon. I get up to 60mbps down and 30 up on AT&Ts LTE network. So yeah you can connect to WiFi hotspots at places with the WiFi version but what would you rather have, 1 to 4mbps hotspot speeds or LTE 30+ speeds? I have yet to get below 20mbps on AT&T LTE. It's quite ridiculous. Loving my LTE nexus 7!

PS: I'd say 4G is what its cracked up to be when its blowing away my home cable connection : )

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Jeremy8000]

Another thing people are forgetting is the 4G speeds on AT&T and Verizon. I get up to 60mbps down and 30 up on AT&Ts LTE network. So yeah you can connect to WiFi hotspots at places with the WiFi version but what would you rather have, 1 to 4mbps hotspot speeds or LTE 30+ speeds? I have yet to get below 20mbps on AT&T LTE. It's quite ridiculous. Loving my LTE nexus 7!

PS: I'd say 4G is what its cracked up to be when its blowing away my home cable connection : )

Posted via Android Central App

There's no question that 4g LTE (or even T-mo's HSPA+) offers far faster speeds than a typical home/business ISP (or especially 'free' provided Wi-Fi connection), and having the option to use an integrated radio or feed from a Wi-Fi connection would be better; it's just a matter of the cost/benefit ratio.

On a tangent, though, I'm a bit surprised by the speeds you're indicating. The fastest tested speed from the most recent testing by RootMetrics comes in for AT&T at 57.7Mbps (average 18.6Mbps) down and 19.6Mbps (average 9Mbps) up.

You've indicated measured speeds that surpass both of those tested rates, which, assuming you live in one of the markets they're focusing on for the 'fastest network race' measurements and conducted tests at off-peak times, isn't terribly surprising given several months have passed since that set of testing was done. What is surprising is the increase in upload speed, wherein your measurements would demonstrate a full 50% increase in the past 6 months.

What tool are you using for measuring data rates, and what are you finding to be your 'average' up and down speeds? I'm also curious - what market do you live in? For most of us, the real world performance, while still better than a typical ISP, is far, far less than what you've been enjoying.

Edit
Looks like there's a lot of variability in testing procedure. PC World/TechHive's more recent testing demonstrated considerably slower average speed.

(Source)

 

[Thrasherx2k1]

I'm using the Speedtest.net app and I'm located in the Nashville area. I posted my fasted speeds on interstate 40 near the hermitage area which is about 15 min away from Nashville. Middle Tennessee is over flowed with Verizon customers so it wouldn't surprise me if my speeds are due to the lack of AT&T customers around here using up bandwidth.

 

[jameron33]

I'm located hour from nearest city I'm in the sticks. And I use nothing but my tmobile 4g lte. Get pings as low as 8 and 39mbps and uploads as high as 21. Great for ps3. My comcast internet had 25mbps with 57 sec pings. Love tmobile. No more home internet. Lol

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk 4

 

[jameron33]

Speed test from 20 mins ago roughly

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk 4

 

[dmiller440]

I bought the LTE version and love it. Yes you can Tether, but it is drawing down 2 batteries for one task. This is my first tablet and It is nice not to have to worry about access or doing additional steps to get things done. I believe it is worth the convenience.

The fact that it is unlocked and you have activation options makes this an easier decision.

I know so many people that bought an Ipad on ATT, and are now with Verizon. They are SOL.

Does anyone know if 4G and WiFi have the same power consumption?

 

[doublestack1]

Just sold my WiFi version and purchased the LTE unit.

My reasons are similar to what others are saying; save battery on my cell.

Counting the days for vzw to approve the Nexus

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[Jeremy8000]

Does anyone know if 4G and WiFi have the same power consumption?

In my experience on LTE phones (don't have a tablet, but it should apply similarly), there is little difference when on standby/idle (worth noting my phone toggles to 3g when idle). When actively using data, though, I've found that WiFi is much more efficient than LTE, and will drain the battery much more slowly. YMMV.

 

[Grant Pritchard]

This is probably going to show up my stupidity more than anything else but...
I just got the LTE N7 because I was expecting it to be a phone/tablet. ie I can use it as a phone to receive and make calls and SMS as well as having a great android tablet. My mistake. There are no phone capabilities built in to the N7 besides being able to make and receive SMS texts.
So 1) is there a way to make it use my existing network to make calls (without resorting to VOIP software) or
2) another phone/tablet that is as good as Google's Nexus products?

 

[BrandonEnr7]

This is probably going to show up my stupidity more than anything else but...
I just got the LTE N7 because I was expecting it to be a phone/tablet. ie I can use it as a phone to receive and make calls and SMS as well as having a great android tablet. My mistake. There are no phone capabilities built in to the N7 besides being able to make and receive SMS texts.
So 1) is there a way to make it use my existing network to make calls (without resorting to VOIP software) or
2) another phone/tablet that is as good as Google's Nexus products?

You can use a Google Voice number with a certain app, but that is only available for data. Look up GrooVe I for the app to make calls from your GV number.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Grant Pritchard]

As I said, I don't want to have to setup another software way of calling. I just wanted my N7 to natively handle all calls from the network.
Anyway I have organized a return from Google for my N7 and will wait and see what the Nexus 5/4 is like and probably go for that. Unless someone can point me to another android device that is close to what the N7 is, but has full phone capabilities?

 

[MilnerR]

Samsung Glaxy Note 8.0 international version can make and receive calls.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 N5120 8-inch 4G LTE/3G: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

 

[Grant Pritchard]

Well, the upshot is, I sent it back.
My fault really, I didn't fully read what the LTE support was giving me. Still, Google is paying for all the freight costs and I am not out of pocket, so you have to commend them for their customer support. Other companies would at least ask me to pay for return freight. Thank you Google.

I think I will wait for the Nexus 5 or 4 or whatever it is called to be released.

 

[Algus]

This is probably going to show up my stupidity more than anything else but...
I just got the LTE N7 because I was expecting it to be a phone/tablet. ie I can use it as a phone to receive and make calls and SMS as well as having a great android tablet. My mistake. There are no phone capabilities built in to the N7 besides being able to make and receive SMS texts.
So 1) is there a way to make it use my existing network to make calls (without resorting to VOIP software) or
2) another phone/tablet that is as good as Google's Nexus products?

Have you looked into a phablet like the Note 3 or Galaxy Mega?

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3 using Tapatalk 4