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# Is the 3G iPad Worth the Upgrade?

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/NGnbd4Dw.m3u8" -->
## Video: Is the 3G iPad Worth the Upgrade?

[Watch (HLS stream): Is the 3G iPad Worth the Upgrade?](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/NGnbd4Dw.m3u8) (1:59)

![Is the 3G iPad Worth the Upgrade?](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/NGnbd4Dw/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2010-05-06. Techland gadget critic Doug Aamoth breaks down how much each data plan for the iPad holds in terms of apps, photos, files and more_


---

Jul 27, 2023 2:15 PM UTC

---

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[All Videos](https://time.com/video/)

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### Sexy iPad Or Cute Netbook? The Debate In Dating Terms

[Techland's Hands-On With Apple's iPad](/video/TvBlsebY/)

### Techland's Hands-On With Apple's iPad

---


## Transcript

Now what's the difference between the 3G iPad and the regular iPad? Well, it costs a $ 130 more and you can connect to AT & T's cellular data network. There are two plans available: one, costs $ 15 a month and you get 250 megabytes of data; one, costs $ 30 per month and you get unlimited data. Now the big thing that Apple's been able to do with AT & T here is make these plans so they don't require a two- year contract. So you can use it for one month and just cut it off. Do you need the full $ 30 unlimited plan or can you get by with 250 megabytes at $ 15 per month? Let's take a look at some statistics I compiled for you.

You can visit Techplan. com over 3500 times, I mean, really go nuts with it. You can do over a thousand Google searches. You can view an average size webpage over 700 times. You could check Twitter over 400 times. You can download over 400 iBooks. You can check Facebook over 250 times. You can check your Gmail over 250 times. You can go to the time. com over a 150 times. If you wanna download apps, average size apps, these are not games just apps; you can download over a 100 of them. If you wanna download music from iTunes, the average songs, if 4 minutes song, you can download 30 of those, so not as much music as you think.

And as far as apps that are board game or card game-- relatively simple games, you can what- average, you can download over 25 of those. If you wanna do video files or big games, don't wait, don't do it. Get the unlimited plan. Is a 3G iPad worth it extra $ 130 bucks? It's a little pricey just for that ability to connect; however, that data plan that you're someone that travels a lot. There are gonna be a lot of airports without free WiFi, there are gonna be a lotta hotels without free WiFi or you wanna, maybe use them in a car, careful. Then yeah, definitely, it's worth an upgrade. And of course, if you have a job that provides you with nearly limitless disposable income, you should buy like 30 of the top- of- the- line 3G iPads.

You can take it with yah. Mean, you can take the iPad with you, you can have- you can get buried with the iPad but the money's gonna- it's not all of it. Let's say, you have a big coffin, which you probably will! Because you-- if you have that much money, you know, 30 iPads.

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