Is the iPad 4G really 4G? Maybe not in the UK

I am totally confused, I know nothing of 3G or 4G but expected as promised on the Apple website for my new iPad to be using the 4G networks, now I discover this is just a slightly quicker 3G…..glad the office paid for it and not me!

Seems to be yet another example of Apple-bashing link bait. First of all, it’s not called “iPad 4G”, that’s a name you’ve made up to support your story of outrage.

The real story is that 4G (LTE) is a mess if you look at the worldwide rollout. 3G was bad enough – take a look at the barmy frequencies T-Mobile got landed with in the US, for example. The problem really is governments around the world refusing to agree on frequencies, delaying the roll out in countries (the UK has no 4G LTE networks and it will be a very long time before anybody outside London sees one).

It’s not even a clear story in the US – both AT&T and Verizon offer LTE, but on completely different frequencies that require a different iPad model. Nobody makes a radio chipset that supports the frequencies that have been haphazardly allocated around the world.

The truth is that the iPad *does* support 4G. In the same way as my car may have a top speed of 140mph, but it will *never* achieve that unless I take it to a German autobahn. Should car manufacturers say UK car models have a top speed of 70mph? Should 3G models of phones sold in areas with only 2G coverage be relabelled as 2G? That seems to be what you’re advocating, but it just wouldn’t be true. The truth is more nuanced and untidy.

The fact is many people travel and that UK iPad *will* work on 4G LTE networks elsewhere in the world. To deny the iPad has 4G would be misleading, so we have to live with the disclaimer that the speed will be entirely dependent on local conditions and the network operator. Even when we get 4G, who really believes anybody outside London will see anything like the promised speeds? Where is HSPA available now?

I’ve just received my new iPad 4G, and had – until reading the Which? article – thought it would use 4G as soon as we had 4G in the UK…

It’s a lovely piece of kit; but now I’m not a happy bunny!

One related point where Apple do deserve some flack is that they caved in to AT&T’s marketing demands do that the 3G-only iPhone 4S (when running iOS 5.1) will display “4G” when connected to hi-speed sections of AT&T’s 3G network.

With layers of confusing marketing fluff covering everything like this it’s perhaps not surprising that nobody knows what’s going on.

From where I sit (as an avowed Apple-sceptic) it seems the last thing Which can be accused of is being ‘Apple-bashers’ – in the main they come over more as fan-boys, wilfully ignoring better equipment because it doesn’t come with a half-eaten apple on the box. MetalSamur seems to think that everyone should know there is no 4G available in the UK, whereas the reality is that many/most will beleive that because Apple say the iPad supports 4G that its a done deal. It’s just another bit of Apple sleight-of-hand, they could have said ‘supports 4G where available on XYX frequencies’ which might prompt the user to ask the question. But that might have cost them an over-priced sale.

As the ‘LTE expert’ quoted in the article, it’s interesting to read on the comments here that some have bought the ‘new iPad with 4G’ and expected it to give them 4G support when it arrives in the UK. That would certainly put paid to accusations of ‘Apple bashing link-bait’ as its educating consumers, which surely is what Which is here to do.

It seems to me that because it says 4G on the iPad box, consumers expect it to just give them 4G – because as we all know, with all Apple products, “it just works”. Don’t they?

It indicates that the Apple brand is trusted a lot more than the operators, who are seen as money grabbing – the reaction to the price hike on T-Mobile UK is a recent example. (This is quite ironic as we all know who’s sitting on a mountain of cash, but that’s another story).

As far as I’m concerned it boils down to how much responsibility has to be placed on Apple to educate consumers. It has not lied. The product name is accurate and the small print states the facts accurately. It’s just that if people don’t read the small print they are likely to get burned (I don’t mean by a hot iPad, again, another story).

It’s certainly arguable that Apple could have made it more clear that this iPad will never work on ‘4G’ in the UK, but that would potentially put people off.

If enough people complain the ASA may have to make a decision and no doubt Apple will be forced to offer refunds. That said, surely refunds within the first 30 days are possible anyway?

not only is the advertised 4g incorrect but the a-gps is not a stand alone gps–it does not use satellite positioning but it is dependant of triangulation of wireless masts so the Apple support inform me –so a data plan costing ? is also required– in other words it is an assisted positioning system not an Assisted Global Positioning Satelitte system–

I bought the iPad 3 or new iPad (why they are calling it that I do not know as when the first iPad came out was that not the new iPad?). I bought the iPad 3 as I had the first iPad and I did expect it to work on 4G vand didn’t notice at first until I had to use the 4G when I was not at home and it came up 3G! I thought I must have done something or the sim I got was an old one and needed a new one or had to switch something on or off on my iPad 3. So I did a live chat with apple and was told that the uk at the moment doesn’t have 4G and they don’t know when and I have to get in touch with my sim provider to find out if they will be supporting it. So why did they sell it and market it as iPad 3 with 4G if you can’t get it? They should have said it can use 4G when and if it is available.

Hmm, interesting, At the moment I am torn between buying a netbook or a tablet. Apple seems hugely expensive for what you get. I think some people buy an Apple merely because it has some sort of cult status!!!!. just as Blackberry is the must have phone for young people.

It’s not Apple’s fault for being advanced with their amazing technology. iPad is capable of connecting to 4G however the UK networks have not worked hard enough to introduce 4G technology into the UK. They have been trialling for over a year and the networks have the money, but are being incredibly wary due to Orange risky purchase of 3G technology many years ago when Internet on a phone was not then thought to be possible. I blame the networks, not Apple.

I’m still waiting for 3G. The nearest I get is Edge(whatever that is) and that’s 25miles away. They need to sort that coverage out before moving on

I answer to the question in the last paragraph, yes I would expect the new iPad to work with 4g in the uk.

When I purchase an item in the UK with specific functions that effect the cost I as an end user expect those functions to work. I am not an expert so when I am offered 4G as a benefit I expect the supplier and or the manufacturer to be selling me a product that will work in the country where I made the purchase. To find out that it will only work in the USA is unsatisfactory and seems to me to be misleading. Clearly APPLE must have been aware of the shortcomings when I made my purchase. I hope Apple will make this fact clear on all future sales and at the very least apologise to existing purchasers.

I purchased something entitled as Apple iPad 3 32GB wi-fi 4G in the UK for use in the UK. Where does Apple have a problem with the interpretation of the item description? It will constitute a massive trading scam if anything less than that description is allowed to hold sway only future decisions.

Whilst I completely agree with everyone that are annoyed and dismayed at being “mis-sold” the new iPad, I also have to voice my concern that surely people should be doing their homework before buying it. I made these points to friends on family across a plethora of social networking sites to explain that it’s not a 4G iPad, but is 4G-capable.

There are currently no UK mobile networks that provide coverage for 4G-capable devices, only 3G (or 3G+ for the pedants). There has been a lot of vying for the spectrum for several months and it’s not likely that Brits will see a 4G network before 2013. For those who complain about the UK not having 4G coverage at present, this is down to the UK networks and Ofcom, not Apple.

The problem – as it always is with a media-frenzied product launch from a highly-successful company – is that people love to jump on the bandwagon: They love the fact that they’re buying into the latest must-have gadget and only look into it at the sales stage, but are also first to complain when they hear the first shards of negativity over what they’ve just purchased.

This is Which?, right? Surely it’s the best platform for all of us to do a bit research, get a well-informed, unbiased opinion and ensure that were only purchase something that we know we can use?

Advertising is all well and good, but what about the packaging and POS. I was told the 4G would work in the UK in the Apple store and it says 4G clearly on the box too. Apple is obliged to deliver on this description or consult trading standards. Either that or change the label to 3G or 4G US.

When we shopped around for the new iPad, every place was clear about the 4G issue so we bought knowingly. Having not had the earlier version, this was and still is a brilliant piece of kit.

I bought it with the intention that my iPad will support 4G networks in the UK when it’s available next year. But it’s now clear that’s wont be the case.

When I bought it over the phone, the apple agent referred to it as 3G, then I immediately asked if its 4G, he corrected himself as 4G. He lied. What a shame apple.

A really interesting article and follow-up comments.

I recently purchased “The New iPad” and when asked by the sales associate in the Apple Store whether I wanted 4G I thought, “Why not?” – we may only have 3G now but it would be worth future-proofing my investment. Now, discovering that 4G US is not 4G UK is a tad disappointing – £100 is £100.

I notice the Apple “UK” website now says that 4G LTE is only available in US / Canada.

Still, I’ve had the iPad four days and haven’t even taken it out of the (nice) Apple carrier bag, let alone the box, so shouldn’t have any issues exchanging the item – but then why would I want to do that anyway? The New iPad has a higher spec than the iPad 2 and 3G connectivity is something that wouldn’t be available through the Wi-Fi only version. The New iPad may be able to connect to networks at a slightly higher than 3G speed. My decision is whether to take the unit back and get a Wi-Fi version and save £100 and then use the bluetooth to link to my 3G phone. Sounds like this could be an option. At least if the phone is driving the connectivity, it should always be compliant to UK wireless networking standards.

What would your advice be?

How useful is an IPad with 3G (or 4G) compared with Wifi when on cruise liners?

I purchased the Apple iPad 3 64GB wi-fi 4G on the understanding that it would work with 4G in the UK. My Ipad is no grey import it has a UK power plug purchased from a UK company. The frequencies for 4G have been widely publicised for years, so I find it very odd that the iPad 4g doesn’t support said frequencies. I’m quite tech savy and never even bothered to read up on 4g why should I the product was advertised as running on 4g.

I therefore believe that Apple may have knowingly sold a product in the UK under false pretence.
Further I believe under the sale of goods act 1979 (as amended) that the goods are not as advertised and are not fit for purpose. I’m approaching my supplier requesting a refund certainly of the extra price I paid for the 4g option, I suggest others do the same. I have also contacted the ASA and trading standards as the iPad is still advertised where I bought it from as iPad 3 64GB wi-fi 4G.

I am about to purchase a new ipad 3 and i am really confused what to go for. Wifi and cellular or wifi and 4G.

I do not travel great distances and currently have sky broadband in my flat. I can’t get any signal from this connection outside of my flat.

My mobile is supported by O2 where i can get a signal almost any where I co. Does that mean if i go for cellilar the same will apply to the ipad. And if i go for 4G will it run on 3G or 3G900 until 4G comes available