Can the iPhone 15 Pro Max do actual Tethering?

1Poobah1 wrote:

In the past on iPhones (and maybe still), you could not setup a hotspot without a cellular data source….and I think it automatically turned off its own WiFi connection. I know that certain Android phones could tether. I’m hoping the 15 can as well. Anyone? Thanks!

There wasn't a built-in feature on iPhones to create a Wi-Fi hotspot using a Wi-Fi connection from another router while cellular data is turned off. The personal hotspot feature is designed to share the iPhone's cellular data connection.

While some Android phones do offer Wi-Fi tethering (sharing your current Wi-Fi connection as a hotspot), iPhones lack this functionality. Even the iPhone 15 doesn't currently offer Wi-Fi tethering as a native feature.

1Poobah1 wrote:

I’m not asking if it can produce a “regular” hotspot, based on data from its cellular connection. I’m asking if it can have cellular data turned off, be connected to a WiFi router to connect to the internet, and then setup a WiFi hotspot for another device to connect to…

Typically, iPhones have the ability to share an internet connection with other devices through a personal hotspot feature. This feature allows the iPhone to create a Wi-Fi network that other devices can connect to for internet access. However, the personal hotspot feature is generally tied to the iPhone's cellular data connection. In other words, the iPhone uses its cellular data to provide internet access to other devices via the personal hotspot.

I can see that, but the fact is you can't do it with an iPhone.

The personal Hotspot feature appears under Mobile/Cellular Data and not under WiFi. That says it all.

On the device you want to connect to, go to Settings > Mobile Data > Personal Hotspot or Settings > Personal Hotspot and make sure it's on. Then verify the Wi-Fi password and name of the phone. Stay on this screen until you've connected your other device to the Wi-Fi network.

How to set up a Personal Hotspot on your iPhone or iPad

If there is a WiFi network available for your phone to connect to, why in the world would you need/want it to create another WiFi network for other devices to connect through? That doesn’t even make sense.

1Poobah1 wrote:

There are actually a lot of reasons why one would want or need this. For example, let’s say you are on a cruise with your significant other. The cruise line charges $40/day per device for a premium internet connection. Your cruise is 12 days long. That’s $480 just for the internet for 1 person! And what if the 2 of you go on 2-4 cruises a year? That really adds up fast to a lot of money! Or maybe they brought a fire stick or AppleTv to use in their cabin. Thus, the ability to tether would come in handy in this example, don’t you think?!

I don't know what cruise lines you might be cruising, but Royal Caribbean, for example offers Zoom internet service, which for one price covers all the passengers in your cabin. They don't charge by the device.

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