UK PAYG Data-Only eSIM for iPad Air

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UK PAYG Data-Only eSIM for iPad Air

Hi. I'm looking at buying an iPad Air to replace my knackered iPad Pro (battery). The main use will be on holiday, in the UK and occasionaly Europe, when I want something bigger than a phone for booking stuff, maps, etc. I'm in the UK and the problem I'm having is finding a data-only, pay as you go e-sim. I want PAYG so I can just load up with data when I'm on holiday, rather than paying monthly for data that I won't use. I think I want a data-only sim because the internet seems to think that if I use a standard phone/data sim then the data will be throttled, or there will problems using it in Europe or I'll get eaten by an enormous mutant star goat. Whatever, the consensus seems to be that I need a data-only sim for an iPad. I've spent ages on the web and on the phone to Vodfone, EE and O2 and they've been no help other than to confirm that they don't do PAYG data-only eSims. So, I thought I'd try here – has anyone got any advice for me or managed to successfully get a PAYG eSim for an iPad Air? Remember, I'm in the UK.

Thanks in advance

iPad Air (5th generation)

Posted on Jun 26, 2024 10:15 AM

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Answer 1

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LotusPilot

Level 10

303,818 points

Jun 26, 2024 10:46 AM in response to Zurarczurx

If using a physical SIM with a WiFi+Cellular iPad, you will indeed need a DataSIM. You are quite correct in that most mobile phone SIMs are not correctly provisioned for tablet computers such as iPad.

DataSIMs (or eSIM equivalent) are often marketed as Mobile Broadband SIMs - also sometimes known as MiFi. In the UK, DataSIMs are commonly on a monthly contract - and not PAYG. That said, many EE plans are available with a rolling contract that can be cancelled when no longer required; from recollection, these rolling plans renew monthly with no minimum contract term:

https://ee.co.uk/mobile/data-sim

If your intention is to use this SIM when travelling internationally, check that Roaming is supported.

As an alternative to provisioning Cellular on the iPad, consider a facility commonly available with your Cellular phone...

If you have an iPhone, or other mobile phone, your existing airtime contract may allow tethering - or offer the option to add tethering for an additional charge. With tethering, you can simply connect to your phone's hotspot - allowing your iPad to use the phone's cellular data.

If you cannot find a suitable Cellular plan from the UK Cellular Providers - and assuming that your iPad has a built-in eSIM - you can activate a short-term contract (usually limited in time or volume of data) directly from the iPad from a selection of operators. With just a credit card, direct activation plans are available with 1GLOBAL, GigSky and RedteaGO.

Set up cellular service on iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular models) - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Zurarczurx Author

Level 4

3,483 points

Jun 27, 2024 12:27 AM in response to LotusPilot

I know that Apple has no control over the plans offered, but it has the ability to check what's available before making claims about its products. Their site says "Or get just the amount of data you need, like 1GB, whenever you need it. Simply pay as you go." There's no footnote saying "PAYG Data eSIMs are not available in the UK" at the bottom of their blurb.

The 30 day plans are not the same as PAYG - requiring setting up, then cancelling, then setting up again - not the same thing as PAYG where I can just log in to an account to add data when I run low or when I plan to go on a trip. PAYG for a few weeks a year is much cheaper than having to run any traditional fixed term contract.

A mobile data router does not have the same costs a provisioning the same data plan as an iPad because I can run one with a PAYG data-only physical SIM. The iPad Air only uses an eSim and there are no data-only PAYG eSIMs available in the UK.

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Answer 3

LotusPilot

Level 10

303,818 points

Jun 26, 2024 2:30 PM in response to Zurarczurx

Zurarczurx wrote:

Apple make a big thing on the iPad site about PAYG and only paying for data when you need it but seem to have completely ignored the fact that such options aren't available in the UK. I might write to the ASA.

Apple has no control over the contracts/plans offered by Cellular Providers. Available plans are entirely determined by commercial decisions made by Providers in the regions/countries within which they operate.

If PAYG data plans are not available, this is not the fault of Apple. Perhaps consider that PAYG plans, where available, are often the most expensive form of Cellular plan available. By contrast, EE's rolling 30-day plans might be some of the most flexible - with costs only marginally more expensive than a traditional fixed term contract.

A Mobile Broadband router (with an associated data plan) is certainly viable - but has identical running cost to provisioning the same data plan with an iPad. Using a Broadband Router obviously carries the additional cost of the Broadband Router itself.

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Answer 4

Zurarczurx Author

Level 4

3,483 points

Jun 26, 2024 11:04 AM in response to LotusPilot

Thanks. I've just been on the phone to Apple tech support and they were no help at all. The tethering/hotspot thing kicked all this off. I'd be happy to use the hotspot on my phone but every time I activate it and use it with my iPad Pro an "unknown device" uses 10 GB of data and I've no idea what or why. It's not someone else logging in because no one has the password and I've also changed the password. It also happens when there is no one nearby - the last time was when I was overnighting in a layby in Scotland and was the only vehicle for miles around. There were no other devices in the van - just my iPhone and iPad. I've turned everything off on the iPad, it's not updating apps or updating software or streaming and the amount of data used is suspiciously almost exactly the same every time.

Pending any different advice I think that I'll just end up getting a MiFi device and a broadband SIM and saving money on the iPad by not going for the Cellular option.

Apple make a big thing on the iPad site about PAYG and only paying for data when you need it but seem to have completely ignored the fact that such options aren't available in the UK. I might write to the ASA.

Thanks again.

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UK PAYG Data-Only eSIM for iPad Air

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