Tethering - WiFi vs Bluetooth

Question

Level 1

4 points

Tethering - WiFi vs Bluetooth

I have a 32GB WiFi iPad (1st generation) and an iPhone 4. Both are running iOS 4.3, so I can now tether the iPad to the iPhone via WiFi or Bluetooth (I changed my AT&T plan to allow tethering). My question is which way is better to tether - WiFi or Bluetooth? Which one is faster? Which uses less battery for both devices? Any other considerations?

MacBook, iMac, iPad, iPhone 4, etc., iOS 4

Posted on Mar 15, 2011 11:22 AM

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Answer 1

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,541 points

Mar 15, 2011 11:27 AM in response to jplev

The iPad's BT profile does not support tethering. You will need to use wi-fi.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3647
See footnote 2.

Dah•veed

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Answer 2

red555

Level 4

2,581 points

Mar 15, 2011 11:27 AM in response to jplev

But if it did, Wifi is faster than Bluetooth but the slowest link in your chain is 3G Internet speed.

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Answer 3

err404

Level 1

0 points

Mar 18, 2011 11:24 AM in response to Dah•veed

Support for Bluetooth tethering was added to the iPad BT Profile with 4.3.

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Answer 4

red555

Level 4

2,581 points

Mar 18, 2011 11:26 AM in response to red555

Wifi is faster than BT and has greater range.

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Answer 5

ErJeee

Level 1

0 points

Mar 18, 2011 11:50 AM in response to Dah•veed

O yes it does, I tethered my 3GS iphone tot my ipad with bluetooth. Both devices need ios4.3

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Answer 6

Mar 18, 2011 1:04 PM in response to ErJeee

If you have an Iphone 4 with tethering plan and ios4.3 your preference should be to utilise Wifi when sharing your 3G internet connection on your iPad or iPad2.

When sharing you will see the standard radio symbol on your iPad.

However provided both devices are running ios4.3 and you have an iPhone 3GS you remain restricted to using bluetooth profiles for sharing your 3G connection on your IPad or iPad2.

In this case you see a linked chain symbol on your iPad rather than the radio symbol.

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