Report tips iPad with UK LTE, says Mini will be Wi-Fi-only
updated 10:18 am EDT, Wed October 10, 2012
iPad mini announcement anticipated as 'imminent'
The third-generation iPad will get a revision to support UK LTE bands, but the upcoming iPad mini will be Wi-Fi-only, according to industry sources contacted by The Guardian. While LTE is one of the major marketing points for the third-gen iPad, the chipset currently used by Apple only supports American and Canadian 4G bands. Public complaints and pressure from government agencies around the world ultimately forced Apple to de-emphasize LTE in its international advertising.
The claim about the iPad mini would contradict a recent leak which showed a model with a plastic bar allowing 3G/4G signals to pass through. At the same time going without cellular support would keep costs down, and wouldn't be unprecedented amongst similar tablets. Google's Nexus 7, for instance, omits 3G and 4G even in the most expensive model.
Several Guardian sources say that an announcement for the Mini is imminent. Retail sources in particular say they expect new products come November; both claims match up with a recent report that suggested a press invitation could go out as soon as today, leading to an event next week, and a ship date by early November.
Junior Member
Joined: 01-14-10
I seem to remember an article from a few months back showing that something like 80-90% of iPads sold were the WiFi only model. LTE just doesn't seem to be something most people want. They don't use their tablets that way. It's not worth the extra hassle for Apple to fit it in and get it approved.