Wi-Fi or 5G tablet: is cellular worth ₹18,000 more?
The 5G step costs ₹18,000 on the iPad (A16) and iPad Air 11″, ₹24,000 on the iPad Pro, but only ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 on some budget tablets. Who should pay.
Buy the Wi-Fi version unless you will use the tablet away from Wi-Fi most weeks. The cellular step costs ₹18,000 on the iPad (A16) and the iPad Air 11″ (M4), ₹24,000 on the iPad Pro 11″ (M5), and only ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 on several budget tablets, so the answer depends on the tablet. All prices here are today’s prices on The Synap, checked on 1 November 2026.
Is the 5G version of a tablet worth paying for?
For most people, no. A Wi-Fi tablet that stays at home, college or the office never needs a SIM, and your phone’s hotspot covers the odd trip. The cellular version pays off only if the tablet is your connected device on the move, and only if the extra is small. Here is what the step costs, same memory and storage, on tablets from our tablets page.
| Tablet (same memory and storage) | Wi-Fi | Cellular | Extra for cellular |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad Pro 11″ (M5), 256GB | ₹1,39,900 | ₹1,63,900 (5G) | ₹24,000 |
| iPad (A16), 128GB | ₹49,900 | ₹67,900 (5G) | ₹18,000 |
| iPad Air 11″ (M4), 128GB | ₹89,900 | ₹1,07,900 (5G) | ₹18,000 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+, 12GB + 256GB | ₹1,29,999 | ₹1,44,999 (5G) | ₹15,000 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE, 8GB + 128GB | ₹52,999 | ₹62,999 (5G) | ₹10,000 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Lite, 6GB + 128GB | ₹37,499 | ₹41,499 (5G) | ₹4,000 |
| Redmi Pad 2 Pro, 8GB + 128GB | ₹26,999 | ₹29,999 (5G) | ₹3,000 |
| Moto Pad 60 Neo, 4GB + 128GB | ₹22,999 | ₹25,999 (5G) | ₹3,000 |
| Lenovo Idea Tab, 6GB + 128GB | ₹19,999 | ₹22,998 (5G) | ₹2,999 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+, 6GB + 128GB | ₹29,999 | ₹31,999 (5G) | ₹2,000 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A11, 4GB + 64GB | ₹20,999 | ₹22,999 (4G) | ₹2,000 |
| Redmi Pad 2, 4GB + 128GB | ₹17,999 | ₹18,999 (4G) | ₹1,000 |
| realme Pad 2, 6GB + 128GB | ₹19,999 | ₹19,999 (4G) | ₹0 |
The pattern is clear. Apple charges a flat ₹18,000 at every storage size on the iPad (A16) and the iPad Air 11″ (M4) (₹18,000 at 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and, on the Air, 1TB too). Samsung scales it with the tablet, from ₹15,000 on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+ down to ₹2,000 on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+. The budget Redmi, Motorola and Lenovo tablets ask ₹3,000 or less.
What do you get for the extra money?
A cellular modem, a SIM or eSIM, and, on the iPad Air, GPS. Apple’s India page for the iPad Air says the Wi-Fi + Cellular models use eSIM only, “not compatible with physical SIM cards”, and adds that not all carriers support eSIM. Our eSIM guide covers how to activate one.
The same Apple page lists GPS/GNSS only under the cellular models, and says the cellular data plan is sold separately. It claims up to 10 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi and up to 9 hours on cellular data, and the 11-inch cellular model weighs 465 g against 464 g. These are Apple’s claims for the iPad Air; no independent battery test has been published for this comparison, and Apple’s other iPads may differ, so check the page for the model you pick.
Is it better to spend the money on storage instead?
Often, yes. On the iPad Air 11″ (M4), the 256GB Wi-Fi model is ₹1,01,900 and the 128GB 5G model is ₹1,07,900, so the Wi-Fi tablet with double the storage costs ₹6,000 less. The iPad (A16) works the same way: 256GB Wi-Fi is ₹61,900, against ₹67,900 for 128GB with 5G.
| Version | Price | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Air 11″ (M4), 128GB Wi-Fi | ₹89,900 | The base model |
| iPad Air 11″ (M4), 256GB Wi-Fi | ₹1,01,900 | Double the storage, ₹12,000 more |
| iPad Air 11″ (M4), 128GB 5G | ₹1,07,900 | Cellular, same storage, ₹18,000 more |
If you will fill 128GB with downloaded lectures, films and drawings, the extra storage will serve you every day. Cellular serves you only when you are outside Wi-Fi range.
Can your phone’s hotspot do the job?
For occasional use, yes. Switch on the hotspot, connect the tablet, and you have the same mobile data for no extra hardware cost. The catch is that the phone’s battery drains faster while it shares, and the tablet is only online while the phone is nearby and switched on.
That is fine for a train ride once a month. It is irritating if you work from the tablet every day in places without Wi-Fi, which is the case where cellular is worth paying for.
So when should you pay for cellular?
- Buy cellular if the step is ₹3,000 or less and you might ever use the tablet outdoors. The Redmi Pad 2 Pro, Moto Pad 60 Neo, Lenovo Idea Tab and Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ are in that range, and a Wi-Fi tablet cannot be upgraded later, since the cellular modem is part of a separate model.
- Buy cellular if you travel or work in the field and want the tablet online without your phone, and the extra is within your budget.
- Skip it if the tablet lives at home or on campus Wi-Fi. At ₹18,000 or more, as on the iPads, put the money into storage or a keyboard.
- Check the letters. The Redmi Pad 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 and realme Pad 2 sell 4G versions, not 5G, so the label on the box is not the same everywhere. On our page the realme Pad 2 6GB + 128GB 4G costs the same ₹19,999 as the Wi-Fi version.
Apple’s iPad mini (A20 Pro), on sale in India from 6 November, keeps the same ₹18,000 step on our page: ₹82,900 for 128GB Wi-Fi against ₹1,00,900 for 5G. Our launch report has its details, and our OnePlus Pad 4 versus iPad Air guide shows the Wi-Fi-only alternative.
Quick answers
Can I add 5G to a Wi-Fi tablet later?
No. Apple’s iPad Air spec page lists the cellular modem only on the Wi-Fi + Cellular models, and the two are sold as separate versions with separate prices. Decide at the time of purchase.
Do I need a separate plan for a 5G tablet?
Yes. Apple says the cellular data plan is sold separately, and its iPad Air takes an eSIM, so your carrier must support one. For Android tablets, check the maker’s India page for the SIM type before paying.
Which tablet has the cheapest cellular upgrade?
On The Synap, the realme Pad 2 6GB + 128GB 4G costs the same as the Wi-Fi version at ₹19,999, and the Redmi Pad 2 adds ₹1,000. For a 5G tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ adds ₹2,000 for 6GB + 128GB.
