Apple’s cellular iPad Pro is the best thing you can buy, but this year, it gets even better, thanks to the C1X.
Apple’s C1X Modem Makes the M5 iPad Pro with 5G Cellular a Must-Have Compared to Previous Models
If you’re looking to buy an iPad, I always recommend getting the cellular model. The reason for that is simple, because it gives you the freedom to stay connected all the time, only limited by cellular coverage.
However, it comes with its own set of disadvantages. The first one is slightly poor battery life, and the second is slower cellular speeds compared to iPhone. This is the sort of thing that may put some buyers off, especially when battery life sits at the top of your requirements.
Now that Apple has brought its own modem – the C1X – to its latest iPad Pro lineup, buying a cellular model makes way more sense, because it turns the above disadvantages around instantly as demonstrated by iPhone 16e and iPhone Air.
Apple’s own modem is designed in such a way that it prioritizes cellular traffic in the background and makes sure it does not take a toll on battery life. If you’re in a poor coverage area and have too much happening over cellular, an iPad with a non-Apple modem will either stop working completely or come to a crawl.
Apple’s modem is designed to work better in poor cellular conditions compared to Qualcomm modems Apple had been using. When those cellular signals drop, the C1X starts to make adjustments to keep you online as long as possible.
In short, the efficiency and battery gains make the cellular iPad Pro worth getting this year compared to the previous generation. And if you think the iPad Pro is too expensive, the chances are very high that Apple will start shipping the next standard iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini models with its own modems as well.
Last but not least, you get up to 50% faster cellular performance compared to the M4 iPad Pro model. Yes, the model which Apple has just replaced. That’s a massive gain in just over a year.
