You are buying the technical capability to use 4G. In order to actually have it work, you need to pay for a monthly data plan from a cell phone provider. I have an Android tablet and an iPad. I got both of them with only wifi because I did not want to pay for a data plan for either. They connect to the internet via my router or a free wifi hotspot. If I am somewhere that I can't use them, I use my cell phone and its data plan to connect to the internet.

Bottomline: If you want to use a tablet everywhere, you need to buy the more expensive one with the capability to connect to a cell phone system, and you need to additionally pay for the data plan. Sorry, but there's no free lunch with 4G.

This post was edited by kudzu9 on Fri, Mar 22, 13 at 20:21

Just to add to the good information from Kudzu, there is a definite limit as to the amount of data you can use with a basic plan each month. If you go over that amount, there are additional charges. Now if you are not using the tablet as a substitute for a computer, you may do fine with the basic plan amount, but if this is your main source of internet use, expect the charges to add up.

4G is cellular data, the exact same network a smartphone uses. When buying a 4G tablet, you'll typically pay a bit more than one that has WiFi alone. You'll also need a cellular data plan, which will run you, maybe $10 to $25 per month depending on the amount of data you consume. The plan is set up right through the tablet. At least the iPads, that data plan can be turned on or off on a monthly basis.

I don't know if this will help, but

I live in rural America and my Internet connection is via a 3G network. Though my system is hard-wired to the modem the gateway has created a traditional wireless network for my entire home. When my adult children visit they just log on their electronic devices to the network via user name and password.

When I purchased my Nook several years ago I spent the extra money to get a 3G/wi-fi model. Since then I have never used the 3G capability only the wi-fi connection regardless of my location; airports, motels, restaurants, etc.

Just remember 4G is similar, but completely separate and different then traditional wi-fi.

DA

Another option is if you have a cell phone with internet you may be able to tether the tablet to it while out and about but I have no clue how all that works but you would not want to steam a lot or watch a 2hr movie as that would use up a ton of data.

i have a kindle fire but wifi only and I find there is so much free wifi all over it works fine while out and about. I was just on a trip that was 7hrs travel time and all McDonalds i stopped at had free wifi.

I just got a 4g cell phone and I get 500mb a month at 4g and if I go over then they slow me down until the next month but I am finding for just surfing the web or checking email I don't use much as that's all I wanted it for so this is plenty for my phone while traveling. Mary

acraftylady-
Tethering is definitely a possibility as long as the phone's operating system contains that option (not all do) and your cell phone provider allows you to do that (not all do). I agree that the main concern is maxing out your data plan. I don't have that problem with just my phone accessing the Internet, but I could easily go over once I started surfing with a tethered tablet. I see tethering as a tool for occasional situations where you want to use a bigger screen to do something, but not as one's regular mode of connecting.