Do tablets have sim cards? The answer to this question may surprise you. Most people assume that because smartphones have SIM cards, tablets must too. However, this is not always the case. In this blog post, we will explore the topic of SIM cards in tablets and answer all of your questions!
Do Tablets Have SIM Cards?
There are many branded tablet devices on the market and many of these companies provide a cellular and non-cellular version of the same device, by cellular, we mean sim card capability. The iPad from Apple is a great example, you can buy the wifi only model or the cellular + wifi model, both are identical in every way except for the addition of a sim card slot on the cellular model. So, Do tablets have SIM cards? The answer is, it depends on the tablet.
Usually though, the non-cellular (non-sim card variant) is cheaper to purchase as you can’t really travel and use the tablet on-the-go as easy as if you were to purchase the model with a sim card slot.
Why Do Tablets Have Sim Cards?
The main reason people want a tablet with a SIM card is for the data connectivity when they are away from home or their office and need to be online but don’t have access to WiFi. By having a SIM card in their tablet, they can connect to the internet using the mobile data network provided by their cellular service provider. This is handy if you are traveling and need to stay connected or if you work remotely and need to connect to your work network while you are on the go.
Can Tablets Make Phone Calls With A Sim Card?
The answer to this question is also, it depends on the tablet. Some tablets do have the ability to make phone calls while others do not. If your tablet does have this capability, you will need to purchase a separate SIM card for your tablet that you can use for data and voice service. This sim card will be different from the one in your smartphone so be sure to get the right one for your needs.
Many cellular providers such as Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T offer extra sim cards just for this purpose at a discounted rate, so you can enjoy the benefits of a sim card not just in your mobile phone but in your tablet too.
Do Tablets Have To Have Sim Cards?
No, tablets do not have to have sim cards. However, if you want the ability to connect to the internet using a mobile data network, then you will need to purchase a tablet that has a sim card slot and get a separate sim card for your tablet. This way, you can enjoy all the benefits of being connected even when you are on the go.
However. Just because you may have already purchased a tablet without a sim card slot, does not mean you still can not use it on the go, If you have a smart cell phone, most have a tethering feature. Tethering means that you can transform your cellular device into its own WiFi hotspot, so in this example, you could turn this mode on, on your cell phone and then connect your tablet to your cells network and you will still be able to enjoy the same mobile data connectivity on your tablet as you would if it had a sim card slot.
Be aware, because you will be using a tablet instead of a cell phone, to actually surf the internet, we tend to stream more media on our tablets and this can drain the bandwidth of your sim card plan, so we suggest that if you will be tethering your devices to your cell phone and using this feature, you take out an unlimited data usage plan with your provider, that way, you can consume as much media as you would like without being cut off.
Can I Put Any Sim Card In A Tablet?
If your tablet has a sim card slot, then you can use any size or type of sim card in it. The most common type of sim card is the Nano-SIM, which is the smallest and newest type of SIM card. This is the same size as the one found in most smartphones these days.
You can also use a Micro-SIM or even a full-size SIM card in your tablet if it has a sim card slot, but you will need an adapter to do this as these cards are too large to fit into the Nano-sim slot on your tablet. We suggest that you ask your cellular service provider for an adapter when you purchase your new tablet so that you can use any size or type of SIM, they usually would be able to supply these for you.
Can A Tablet Be Used As A Phone With A Sim Card?
As we briefly touched on above, some tablets do have the ability to make and receive phone calls. If your tablet has this capability, you will be able to use it as a phone with a sim card. This is handy if you are traveling and need to stay connected or if you work remotely and need to connect to your work network while you are on the go.
To use your tablet as a phone, you will need to purchase a separate SIM card for your tablet that you can use for data and voice service. This sim card will be different from the one in your smartphone so be sure to get the right one for your needs. Many cellular providers offer extra sim cards just for this purpose at a discounted rate, so you can enjoy the benefits of a sim card not just in your mobile phone but in your tablet too. Do keep in mind that if you are using your tablet as a phone, you will need to have a data plan that is separate from your smartphone data plan as well. This way, you can avoid paying overage charges for using more data than what is included in your monthly smartphone data allotment.
Final Thoughts
We hope this article has helped to clear up any confusion you may have had about sim cards in tablets. As you can see, there are many benefits to having a sim card in your tablet and it is definitely something worth considering if you are looking for ways to stay connected while on the go.
Do tablets have sim cards or do they even need them? Well, a tablet can indeed have a sim card slow but these models are normally more expensive than the basic WiFi version, solely for the purpose of this functionality, with that being said, most savvy shoppers tend to purchase the standard WiFi – Non cellular version and then simply connect or tether their web access from their cell phones.