14 DAY TRIAL // Tests carried out on the latest iPad have revealed that customers can still take advantage of the LTE hotspot function for a whopping 24 hours on a single charge, likely eating through the data allowance faster than the actual battery life of the tablet.
The confirmation comes from technology expert Anand Lal Shimpi, who set up one of the new iPad Airs as an LTE hotspot and turned on the tap full-blast to see how long it would last.
“A total of 24.08 hours and over 8GB of transfers later, the iPad Air finally died. Just like last time, you'll likely burn through your monthly data allotment before you run out of power,” writes Anand.
So what makes the iPad such a long-lasting access point? First, it has a big battery. Second, advancements in software and chip architecture translate into efficient resource management. Third, the screen doesn’t have to be on for you to use it as a hotspot (the display being the biggest power drainer of all).
It's also worth noting that iPad Air, expensive as it may be, far exceeds the capabilities of all dedicated MiFi hotspots available today. Then again, you're not buying just for this function, are you?