New iPad 4G Data Plans: AT&T vs. Verizon

The new iPad will be , so make sure to set your alarm early and take the morning off if you want to be first in line. But when you log online or arrive at the store, which iPad do you plan on getting?

Along with that dazzling Retina Display, the new iPad marks the first time a product from Apple will be available on a true 4G LTE network (and no, AT&T's ). But built-in carrier connectivity isn't for everyone. Most users tend to go for the Wi-Fi-only option. Not only does it save you $130 right off the bat, but nearly everyone has a Wi-Fi network at home, and there are Wi-Fi hotspots aplenty out in public these days.

But there are still lots of users out there who must be connected at all times, and AT&T and Verizon have you covered. So which one's right for you? We broke down carrier pricing plans for the new iPad in the chart below.

If you're looking for the cheapest possible monthly deal, AT&T has it, but you all you get is a scant 250MB for $14.99 per month—that works out to a whopping $59.96 per 1GB! You'd be much better off doubling your investment and getting 12 times the amount of data with the 3GB plan for $30 per month. There's not much of a reason to go all-in on the 5GB plan (for $50 per month), since overage charges are $10 per 1GB on the 3GB plan, which means you'll still wind up spending $50 if you use 5GB on a 3GB plan.

If you're a heavy data user and looking to get the most bang for your buck, Verizon offers a 10GB plan for $80 per month, which works out to $8 per GB—the least expensive option available. Verizon also offers a more reasonable plan than AT&T for more casual users. $20 gets you 1GB of data per month, which should be good for checking email and very light Web browsing on the go. The only price point at which Verizon loses to AT&T is with its 2GB plan, which costs $30. As mentioned above, that same price gets you an additional GB of data on AT&T.

Keep in mind that even the largest data plans aren't a good option for streaming video. You can quickly run through your entire plan with just a few movies from Netflix—save that kind of heavy expenditure for Wi-Fi.

In addition to more reasonable plans, Verizon offers the option to use your iPad as a hotspot, to share its 4G connection with up to five additional devices, for no additional charge. AT&T doesn't offer a hotspot option at this time.

Aside from price, another important factor to take into consideration is coverage and speed. Take a look at PCMag's feature to find out which wireless carrier has the fastest data network where you live. AT&T and Verizon both offer blazing fast 4G LTE speeds, though Verizon provides far more coverage than AT&T's fledgling network. On the other hand, if you still aren't covered by 4G, AT&T generally offers faster 3G than Verizon.

Finally, don't overlook the idea of using a mobile hotspot to get your new iPad online, which will work with the Wi-Fi-only model. Hotspots are tiny, they offer many more data plan options, and nearly every carrier has at least one. Take a look at our list of the Best Mobile Hotspots to help you get started.

So with all that in mind, which new iPad are you planning to get? Let us know in the comments below.

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