New Verizon iPad Runs on AT&T 3G Networks with AT&T Micro-SIM

One of the major selling features of the new Verizon iPad Wi-Fi + 4G LTE is its compatibility with GSM networks for international roaming purposes. But what hasn't been clear is whether users could insert an AT&T micro-SIM card into a Verizon iPad and receive data connectivity. Given that the Verizon iPad supports the same GSM frequency bands for non-LTE networks as the version sold for AT&T, it appeared to be technically possible to use a Verizon iPad on AT&T although Apple could have opted to restrict the device's operation on other networks.


As noted by jsnuff1 in our forums, the new Verizon iPad does indeed work on AT&T's network when equipped with an AT&T micro-SIM and the device's carrier settings are updated to support connecting to AT&T.

Big question on everyone's mind buying the Verizon iPad was whether data from AT&Ts 3G network would work on this iPad, or if Verizon/Apple would block this.

I was one of the first to obtain a Verizon iPad and can happily confirm that this is allowed! I used my ATT iPhone 4S sim card and took out the Verizon sim, and data worked! You must apply the AT&T APN carrier settings before this works though.

It is important to note, however, that a Verizon iPad will be limited to non-LTE bands (EDGE, 3G, HSPA+ 4G) on AT&T. The Verizon iPad hardware supports only the 700 MHz band for LTE to match the carrier's technology, while the GSM version sold for use on AT&T's network supports both the 700 MHz and 2100 MHz bands as used by that carrier.

ipad 3 cellular bands
Initial pre-orders of the new iPad are arriving today, while retail outlets in ten countries are offering in-store purchase for those still looking to purchase an iPad on launch day.

Related Roundup: iPad
Tags: AT&T, Verizon
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Feature

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Saturday October 18, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
iOS 26 was released last month, but the software train never stops, and iOS 26.1 beta testing is already underway. So far, iOS 26.1 makes both Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods available in additional languages, and it includes some other minor changes across the Apple Music, Calendar, Photos, Clock, and Safari apps. More features and changes will follow in future ...
ios 26 1 liquid glass opaque

iOS 26.1 Beta 4 Lets Users Control Liquid Glass Transparency with New Toggle

Monday October 20, 2025 10:57 am PDT by
With the fourth betas of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1, Apple has introduced a new setting that's designed to allow users to customize the look of Liquid Glass. The toggle lets users select from a clear look for Liquid Glass, or a tinted look. Clear is the current Liquid Glass design, which is more transparent and shows the background underneath buttons, bars, and menus, while tinted ...
iPhone Siri Glow

Some Apple Employees Have 'Concerns' About iOS 26.4's Revamped Siri

Sunday October 19, 2025 7:39 am PDT by
iOS 26.4 is expected to introduce a revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, but not everyone is satisfied with how well it works. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said some of Apple's software engineers have "concerns" about the overhauled Siri's performance. However, he did not provide any specific details about the shortcomings. iOS 26.4 will...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.2 Update for iPhones Coming Soon

Friday October 17, 2025 7:35 am PDT by
Apple's software engineers continue to internally test iOS 26.0.2, according to MacRumors logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. iOS 26.0.2 will be a minor update that addresses bugs and/or security vulnerabilities, but we do not know any specific details yet. The update will likely be released by the end of next week. Last month, Apple released iOS 26.0.1,...
Apple iPad Pro hero M5

New iPad Pro Has Six Key Upgrades Beyond M5 Chip

Saturday October 18, 2025 10:57 am PDT by
While the new iPad Pro's headline feature is the M5 chip, the device has some other changes, including N1 and C1X chips, faster storage speeds, and more. With the M5 chip, the new iPad Pro has up to a 20% faster CPU and up to a 40% faster GPU compared to the previous model with the M4 chip, according to Geekbench 6 results. Keep in mind that 256GB and 512GB configurations have a 9-core CPU,...
maxresdefault

Here's How the iOS 26.1 Transparency Toggle Changes Liquid Glass

Monday October 20, 2025 1:55 pm PDT by
With the fourth beta of iOS 26.1, Apple added a toggle that makes Liquid Glass more opaque and reduces transparency. We tested the beta to see where the toggle works and what it looks like. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. If you have the latest iOS 26.1 beta, you can go to Settings > Display and Brightness to get to the new option. Tap on Liquid Glass, then...
iPhone Air

Report: 'Virtually No Demand' for iPhone Air

Wednesday October 22, 2025 3:22 am PDT by
Apple is "drastically" cutting production of the iPhone Air and shifting focus toward the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models, Nikkei Asia reports. The business publication claims to have learned of a major cut to iPhone Air production motivated by weaker-than-expected consumer interest, nearly to "end of production levels." Despite early reports of the iPhone Air selling out within hours of...
iOS 26

What's New in iOS 26.1 Beta 4

Monday October 20, 2025 1:02 pm PDT by
Even though we're at the fourth beta of iOS 26.1, Apple is continuing to add new features. In fact, the fourth beta has some of the biggest changes that we'll get when iOS 26.1 releases to the public later this month. We've rounded up what's new below. Liquid Glass Transparency Toggle Apple added a toggle for customizing the look of Liquid Glass. In Settings > Display and Brightness,...

Top Rated Comments

Small White Car Avatar
178 months ago
So if I have this right...

I can buy a Verizon iPad and when I really need data, just use my AT&T iPhone's SIM card to get some for a few minutes? Basically swapping out a small screen for a big one?

This...really seems too good to be true.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
weave Avatar
178 months ago
Sit back and learn, kid.

I know you fell for a troll, but I enjoyed that anyway.

Ah, I remember being excited about getting 1X in my area!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
smithrh Avatar
178 months ago
Sounds like retail to me. LOL ;-) No company has the same people working on the "handset set" and the infrastructure. That's always been the case; they're two entirely different groups, and is what causes so much pain between handsets and network.

And any company that has one role doing all that must be really really small, or just BS. Are you that company that made those little antennae boosters they sold for $0.99 and stuck on your battery and claimed it enhanced your signal, back in the late 90s???

Sit back and learn, kid.

Back in the day - apparently before you were born - there was a company that made high-tech stuff.

Police radios, satellites and satellite phones, cell phones, cell phone network infrastructure, microprocessors (powered the Apple II and the Mac even), cable modems, computers, batteries and car electronics. No, that's not a total list - there's quite a bit more, but this will suffice for now.

And in that company - which most certainly did make both phones and infrastructure (there were 2 others that did - can you name them? Probably not...) - employees could (shock!) move between divisions, either temporarily, or even (horror!) permanently. Hell, the divisions were right across the street from each other.

I have news for you: lots of people went between the divisions. Handsets one year, back to infrastructure the next.

Is this rocket science to you? Or are you just unaware that people may have long careers in big companies with multiple jobs in that company?

Now, somewhat sadly, this company couldn't keep up and part of it is owned by a company based in California that you may have also heard of, and another part is now owned by a company based in Europe. I no longer have any affiliation with any of these companies - but NDAs are still in force.

I say he's an AT&T employee. LOL. Apple has fanboys drinking their kool-aid right out of the faucet (I might be a little guilty), but there's no such thing as an "AT&T Fanboy" except employees, haha. I know several AT&T employees who use Verizon or Sprint... that says alot since their employee lines are free, hahahaha.

*RAH RAH RAH, AT&T RAH RAH RAH!* LOL, I can't even say it without laughing.

LOL indeed.

First, if you would have just checked my post history you would know this to not be the case. But hey, that would actually take some work wouldn't it. It's so much easier to just post crap, right?

Secondly, a couple of polos from product launches from that company I supposedly didn't work with for my customers. Note that one is from a pretty long time ago. Yeah, I've been around.


You might recognize this customer of mine:


Ahhh... it's Friday, time for the weekend and some fun time with my new iPad (Verizon, natch) that my boss surprised me with as a bonus...

Have a day.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alric Avatar
178 months ago
I wonder if the Hotspot function will work on the Verizon iPad with the AT&T SIM.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipoddin Avatar
178 months ago
Awesome, now you can pay 2 monthly bills for 1 ipad. Brilliant!

Huh? Isn't the point of this to not have to pay Verizon's data fee so you can use your iPhone's data on your iPad?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RetiredInFl Avatar
178 months ago
Got a fresh iPad SIM from the AT&T store. After I insert it in the Verizon iPad, I get AT&T 4G in the top left as well as signal bars, but when I go to the Cellular Data screen and tap View Account, I get the message "The device type entered is not supported."

It looks like that although there's no technical reason why a Verizon iPad can't use AT&T HSPA+, the servers won't allow you to purchase a data plan. If you activate the plan using other means first, it would probably work, which is why AT&T iPhone users have been able to successfully use their SIMs in the new iPad.

Update: If you try to activate on the AT&T website (https://dcp2.att.com/OEPNDClient/pages/B-00T.jsp) using the IMEI number, you get the same error message, so I have a feeling that AT&T simply rejects the IMEI numbers from Verizon iPads.
Well folks, looks like this really doesn't work ... here is the low-down gathered from various threads:


#1) If you have an ACTIVATED iPhone SIM and put it in the VERIZON (VZW) iPad ATT Data works. However there is no way ATT will let it continue plus it is against their TOS.

#2) If you have an ACTIVATED iPad 2 SIM from your previous iPad (or even from an iPad 3) it will also work in a VZW iPad but you may have to change the APN (easy do do).

#3) If you have a FRESH NEW not yet activated iPad SIM and put it into the VZW iPad you cannot activate the SIM in the iPad or Online.

So basically the VZW iPad software does lock out AT&T SIM cards. Unless you already have an activated ATT SIM you are SOL which kinda kills the deal for most people.

Does anyone have any different TESTED RESULTS?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)