Some tablets, including The GrandPad, come with SIM card slots that allow them to be equipped with their own on-board internet access, to be paid for on a monthly basis by the user. This is a useful feature for seniors who may travel a lot or spend time outside the home as having a provider SIM card in a tablet will mean that it doesn’t require an external Wi-Fi connection.
Many tablets are available in both ‘Wi-Fi only’ and carrier-compatible versions. However, in most cases, a carrier-compatible tablet will cost far more than a Wi-Fi only version — sometimes more than twice as much. If you desire a tablet that will be usable outside the home and away from public Wi-Fi connections, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a portable hotspot device that can provide its own Wi-Fi to which other devices can be connected. Most internet service providers offer these devices at a low cost and offer data-only plans to support their use.