Chapter 6

Understanding Connection: Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G

One of the best features of an Android tablet is its ability to connect to the Internet. Going online doesn’t just mean using the built-in Web browser. When you use many apps, add contacts, save your email, and do a wide variety of other activities on your tablet, you’re going to use data.

All tablets being sold at the time of writing are capable of Wi-Fi connections. Some tablets are also capable of using mobile data, just like a smartphone. Of those mobile-capable tablets, some use 3G, some are capable of 4G, but none of them work across all 3G and 4G networks.

In this chapter, we’ll explain how to get online with your tablet. We’ll also go over the different ways tablets can access data, as well as how to get connected without draining your battery.