# Do smartphones always use Wi-Fi for data (if available)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-smartphones-always-use-wi-fi-for-data-if-available/758876>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 1, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-smartphones-always-use-wi-fi-for-data-if-available/758876 "2016-07-01T18:12:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-smartphones-always-use-wi-fi-for-data-if-available/758876/21 "2016-07-02T21:21:01Z")

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> [@Si\_Amigo](#):
>
> Used 160Gb last month with no issues.

Bloody hell, that’s quite a lot. How much does that plan cost you?

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**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-smartphones-always-use-wi-fi-for-data-if-available/758876/22 "2016-07-02T22:34:28Z")

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> [@Si\_Amigo](#):
>
> I have an Android phone on Verizon with an unlimited data plan. I never use wifi. Used 160Gb last month with no issues. I stream music, use my hotpot for 4K video streaming and share my data with other devices constantly.

How much of that data is at 4G speed? I theoretically have unlimited data, but only 10Gb a month is at high speed. Over that, I still have data, but it’s throttled to 2G speed.

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**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-smartphones-always-use-wi-fi-for-data-if-available/758876/23 "2016-07-03T02:01:41Z")

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In your Android settings you can set data limits. Mine is set so it warns me when I’m in the last 10% or so of my monthly allowance so I can consciously limit my usage, and it cuts off my data when it reaches the preset limit. As there can be differences in the accounting of usage between the phone and the cell provider, I have my cut off set a fraction below my designated allowance.

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**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-smartphones-always-use-wi-fi-for-data-if-available/758876/24 "2016-07-03T11:59:44Z")

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> [@Baron\_Greenback](#):
>
> Bloody hell, that’s quite a lot. How much does that plan cost you?

About $65 a month. I was grandfathered in on a plan from 8 years ago and also get a discount from my job.

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**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-smartphones-always-use-wi-fi-for-data-if-available/758876/25 "2016-07-03T12:03:37Z")

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> [@cochrane](#):
>
> How much of that data is at 4G speed? I theoretically have unlimited data, but only 10Gb a month is at high speed. Over that, I still have data, but it’s throttled to 2G speed.

Just about all of it is at 4G speeds. Verizon was forced by the FCC not to throttle down connection speeds on people with my plan.

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