It depends.

Where I live you can only have one water element able to function at a time but I imagine there are less ecological areas in which theoretically you can have the overhead shower plus use the handheld.

When I was shopping for fixtures for my shower I looked at ones that were the round and the size of a regular fixed shower head and I personally found them to be somewhat heavy to hold. That could be me of course but I went with a fixed shower head and a wand and I very satisfied. I actually went with two hand held wands as I have a hand held close to the shower in my bench which is really convenient to use when I am sitting on the bench.

Thanks Helen. If you are using a wand in your setup, did you use a handeld connector like in the first picture (watersource and handheld connector in one piece)?

Or did you use a water connection separate from the handeld connector? (like in 2nd photo)

I wonder what the difference would be besides looks.

The wand with a separate wall bracket would be useful for someone who needed a shower seat. They would be able to grab and replace the wand while seated.  The setup with the bracket at the showerhead location is not accessible to a seated user or a young child

Thanks Lynde.

That makes sense, but i have also seen the handheld all in one connection hung lower on the shower wall. I have seen handhelds hung everywhere. This handheld will be used for someone seated on a bench across from the standard shower head on rhe wall. The person is not handicapped. Was hoping to keep all the plumbing on the same wall. The bench would be about 4 ft opposite the plumbing wall. Would definitely want the wand lower on the plumbing wall.

Just not sure if it is better to have a combined handheld connection and water inlet or separate handheld connector and water inlet (elbow))

My hand held is a separate connection - both of them are separate connections.

I am not handicapped but I have the second hand held by the bench for when I am sitting at the bench.

It is very easy to do the plumbing rough for it when you are building the shower.

The advantage is that you don't have to snake the hand held across the shower and also it is very easy to put it back and take it off as opposed to having to get up in order to put it back and take it off.

There really isn't any reason not to make the shower as functional as possible. My shower the hand held by the bench is one of my favorite parts of my remodel because it is so relaxing to have it right there.

Both of my wands are separate fixtures. I have a three way diverter and can easily switch between the over head or either of the hand held wands depending on where I am and what I want.

One reason is: Handheld shower in All-In-One water supply elbow is nice height for shower to pets.

Just like following pic:

Two separate outlets is a more upscale option over attaching hand held to the shower arm outlet. It requires a more expensive transfer valve, to switch between A and B option. Outside of water regulated areas, you can have C=(A+B)

Thanks all.

I think I haven't been clear about the connections I am talking about.

I am looking at a handheld shower wall supply elbow and handshower holder.

Similar to the one Aquaiaw plumbing showed.

all in one handheld supply and holder

Or a sepatate water supply elbow and and handheld connector

handheld that needs water separate supply

Why so some people separate the water supply from the handheld?

Does the hose hang better? Do they like the looks better ? Is it more versatile and how?

I have them separated because of how the hose looks that way.

I have a water outlet for my handheld with a holder on it. I can swing the holder flat against the wall so that when I turn on this showerhead, the spray flows along the wall and splashes against the side wall and does not spray just everywhere. I use a shower curtain in my handicapped-accessible shower, not a glass door, so it is good not to spray full blast at the shower curtain and out into the bathroom.

Another reason not to have the handheld outlet on one of the far end walls is that you can use the spray from any angle anywhere in the shower because the hose is more centered. You might want this when washing a dog or a big item in the shower. Or when you did wash a big dog in the shower and find a pile of sandy bubbles formed in the far corner of the shower floor and you need to get behind it to spray it toward the drain.

Thanks Jennifer. I will try to get a look at more installations to see how I like the separate holder and water outlet.

Thanks Nancy. I had'nt considered that angle. Your shower is really nice.

I see no point in doing either of those scenarios, as there is no adjustability for the shower head. Use a slide bar, and the handheld functions as a fixed head and an adjustable one. Even if you're going to put one next to a bench on the far end, put it on a slide bar so you can adjust it to the height you like and not have to hold it.