Methods and apparatus for preferring connections between networks. In one embodiment, a mobile device is capable of hybrid network operation (e.g. LTE and CDMA 1× operation), allowing the mobile device to be registered to a CDMA 1× network for voice calls while receiving and sending data traffic over a LTE network. However, any data sent by the LTE network may be lost if the data was transmitted during a tune-away to the CDMA 1× network to perform maintenance operations. In one variant, the mobile device can disable the idle voice connection to the CDMA 1× network based on a request from resident applications requiring real-time data streaming, which are more likely to experience data loss. Consequently, potential data loss due to a network tune-away is prevented, thereby improving data performance of the resident applications. In another embodiment, an adaptive transmit receive mode can be selectively disabled/enabled for data traffic.