iPad Pro M5 Review - The New AI Standard
Not just an improvement, the new iPad Pro with the M5 CPU makes a statement about the direction of professional mobile computing. Apple has produced a device that effortlessly transforms from a hyper-powerful content production machine to an essential business tool by skillfully fusing unprecedented capability with radical portability. Performance, display, and connectivity are all areas where this tablet pushes the boundaries.
M5 Chip: The Engine for the AI Revolution
The beating heart of this new iPad Pro is the M5 chip, a silicon marvel engineered for the next wave of computing—Artificial Intelligence. Its performance gains are astonishing, particularly for professionals relying on generative AI workflows.
- AI Acceleration: The M5 features a significantly enhanced 16-core Neural Engine and, critically, integrates a Neural Accelerator within each of its 10 GPU cores. This allows for AI tasks to run dramatically faster, offering a performance leap of up to 3.5x faster AI processing than the previous M4 model, and a massive 5.6x faster acceleration over the M1 chip. This power is instantly felt when running on-device, diffusion-based image generation in apps like Draw Things, or when using complex AI video upscaling and masking in DaVinci Resolve.
- Pro Graphics and Unified Memory: The 10-core GPU, with its third-generation ray-tracing engine, delivers up to 6.7x faster 3D rendering compared to the M1 iPad Pro, setting a new mobile standard for 3D artists and game developers. Complementing this is a boost in unified memory bandwidth to over 150GB/s—a nearly 30% increase over its predecessor—ensuring that even with multiple demanding pro apps open, performance remains liquid smooth.
Ultra Retina XDR and Revolutionary Design
Apple’s engineering prowess is equally evident in the design and display. The 13-inch model is a stunning 5.1 mm thin, officially making it the slimmest device Apple has ever released.
The Ultra Retina XDR display uses Tandem OLED technology, layering two OLED panels to achieve a sustained 1000 nits of full-screen brightness for all content and a blistering 1600 nits peak for HDR. The display’s ability to maintain high brightness while delivering true blacks and exceptional contrast is crucial for color-critical work. The optional Nano-texture display glass is a game-changer for field professionals, utilizing a precise etching process to scatter ambient light, drastically reducing glare without dulling the image contrast.
Comparison: M5 vs. M4 iPad Pro – A Closer Look at the Leap
Feature | iPad Pro M5 (New) | iPad Pro M4 (Previous Generation) | Key Upgrade / Difference |
AI Performance | Up to 3.5x faster than M4 | High performance, but lacks M5’s dedicated core accelerators. | Massive gain in AI/Neural performance for on-device Gen AI. |
Wireless | Wi-Fi 7 (N1 Chip) & C1X 5G Modem | Wi-Fi 6E (older standard) | Wi-Fi 7 provides superior speed, latency, and reliability; C1X is up to 50% faster cellular. |
Unified Memory Bandwidth | >150GB/s | 120GB/s | ~30% faster, critical for multitasking with pro apps. |
Display Technology | Ultra Retina XDR (Tandem OLED) | Ultra Retina XDR (Tandem OLED) | Primarily the same revolutionary display tech, but M5 unlocks new external display features (up to 120Hz Adaptive Sync). |
The Next Leap in Connectivity and Software Synergy
Connectivity is future-proofed by the all-new Apple-designed wireless chips. The N1 chip is the first in an iPad to enable Wi-Fi 7, dramatically improving speeds and lowering latency, which is essential for cloud collaboration and massive file transfers. The C1X cellular modem in the cellular models provides up to 50% faster cellular data performance and improved energy efficiency, ensuring world travelers and field workers stay optimally connected.
The M5’s power is fully unlocked by iPadOS 26. This release introduces a refined interface with a more intuitive new windowing system, allowing users to freely resize and manage multiple app windows akin to a desktop environment. The increased unified memory bandwidth of the M5 ensures that workflows—like an architect simultaneously running 3D modeling, vector design, and video conferencing apps—are completely seamless.
The iPad Pro with M5 solidifies the tablet’s place as a legitimate primary professional device, delivering the performance of a high-end desktop in the thinnest, most portable form factor Apple has ever created.
