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ZDNET Highlights
- The M5 iPad Pro is now available for purchase, with a starting price of $999 for the 11-inch version and $1,199 for the 13-inch variant.
- It features Apple’s most powerful processor ever, promising faster speeds, better AI workflows, and better efficiency.
- It also runs on Apple’s most updated connectivity chipset.
Apple just last week announced its fastest and most powerful processor ever: the M5. The new chip powers the latest iPad Pro and MacBook Pro, both of which go on sale today. The iPad Pro is renowned as Apple’s most cutting-edge tablet, designed for power users and, according to the company’s claims, capable of replacing a laptop.
Also: The biggest upgrade to the new iPad Pro isn’t the M5 chip — I’d buy it instead for this reason
I’ve used all the latest iPads, from the iPad Mini to the iPad 11, iPad Air, and iPad Pro with M1. Based on a week’s use, the iPad Pro with the M5 is already the best performer – and it’s not even close.
Visually, the iPad Pro looks sleek with a slim, simple build, making it almost unsettling to see how much power is packed into something so light – especially when testing the 11-inch variant.
Before this, I was using a 13-inch iPad Air, and it was impressive enough to replace my MacBook Pro for most tasks, but not all. However, I can already tell that the iPad Pro with the M5 chip and iPadOS 26 will be very close to the laptop experience, if not better, even in the 11-inch form factor.
My biggest complaint over Apple’s claim that an iPad can replace a laptop in a pinch is that the mobile experience and interface may not be one-to-one with MacOS. For example, you can enjoy a laptop-like experience on a Samsung Galaxy tablet with Samsung DeX, but the iPad just won’t cut it – until iPadOS 26.
With iPadOS 26, the improved windowing system, which allows you to independently arrange, resize, and layer multiple apps, menu bars, and docked folders, has brought more functionality to Apple’s ultraportable form factor.
Also: I gave iPadOS 26 the full summer test – my verdict on using it as a MacBook alternative
The power of the M5 in the new iPad Pro, combined with iPadOS 26 and a keyboard, makes this tablet the closest experience to a MacBook I’ve had so far, and I’ve only used it for a few days.
The biggest advantage? You also get iPad-exclusive features, like a touchscreen (which isn’t offered on a MacBook yet) and the ability to use a stylus like the Apple Pencil Pro. In such a situation, iPad is a better working machine than Apple’s laptop.
The drawback of this year’s model, like previous models, remains that the iPad Pro is far from cheap, starting at just $1,000 and rising rapidly depending on storage and peripherals configuration. For most users, you will probably want to add magic keyboard, apple pencil proAnd possibly a screen protector too. This all equates to a minimum spend of $1,500. So it depends on how much you are willing to pay for the benefits of a thinner and thinner, multitouch device.
Finally, Apple promises advanced connectivity features on the iPad Pro with the C1X and N1 chips, both of which I’m looking forward to testing more thoroughly. The chips give the iPad Pro Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread, and faster 5G connectivity, all of which translates to faster downloads, a better and more reliable AirDrop experience, and easier hotspot use.
Also: Best tablets for note taking 2025: My picks for writing notes
I’m especially excited to see how the iPad Pro performs when used outdoors and tapped on LTE. If Apple can improve the on-the-go computing experience, that may be all it takes to put the iPad above the MacBook for some professionals.
It appears that Thread connectivity is not enabled for direct connection to smart home devices at this time, and it is unclear whether Apple plans to use it for this purpose, as seen on the iPhone 15 Pro and newer models.
ZDNET’s initial decision
after a few days of use ipad proWith the M5 and iPadOS 26, there’s a promising start.
I’ve been working on a MacBook Pro with an M1 processor for more than three years, and I’ve already noticed quite a difference in snappiness between it and the iPad Pro.
The tablet is surprisingly faster and more consistent at rendering graphics and loading assets than my laptop, and the difference is bigger than my M4 iPad Air, which was my favorite tablet for most of this year.
As a reviewer, I’m eager to test how the M5 chip on the iPad Pro handles everything from daily tasks to more challenging workflows, and I’ll update this article with my full review. I will benchmark the processing power, battery life, AI processes, and app compatibility before giving a final verdict.
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