Apple has made a lot of changes to the iPad software this year, and if you're planning on harnessing their potential, the new iPad Pro is the best way to do it. It's thin, light, powerful and has one of the best screens I've ever seen.
Perhaps my only irritation after using the iPad Pro M4 for a year was that it charged rather slowly, but Apple fixed that this year and the new model charges much faster.
The real advantage is the new chip and RAM configurations. Previously, iPad Pro M4 models were divided into two camps: lower storage tiers (256GB/512GB) with 8GB RAM and larger storage options with 12GB RAM. This year, the lower memory variants will have a capacity of 12 GB, and the larger ones will have a capacity of 16 GB. Overall, this should help all new tablets handle larger AI tasks.
First of all, I will say that the Pro is nicer to use because it is very thin. It sounds like a small upgrade, but every time I picked up the M4 Pro last year I loved it. I expect people will feel the same about the new M5. Sure, the iPad Air is quite thin, but it feels like a book compared to the Pro, which feels like window glass.
When it comes to performance, the first thing I tested was creating Genmoji on the iPad Air compared to the new Pro. I've also included the iPhone 17 Pro and iPad mini A17 for comparison. Since these are fairly repeatable AI tasks that run on the device, it's a good indicator to see how much more AI capabilities there are in the new M5-based tablet (and MacBook Pro).
In the GeekBench AI test, the tablet scored much higher than older chips, so it seems like Apple has really worked some magic on the M5 to make it more AI-centric. I haven't had this device very long, but the AI tools in Photoshop and Lightroom were much faster. They're still not instantaneous, but even compared to the iPad Pro M4, I noticed an improvement of about six seconds when removing objects. And we're at the point where every second without using an AI tool makes it smoother, so I'll chalk that up as a win.
The new chip is also a powerful tool for mobile gaming. Running this through my usual range Assassin's Creed Mirage And Hitman: World of MurderThat was great. I was able to play at maximum settings with good frame rates. I could even turn off AC's resolution scaling, but I think if I were playing it for an extended period of time, I'd drop it to 85 percent to give the tablet a little more ability for larger crowds and battles. It's still not what I'd call a high-end gaming rig, but it gets close and is much better than any other tablet.
The latest update was the transition to the new Apple N1 radio system. This is planned to improve wireless performance, as well as make wireless hotspot and AirDrop more reliable. In a quick test of trying to transfer 50 RAW photos, it was fast, but no faster than usual. Perhaps after spending more time with the devices, I'll start to notice fewer lost files. However, I still think I'll continue to use wire for most of my bulk AirDrops.
Overall, if you're looking for the best that Apple has to offer, it's all here. The screen is stunning, the slim profile impresses every time you pick it up, and the M5 chip will give you plenty of room to use for years to come.
If you have an older iPad Pro M1, now may be the time to upgrade. I don't think Apple is going to dramatically change the design of the iPad Pro anytime soon, as its thinness is stunning enough that this form factor should be the flagship style for several years to come.
Most students or first-time iPad buyers should probably stick with the iPad or iPad Air for now, but if you have money to spend and you've already been using an iPad for years and are looking for an upgrade, the iPad Pro M5 lives up to the hype.
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