Apple’s latest iPad Pro, powered by the cutting-edge M5 processor and released in 2025, represents a significant evolution in the company’s tablet lineup, merging immense power with design elegance. The new device, available in 11-inch and 13-inch variants priced at $999 and $1,199 respectively, is a direct reflection of Apple’s commitment to advancing both performance and usability. Equipped with the company’s most formidable processor to date, the M5 chip substantially enhances speed, supports more sophisticated artificial intelligence operations, and delivers outstanding power efficiency while maintaining the sleek, featherlight build that defines the iPad Pro family. This extraordinary combination of capability and portability illustrates Apple’s pursuit of perfection in mobile computing, ensuring the new iPad Pro remains a preferred choice for professionals, artists, and demanding users alike.
Apple simultaneously introduced the M5 chip in both the iPad Pro and the MacBook Pro, signaling a unification of performance standards between mobile and desktop ecosystems. As with past generations, the iPad Pro continues to act as Apple’s flagship tablet for productivity and creative work. In fact, Apple’s own marketing suggests that this device is so powerful and versatile that it can replace a traditional laptop—a claim that, upon closer examination, holds more weight than ever before.
Visually, the M5 iPad Pro maintains the minimalist aesthetic Apple has perfected over the years, but now feels even more refined. The impressively thin chassis almost defies logic when one considers the hardware contained within it: a blistering-fast chip, advanced thermal management, and the latest wireless components. The compact 11-inch version remains the ideal balance for mobility, though users desiring greater workspace can opt for the larger 13-inch display. Both options exhibit the same premium craftsmanship, smooth aluminum contours, and crisp, color-accurate screens that make Apple devices a pleasure to use.
The real transformation, however, emerges not merely from the sophisticated hardware but from Apple’s latest operating system, iPadOS 26. This software iteration significantly improves multitasking through its new windowing system, which permits users to layer, resize, and overlap applications with unprecedented ease. The inclusion of a menu bar, docked folders, and adjustable layouts brings the iPad experience eerily close to that of macOS without sacrificing the tablet’s intuitive gesture-based interaction. In essence, Apple has finally bridged the gap between mobile simplicity and desktop functionality—something previous iPads struggled to achieve.
In daily use, this refinement translates to fluid multitasking, seamless transitions between productivity apps, and a newfound sense of spatial control over one’s digital workspace. Although a few minor quirks remain, such as occasional lag when dynamically resizing windows, the overall experience feels markedly more polished and capable. This evolution indicates that Apple has listened to long-term users who desired a fuller computing environment without losing the portability that defines a tablet.
Coupled with the M5’s extraordinary performance, these software advancements make the iPad Pro feel transformative. During extensive testing, the device delivered speeds that outpaced older models by a wide margin. Benchmarks indicate the new model outperforms the M3-powered iPad Air by about 50% in CPU performance and more than doubles the graphical throughput of Samsung’s premium Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. These numerical advantages translate tangibly to real-world tasks, especially in creative workflows—editing 4K video in Final Cut Pro or manipulating high-resolution images becomes near instantaneous, rivaling even MacBook-class performance.
Beyond processing power, Apple’s integration of the C1X and N1 connectivity chips demonstrates equal attention to networking and communication performance. The device now supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and 5G connection improvements, ensuring faster data transfer, low latency, and stable performance whether streaming, collaborating in real time, or transferring large files via AirDrop. Notably, the iPad Pro also includes Thread support, positioning it to interact seamlessly with smart home ecosystems—although this feature remains dormant for now. During real-world use across multiple locations, even extended travel through rural areas did not disrupt connectivity or cause slowdowns, highlighting the hardware’s superior radio engineering.
Pairing the iPad Pro with Apple’s upgraded Magic Keyboard transforms this tablet into an almost laptop-like workstation. The redesigned keyboard, strengthened with more robust materials and an aluminum palm rest flanking its broader trackpad, provides a firm and balanced typing surface. It folds open with solid hinge resistance that allows effortless adjustment whether placing it on a lap or desk. Combined with Apple’s exceptionally responsive touchscreen and the precision of the new Apple Pencil Pro stylus, the iPad Pro transcends the traditional capabilities of a laptop—offering touch, drawing, and handwriting features that macOS devices still lack.
Price, inevitably, remains the iPad Pro’s greatest limitation for mainstream users. The base configuration begins around $999, but realistic professional setups, once equipped with extra storage, the Magic Keyboard, and the Apple Pencil Pro, easily reach $1,500 or beyond. For casual users or those primarily consuming media, this figure may seem excessive; however, for digital artists, developers, video editors, and others who work on complex tasks or prefer traveling light without sacrificing performance, the cost may well justify itself.
From a broader perspective, Apple’s 2025 iPad Pro is not merely an incremental upgrade—it symbolizes the convergence of tablet and laptop computing. It provides uncompromising processing capability, premium build quality, and a level of software maturity that finally supports the company’s long-standing vision: an iPad that genuinely replaces a traditional computer. Yet, for users whose needs remain modest, Apple’s more affordable iPad Air or base iPad 11 models continue to present outstanding value. The Air, in particular, delivers around 70% of the iPad Pro’s CPU capability at a significantly lower cost, serving as a sweet spot for most productivity-focused users who do not require top-tier power.
After extensive testing—covering intensive creative tasks, prolonged mobile workflows, and everyday usage—it becomes clear that the M5 iPad Pro is Apple’s most complete, balanced, and advanced tablet to date. It’s a compelling option for professionals seeking uncompromising performance in a portable form and marks the closest Apple has ever come to delivering a true laptop replacement within the iPad series. For those prepared to invest in a premium ecosystem, the M5 iPad Pro offers a seamless blend of engineering excellence, innovative software, and the flexibility to fit nearly any professional workflow.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/is-an-ipad-pro-still-worth-it-in-2025-i-tested-the-m5-model-for-weeks-and-heres-my-advice/
