Apple has unveiled the most powerful iPad Pro ever created, driven by the new M5 chip and a redesigned display system built for next-generation creative and AI workflows. The device represents one of the largest leaps forward in the iPad’s history — not only in performance but in Apple’s broader redefinition of what mobile computing can achieve.
The new M5 iPad Pro is lighter, thinner, and more efficient than any model before it, yet vastly more capable in machine learning, graphics rendering, and multitasking. It arrives as Apple’s first tablet engineered specifically for on-device AI computing, using the same neural and GPU architecture introduced with the M5 MacBook Pro.
Apple calls the device “the future of mobile creativity,” positioning it as both a studio-class production tool and a personal intelligence platform for artists, designers, and developers.
The iPad Pro line, already synonymous with high performance, now pushes even further — merging professional power with an ultra-portable form factor.
The M5 chip, fabricated on a 2-nanometer process, integrates over 30 billion transistors and features an 18-core Neural Engine capable of more than 50 trillion operations per second. Combined with an upgraded GPU and unified memory system, it allows the iPad Pro to handle advanced AI image synthesis, 3D modeling, and multitasking without external hardware.
Design Evolution and Hardware Refinement
The 2025 iPad Pro introduces Apple’s thinnest Pro chassis to date. Its aerospace-grade aluminum frame measures just 5.1 mm thick, yet maintains structural rigidity through an internal graphite lattice. The device continues Apple’s design language of symmetry, flat edges, and magnetically aligned accessories, including the new Apple Pencil Pro 2 and Magic Keyboard M5 edition.
A new “Ultra Retina XDR” display brings improved HDR brightness uniformity and a dynamic 120 Hz refresh rate tuned for both cinematic playback and precision stylus response. For professional users in photography, animation, or video editing, the new panel supports color-calibrated workflows with sustained brightness up to 1600 nits.
Apple also added a front-facing camera now centered on the landscape edge — a subtle but practical adjustment that improves framing for video calls and content creation.
Performance Anchored by the M5 Chip
The iPad Pro’s new M5 processor is the same architecture powering Apple’s latest MacBook Pro, but optimized for fanless efficiency. It features 12 CPU cores (8 performance, 4 efficiency) and a GPU with dedicated AI Compute Cores.
Apple says the M5 delivers up to 40 percent faster CPU performance and 45 percent faster graphics compared to the M4 Pro chip. The result is desktop-class responsiveness in a tablet weighing under 1.2 pounds.
The M5’s Neural Engine represents the biggest generational leap yet, now processing AI tasks such as real-time transcription, language summarization, and visual object recognition locally on the device. In practice, this allows Apple Intelligence features to run instantly, without requiring cloud access or compromising privacy.
Professional apps like Final Cut Pro for iPad and Logic Pro for iPad have been updated to use these new capabilities. Developers can also harness the M5’s full power through the latest Core ML and Metal frameworks, enabling faster generative and rendering models across creative tools, AR environments, and data-visualization apps.
Enhanced Workflow and Connectivity
Apple has improved the iPad Pro’s I/O system to support Thunderbolt 5, enabling transfer speeds up to 80 Gbps and external display connections up to dual 8K HDR panels. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 enhance wireless throughput and device pairing, while optional 5G Pro connectivity supports higher uplink for real-time collaboration.
Storage options now range up to 4 TB, and the unified memory architecture scales to 24 GB, giving professionals more flexibility for large project files or complex AI workloads. Battery life remains exceptional — Apple cites up to 18 hours of active use, thanks to M5’s power efficiency and dynamic performance management.
AI Features and iPadOS 19 Integration
The M5 iPad Pro launches alongside iPadOS 19, which expands Apple Intelligence integration across native and third-party apps. The OS leverages the M5’s on-device AI for contextual writing assistance, Smart Capture image tools, and adaptive gestures that learn from user patterns.
With the enhanced Neural Engine, iPadOS can now process tasks such as voice-to-text translation, image generation, and spatial video editing locally — keeping user data encrypted and private.
The system also introduces new developer APIs for distributed computing, allowing the iPad Pro to offload heavy processes to nearby Macs or cloud nodes when necessary, seamlessly blending local and networked performance.
Accessories and Ecosystem Expansion
The second-generation Apple Pencil Pro features improved tilt sensitivity, haptic feedback, and customizable gestures. Its low-latency pairing takes advantage of the M5’s new input engine, providing greater precision for illustration, 3D sculpting, and annotation.
Meanwhile, the Magic Keyboard M5 brings a refined hinge, expanded trackpad, and a new function-key row. Together, they turn the iPad Pro into a full desktop-capable workstation while preserving the portability of a tablet.
Developers and content creators can expect improved integration with macOS Sequoia and the M5 MacBook Pro, as Apple continues to unify workflows across its hardware lineup. Files, AI models, and render projects can now sync directly through Apple’s Universal Workspace feature, connecting devices through a shared memory environment.
Sustainability and Manufacturing
The iPad Pro with M5 chip follows Apple’s ongoing carbon-neutral roadmap. The enclosure is built entirely from recycled aluminum, and the internal logic board uses recycled copper and gold. Packaging has eliminated all plastics and now relies on fiber-based materials.
Assembly takes place in Apple’s facilities across Vietnam and India, using renewable-energy sources. These steps align with Apple’s 2030 goal for carbon-neutral manufacturing across its global supply chain.
Pricing and Availability
The new M5-powered iPad Pro starts at $1,199 for the 11-inch configuration and $1,399 for the 14-inch model, with pre-orders opening immediately on Apple’s website. Shipments begin later in October 2025, alongside the M5 MacBook Pro.
Apple will continue selling the M4 Pro iPads at lower prices to ensure compatibility for educational and enterprise buyers, but the M5 Pro model is clearly positioned as the new flagship of Apple’s tablet lineup.
The iPad Pro M5 consolidates Apple’s multi-year effort to merge desktop-class performance with mobile freedom. It’s not simply a faster tablet — it’s the foundation for Apple’s new generation of AI-driven devices, designed to operate intelligently, efficiently, and independently.
With its combination of M5 power, precision display, and deep integration across Apple Silicon, the iPad Pro now defines what portable professional computing looks like in the AI era — thinner, smarter, and faster than ever before.
