Device hub · Tablets · Desk research
iPad Pro (M5)
iPad Pro (M5) is Apple’s current tandem-OLED slate: M5, 12/16GB unified memory by storage tier, four speakers, Thunderbolt, and a $999 / $1,299 US Wi-Fi start.
Product images
Placeholder — OEM press not licensediPad Pro (M5)
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not an Apple asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
Placeholder — OEM press not licensediPad Pro (M5)
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not an Apple asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
In short
iPad Pro (M5) is Apple’s current tandem-OLED slate: M5, 12/16GB unified memory by storage tier, four speakers, Thunderbolt, and a $999 / $1,299 US Wi-Fi start. Buy it for the XDR panel, Pro pencil hover, and desktop-class port — not for an in-box keyboard, an IP rating, or a smaller 8.3-inch carry.
Who it is for
- Buyers who want Apple’s current iPad Pro hardware: tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR, M5, Thunderbolt / USB 4, Face ID, and Pencil Pro hover — not Air IPS or mini 8.3-inch.
- Illustration / video / windowed-multitasking users who will actually use Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard, and iPadOS external-display output.
- Cellular travelers who want Apple’s C1X 5G eSIM SKU rather than a Wi-Fi-only slate.
- M4 Pro owners specifically shopping the M5 memory-floor, N1/C1X radios, and fast-charge table — not a new case size.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants a sub-$700 iPad. Air (M3) starts at $599; mini (A17 Pro) at $499. Pro’s paid delta is the XDR panel, Thunderbolt, Face ID, and M5 SKU split.
- Buyers who need a compact 8.3-inch tablet. Pro is 11.1-inch / 13-inch (Apple’s rectangle-diagonal footnotes), 444–582 g before a keyboard.
- People who want an IP-rated slate. Apple does not publish an IP code on the M5 Support sheets — Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra does (IP68).
- Windows / Android keyboard-first shoppers. Magic Keyboard is a $299 / $349 accessory; this is still iPadOS, not a laptop SKU.
Key differentiators
- Tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR with ProMotion 10–120 Hz, 1000 nits full-screen SDR/HDR, 1600 nits peak HDR — Air and mini stay IPS Liquid Retina.
- M5 with 12GB unified memory on 256/512GB SKUs and 16GB on 1TB/2TB; Newsroom also cites faster storage and ~150GB/s memory bandwidth.
- Thunderbolt / USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s) plus one external display up to 6K/60 Hz or 5K/120 Hz — Air/mini are USB 3 at 10Gb/s.
- Four-speaker audio, studio-quality four-mic array, Face ID, LiDAR, and optional nano-texture glass on 1TB/2TB.
Caveats
- Every nits, battery-hour, AI-performance, and “world’s most advanced display” line on this page is an Apple claim. GadgetShowdown has not lab-tested M5 iPad Pro.
- Apple Support names the OS family as iPadOS. Newsroom at launch (15 October 2025) called out iPadOS 26 features. Confirm the current shipping iPadOS on apple.com/ipados on write day — do not freeze 2025 launch software.
- Pencil, Magic Keyboard, and nano-texture glass are sold separately (nano-texture is a 1TB/2TB glass option). Do not write them into the box.
- Apple product photography is not hosted here. Apple’s third-party IP guidelines and Newsroom “editorial use” language do not give a commercial gadget site a clear redistribution license.
Tablet-category specs
Same rows on every tablet page (iPad Pro / Air / mini, Galaxy Tab S, Pixel Tablet).
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 11-inch model 11.1-inch rectangle diagonal; 13-inch model 13-inch rectangle diagonal (rounded-corner footnote) | Apple Support 11-inch / 13-inch M5 tech specsApple: actual viewable area is less than the rectangle measurement. |
| Display type | Ultra Retina XDR; tandem OLED; flat glass (nano-texture option on 1TB and 2TB) | Apple Support M5 tech specs; Newsroom 2025-10-15 |
| Display resolution | 11-inch: 2420 × 1668 at 264 ppi; 13-inch: 2752 × 2064 at 264 ppi | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Peak brightness (OEM) | SDR 1000 nits max; XDR 1000 nits max full screen, 1600 nits peak (HDR content only); 1 nit minimum; 2,000,000:1 contrast | Apple Support M5 tech specsManufacturer nits/contrast claims, not a measured outdoor reading. |
| Refresh rate | ProMotion adaptive 10Hz to 120Hz | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Display features | Wide color (P3); True Tone; oleophobic coating; fully laminated; antireflective coating; Apple Pencil hover | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Sold size(s) | 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro (M5) | Apple Newsroom, 2025-10-15 |
| Dimensions | 11-inch: 249.7 × 177.5 × 5.3 mm; 13-inch: 281.6 × 215.5 × 5.1 mm | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Weight | 11-inch Wi-Fi 444 g; 11-inch cellular 446 g; 13-inch Wi-Fi 579 g; 13-inch cellular 582 g | Apple Support M5 tech specsCase-only figures from Apple; Keyboard / Pencil not included. |
| Finishes | Silver; Space Black | Apple Support M5 tech specs; Newsroom |
| Chassis / enclosure | Aluminum enclosure; Apple states 100% recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 30% recycled content overall | Apple Support M5 tech specs (Environment)Manufacturer materials claim. |
| Chip / processor | Apple M5. 256/512GB: 9-core CPU (3 super + 6 efficiency), 10-core GPU. | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Memory (RAM) | 12GB unified memory (256GB and 512GB); 16GB unified memory (1TB and 2TB) | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| On-device storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB (no microSD) | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Operating system | iPadOS (Apple Support names the OS family). Newsroom at launch highlighted iPadOS 26 windowing and Apple Intelligence features | Apple Support M5 tech specs; Newsroom 2025-10-15Confirm the current shipping iPadOS on apple.com/ipados. Do not invent a later point release. |
| Pencil / stylus | Supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), including hover. Neither Pencil is in the box. | Apple Support M5 tech specs; Newsroom |
| Keyboard / cover (OEM) | Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (sold separately): 11-inch $299 US, 13-inch $349 US at launch. Smart Folio also listed. Smart Connector on the chassis. | Apple Newsroom, 2025-10-15 |
| Biometrics | Face ID (TrueDepth) | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Speakers | Four speaker audio | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Microphones | Studio-quality four-mic array for calls, video recording, and audio recording | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Cellular | Wi-Fi models: none. Wi-Fi + Cellular: Apple C1X modem; 5G sub-6 with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; eSIM only (not compatible with physical SIM). US start +$200 vs Wi-Fi. | Apple Support M5 tech specs; Newsroom |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Apple N1 wireless networking chip; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) 2x2 MIMO; simultaneous dual band; Bluetooth 6; Thread | Apple Support M5 tech specsWi-Fi 7 available where supported, per Apple footnote. |
| Ports / expansion | Thunderbolt / USB 4 (charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 up to 40Gb/s, USB 4 up to 40Gb/s, USB 3 up to 10Gb/s); magnetic Pencil connector; Smart Connector | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Rear camera | 12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8; LiDAR Scanner; Adaptive True Tone flash; 4K video up to 60 fps; ProRes up to 4K30 (1080p30 on 256GB) | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Front camera | Landscape 12MP Center Stage TrueDepth, ƒ/2.0; Face ID; 1080p video | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Battery (OEM) | 11-inch 31.29Wh; 13-inch 38.99Wh. Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi web or video; cellular models up to 9 hours web on cellular | Apple Support M5 tech specsApple test footnote: August–September 2025 preproduction units, 50% brightness, default settings except listed toggles. |
| Charging (OEM) | USB-C Charge Cable (1m) and 20W USB-C Power Adapter in the box. Fast charge: up to 50% in around 30 minutes with 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max or other USB-C adapter ≥60W (sold separately). Nano-texture SKUs also include a polishing cloth. | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Durability / ingress | Not published | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Location / GNSS | All models: digital compass, Wi-Fi, iBeacon. Cellular models add GPS/GNSS and cellular location | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| US MSRP (launch) | 11-inch Wi-Fi $999; 11-inch cellular $1,199; 13-inch Wi-Fi $1,299; 13-inch cellular $1,499 (US, 15 October 2025) | Apple Newsroom, 2025-10-15Street prices go stale; re-check apple.com on write day. |
| Price band | Flagship tablet ($999–$1,499+ US launch before Pencil/Keyboard) | Derived from Apple launch prices |
| Announced | 15 October 2025 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Pre-order from 15 October 2025; Apple said stores from Wednesday, 22 October 2025. Still current sell-in on 19 September 2026. | Apple Newsroom, 2025-10-15 |
iPad Pro (M5) extras
Unique to this line or SKU. Other tablets keep the first table aligned and swap this extras list.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra Retina XDR / tandem OLED | Newsroom: “world’s most advanced display”; tandem OLED for full-screen 1000 nits SDR/HDR and 1600 nits peak HDR | Apple Newsroom, 2025-10-15OEM superlative — repeat as a claim. |
| Nano-texture display glass | Option on 1TB and 2TB models; polishing cloth in those boxes | Apple Support M5 tech specs; Newsroom |
| LiDAR Scanner | Yes — listed with rear camera / sensors | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Thunderbolt / USB 4 | Up to 40Gb/s; one external display up to 6K/60 Hz or 5K/120 Hz | Apple Support M5 tech specs; Newsroom |
| Apple N1 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread on one Apple wireless chip | Apple Support M5 tech specs; Newsroom |
| Apple C1X modem | Cellular SKUs only. Newsroom: up to 50% faster cellular data than the previous iPad Pro modem, with greater efficiency | Apple Newsroom, 2025-10-15Manufacturer performance claim. |
| Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro | Floating design, function row, aluminum palm rest. 11-inch $299 US; 13-inch $349 US at launch. Black and white. | Apple Newsroom, 2025-10-15 |
| Apple Pencil hover | Listed on the display spec block for Pencil Pro and Pencil (USB-C) | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Apple Intelligence | Built in; Newsroom lists Live Translation and other iPadOS 26 intelligence features. Beta / region / language limits apply (see support.apple.com/121115). | Apple Support M5 tech specs; Newsroom |
| Fast charge (optional adapter) | Up to 50% in around 30 minutes with ≥60W USB-C adapter or 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max — adapters sold separately | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Model numbers (cellular band list) | Support lists cellular Models A3358 and A3361 for the published 5G NR / LTE band table; China Unicom footnote for A3359 / A3362 | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| In the box | iPad Pro; USB-C Charge Cable (1m); 20W USB-C Power Adapter; polishing cloth only with nano-texture glass option | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
| Recycled content (OEM) | Apple: 30% recycled content, including 100% recycled aluminum in the enclosure and recycled cobalt/lithium in the battery | Apple Support M5 tech specsManufacturer materials claim. Do not convert this into an independent carbon score. |
| Accessibility features | VoiceOver, Zoom, Magnifier, Spoken Content, Voice Control, Switch Control, AssistiveTouch, Siri/Dictation, Type to Siri, RTT, Audio Descriptions, subtitles, Live Captions | Apple Support M5 tech specs |
Overview
iPad Pro with M5 is the October 2025 Pro. Apple’s own framing is “the most advanced iPad experience yet”: tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR, M5 with a higher memory floor than the previous 256GB Pro, N1 wireless, optional C1X cellular, and iPadOS 26 windowing called out at launch. The physical product is still two sizes — 11-inch (5.3 mm, 444/446 g) and 13-inch (5.1 mm, 579/582 g) — in silver or space black.
This hub exists so later tablet writers can clone one honest device record instead of re-deriving M5 Pro from retailer bullets. The first spec table is tablets-v1 — the same keys belong on iPad Air, iPad mini, Galaxy Tab S, and Pixel Tablet pages. It is not a sitewide gadget schema and not watches-v1. Comparison URLs are generated at alphabetical /tablets/{a}-vs-{b}/. This page’s public path is locked at /tablets/ipad-pro-m5/.
We do not claim we drew, edited, or traveled with this iPad. Where Apple uses superlatives (“world’s most advanced display,” “up to 3.5× the AI performance” versus M4), we repeat the claim and point at Newsroom footnotes.
Display
Apple specifies Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED, ProMotion 10–120 Hz, 264 ppi, P3, True Tone, fully laminated, antireflective, 1000 nits full-screen SDR and HDR, 1600 nits peak HDR, 1 nit minimum, 2,000,000:1 contrast. Nano-texture glass is a 1TB/2TB option.
For comparison writers: Air (M3) is Liquid Retina IPS at 500 nits (11-inch) / 600 nits (13-inch) and no ProMotion on the Support sheet. Mini is 8.3-inch IPS at 326 ppi / 500 nits. Do not write “brighter than M4 Pro” unless Apple publishes a new peak — the 1000/1600 table matches the previous Pro generation’s public nits language.
Chip, memory, and storage
Treat “M5” as a named silicon revision, not a software toggle M4 can download. Support splits the SKU:
| Storage | CPU | GPU | Unified memory |
|---|---|---|---|
| 256GB / 512GB | 9-core (3 super + 6 efficiency) | 10-core | 12GB |
| 1TB / 2TB | 10-core (4 super + 6 efficiency) | 10-core | 16GB |
Both tiers list a 16-core Neural Engine, Neural Accelerators, hardware ray tracing, 153GB/s memory bandwidth, and a media engine with ProRes and AV1 decode. Newsroom’s “3.5× AI vs M4” and “5.6× vs M1” lines stay labeled as Apple claims.
No microSD. If a buyer needs expandable storage, that argument belongs on the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra hub.
Pencil, keyboard, and speakers
stylus, keyboard, and speakers are tablets-v1 rows because every tablet OEM publishes some version of them.
- Pencil: Pro and USB-C, with hover. Not in the box. Air and mini keep the same Pencil pair on their first table.
- Keyboard: Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro at $299 / $349 US launch; Smart Folio; Smart Connector on the chassis. Pixel Tablet has no Apple-style magnetic keyboard story — it has a Charging Speaker Dock extra instead.
- Speakers: Four speaker audio + four-mic array. Air/mini write “landscape stereo” / “dual microphones” in the same keys.
Cellular, wireless, and ports
- Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 6 + Thread via N1 on every M5 Pro.
- Cellular is a separate SKU: C1X, 5G sub-6, eSIM only. Newsroom claims up to 50% faster cellular data than the previous Pro modem.
- Thunderbolt / USB 4 is the Pro port extra. External display: one panel up to 6K/60 Hz or 5K/120 Hz. Air/mini stay USB 3 and a lower external-display table (Air: 6K/60; mini: 4K/60).
Battery and charging (OEM table only)
Copy this table, do not invent rundown curves:
| Mode (Apple’s words) | M5 Pro claim |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi web or video | Up to 10 hours |
| Cellular web (cellular SKU) | Up to 9 hours |
| Pack | 31.29Wh (11-inch) / 38.99Wh (13-inch) |
| In-box charge | 20W USB-C adapter + 1m cable |
| Fast charge (optional ≥60W) | Up to 50% in around 30 minutes |
No measured “got 7 hours in Procreate” sentence belongs on this page.
Software
Launch Newsroom copy is iPadOS 26: new windowing, Files/Dock folders, Background Tasks, Apple Intelligence features with region limits. Support still says “iPadOS.” On 19 September 2026, cite apple.com/ipados for the current signed release rather than assuming a number from the iPhone 18 / watchOS 27 week.
Apple Intelligence is extra: beta, language, and region footnotes live at support.apple.com/121115.
How this page compares on a desk (not a vs-page)
Use a future -vs- URL for winners.
| Desk fact (OEM) | iPad Pro (M5) | iPad Air (M3) | iPad mini (A17 Pro) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | Tandem OLED XDR, 10–120 Hz | IPS Liquid Retina, 500/600 nits | 8.3-inch IPS, 326 ppi |
| Chip | M5, 12/16GB | M3, 8GB | A17 Pro; RAM not on Support sheet |
| Speakers | Four speaker | Landscape stereo | Landscape stereo |
| Port | Thunderbolt / USB 4 | USB 3 10Gb/s | USB 3 10Gb/s |
| US Wi-Fi start | $999 / $1,299 | $599 / $799 | $499 |
A Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra still beats this table on IP68, in-box S Pen, and microSD. That argument lives on /tablets/ipad-pro-m5-vs-samsung-galaxy-tab-s11-ultra/, not as invented lab numbers here.
Price, SKUs, and what not to invent
US Wi-Fi start is $999 (11-inch) / $1,299 (13-inch). Cellular +$200. Education pricing, nano-texture, Pencil, and Magic Keyboard change the street ticket.
Do not invent independent scores, Amazon star averages, or “we used it for a week of Final Cut.” The OEM side-by-side versus Air (M3) is live at /tablets/ipad-air-m3-vs-ipad-pro-m5/. This hub still describes one product only.
Sources
- Apple Newsroom — Apple introduces the powerful new iPad Pro with the M5 chip — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — iPad Pro product page — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — iPad Pro technical specifications — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — Guidelines for Using Apple Trademarks and Copyrights — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Is this one hub or two sizes?
One hub. Apple sells 11-inch and 13-inch M5 iPad Pro as one line with two sizes. The first table lists both. Size-locked 11 vs 13 is not a separate generated pair — do not invent a 404 for that.
What is actually new versus iPad Pro (M4)?
Apple’s Newsroom points to the M5 chip (including a higher memory floor on 256/512GB), N1 Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 6 / Thread, C1X on cellular models, faster storage, and a published fast-charge table. The tandem OLED XDR panel, 11/13 sizes, Face ID, LiDAR, four speakers, and Pencil Pro path are the Pro-line carryovers. We have not measured the “3.5× AI vs M4” claim.
Does iPad Pro work with Apple Pencil USB-C or only Pencil Pro?
The Support display block lists Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), including hover. Neither is in the box. Magic Keyboard is a separate $299 / $349 accessory at launch.
Is the $999 price a street price?
No. $999 is Apple’s published US starting price for 11-inch Wi-Fi on 15 October 2025. 13-inch Wi-Fi starts at $1,299; cellular is +$200; nano-texture, Pencil, and Keyboard are extra. Re-check apple.com on the day you quote a number.
Does iPad Pro have cellular?
Optional. Wi-Fi + Cellular SKUs use Apple’s C1X modem, 5G sub-6, and eSIM only. Confirm carrier eSIM support. Do not describe the Wi-Fi SKU as a phone-replacement modem.
How loud is four-speaker audio?
Apple publishes “four speaker audio” and a four-mic array. We have not measured SPL. Keep the tablets-v1 speakers row and write Air/mini “landscape stereo” on those pages instead of deleting the key.
What OS does it ship with now?
Apple Support still names the family “iPadOS.” Newsroom at launch talked about iPadOS 26. Current shipping software is whatever Apple is signing on write day — cite apple.com/ipados rather than inventing iPadOS 27 from the watchOS 27 calendar.
Official product page: iPad Pro (M5). Tech specs: iPad Pro (M5) specs.