Apple has done it again. The company that somehow makes rectangles exciting has unveiled the all-new iPad Pro M5, and this isn’t just a small performance upgrade. This thing has more brains than a university engineering department and enough power to make your laptop question its existence.

The new iPad Pro M5 is Apple’s most advanced iPad yet, bringing a huge leap in AI performance, a lightning-fast new processor, and the stunning Ultra Retina XDR display that makes your Netflix sessions feel cinematic. Oh, and it’s thinner than your common sense after a long night out.

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The M5 Chip: Apple’s New Powerhouse

Here’s the star of the show, the M5 chip. It’s not just faster, it’s frighteningly faster. Apple claims up to 3.5 times the AI performance of last year’s M4 and an outrageous 5.6 times faster than the old M1. That’s like going from a lawnmower engine to a twin-turbo V8.

With a 10-core GPU featuring a Neural Accelerator in each core, the iPad Pro M5 now handles AI-heavy workloads with ease. Whether you’re generating images in Draw Things or masking video in DaVinci Resolve, the M5 stays cool and composed.

The 16-core Neural Engine runs Apple’s new Apple Intelligence features, such as creating images in Image Playground or translating speech instantly. This is the first iPad that feels like it’s thinking alongside you.

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Performance That Belongs on a Desktop

Apple hasn’t just improved AI performance, it has turned the iPad Pro M5 into a true workstation. The CPU combines four performance cores and six efficiency cores, giving it what Apple calls the world’s fastest CPU core.

It’s ideal for creators, designers, and anyone juggling demanding apps. Architects can switch between SketchUp, Morpholio Trace, and Files without lag, while filmmakers using Final Cut Pro will enjoy up to six times faster video transcode performance compared to the M1 model.

And with the third-generation ray tracing engine, lighting and reflections in 3D graphics look incredibly realistic. Rendering in Octane X is up to 6.7 times faster than the M1, which is absurd for a tablet.

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Storage and Speed That Keep Up

The new iPad Pro M5 boosts unified memory bandwidth to over 150GB per second, about 30 per cent more than before. Storage read and write speeds are doubled, and models starting at 256GB now come with 12GB of unified memory. That means fewer delays, smoother multitasking, and more time spent creating.

Fast charging has also improved. Using Apple’s 70W USB-C adapter, you can hit 50 per cent battery in around 30 minutes.

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The N1 and C1X Chips: Speed Everywhere

Apple’s engineers clearly didn’t take a day off. They also designed two new chips, N1 and C1X, dedicated to connectivity.

The N1 chip brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and better AirDrop performance, while the C1X modem improves cellular performance by 50 per cent and uses 30 per cent less power. If you work remotely or travel constantly, this iPad will keep you connected wherever you are.

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Display: A Feast for Your Eyes

The Ultra Retina XDR display on the iPad Pro M5 uses tandem OLED technology to achieve 1600 nits of peak brightness for HDR content and 1000 nits sustained. The contrast and clarity are exceptional, whether you’re editing a film or watching one.

There’s also a nano-texture glass option that reduces glare without losing sharpness. The iPad can now drive 120Hz external displays with Adaptive Sync, giving smoother motion for gaming and video editing.

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iPadOS 26: Smarter, Sleeker, and More Capable

Running the show is iPadOS 26, rebuilt for multitasking and AI. The new windowing system finally makes the iPad feel like a real computer, letting users drag and resize windows freely.

The updated Files app and new Preview app make file management and PDF editing effortless, and Background Tasks keep apps running while you switch projects.

Apple’s privacy-first AI system, Apple Intelligence, adds Live Translation, smart Shortcuts, and automatic task recognition in Reminders. It’s like having an assistant that never switches off.

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Accessories: Pro-Level Tools

Apple has also refined its accessories. The new Magic Keyboard is lighter and features a function row and aluminium palm rest, while the Apple Pencil Pro adds haptic feedback and barrel roll detection for better precision. Both attach magnetically and turn the iPad Pro M5 into a creative studio in your hands.

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Sustainability and Pricing

The iPad Pro M5 supports Apple’s mission to be carbon neutral by 2030. It is built with 30 per cent recycled materials, 100 per cent recycled aluminium, and 55 per cent renewable electricity during production.

As for price, the 11-inch model starts at A$1,699 and the 13-inch version at A$2,199, available in space black and silver. Pre-orders are open now, with deliveries starting 22 October 2025.

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Final Thoughts

The iPad Pro M5 isn’t just another upgrade. It’s Apple’s boldest step toward the future of portable computing, thin, powerful, and smart enough to replace your laptop.

It’s the iPad that finally feels limitless, and if you’ve been waiting for the right time to upgrade, this is it.