Apple has officially announced the next-generation iPad Pro, ushering in what it calls “the most powerful and intelligent iPad ever.” After months of speculation, the company has finally confirmed that the new model is powered by the M5 chip, comes with fast charging, and introduces a new era of AI-driven creativity and performance that goes far beyond its M4 predecessor.
Apple’s new M5 iPad Pro combines power, intelligence, and refined design to redefine the professional tablet experience
The new iPad Pro with M5 chips comes months after speculation regarding its launch, and as per the schedule, prior reports were pointing in the right direction. Check out everything that is new and how the M5 version sets itself apart from the M4 iPad Pro.
Design
Starting with the design, the new iPad Pro refines Apple’s minimalist design language while becoming the thinnest product in its entire lineup. The 11-inch model measures in at just 5.3 mm, while the bigger version is 5.1 mm, yet both variants feel sturdier thanks to precision aluminum machining. The new Ultra Retina XDR display with tandem OLED delivers deeper blacks, higher brightness, and improved HDR.
What's powering the tablet
At its core resides the M5 chip, which features a 10-core CPU and GPU architecture where each core includes a Neural Accelerator, enhancing AI performance and graphics workloads. The CPU and GPU, combined with a 16-core Neural Engine, drive advanced AI capabilities. On the connectivity front, the iPad Pro includes upgraded wireless support via the new “N1 wireless chip,” which enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. It also houses the new C1X modem for cellular connectivity that offers 50 percent faster speeds.
M5 performance gains
Apple claims that the M5 chip drives AI performance up to 3.5 times faster than the M4 and 5.6 times faster than the M1 iPad Pro models. The new GPU architecture and Neural Accelerator per core contribute substantially to this uplift, especially for tasks like rendering, generative AI, or other performance-intensive workloads.
Upgraded Apple Intelligence
The M5’s enhanced Neural Engine is central to Apple’s push into on-device intelligence. It powers features like diffusion-based image generation, such as Draw Things, along with AI video masking and advanced workflows built on foundation models. Apple frames this as the hardware foundation for Apple Intelligence features that preserve privacy while delivering powerful local inference.
Battery and Charging
The new M5 iPad Pro supports fast charging, enablinga 50 percent charge in 30 minutes when using a 40W or higher adapter. This represents a meaningful update in charging convenience. However, the official Apple release did not specify the battery capacity, overall endurance, or full charge timings, so we will have to wait for real-world tests.
Storage and RAM for base and higher variants
Configurations start at 256 GB and extend up to 2 TB, and both the 256 GB and 512 GB models now feature 12 GB of unified memory — a first for the lower-tier variants — while higher capacities include even more memory. These upgrades significantly enhance multitasking and AI computation performance.
Pricing and Availability
Pre-orders are now live, with shipments beginning October 22 for the M5 iPad Pro models. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999 for Wi-Fi and $1,199 for Cellular, while the 13-inch version begins at $1,299 and $1,499, respectively.
With the M5 iPad Pro, Apple isn’t just updating its flagship tablet but redefining what a portable computer can be. The combination of desktop-class performance, smarter on-device AI, and power-efficient design will likely set it apart from the previous model. We will be covering additional details on the new launches, so be sure to stick around.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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