An M5 iPad Pro can be an unusually capable work surface, but the screen is the part you use every minute. Deep OLED blacks make dark artwork easier to judge, and ProMotion can keep the moving canvas closer to the tip of an Apple Pencil. The 13-inch version leaves more room around a timeline. The 11-inch travels more easily.
In depth
Apple iPad Pro (M5) review
Published
Best forillustrators and video editors who will put the OLED screen and high-speed port to work.
At a glance
- Screen size
- 11 inches13 inches
- Panel technology
- 11-inch · 256 GB · Wi-Fi / 11-inch · 256 GB · Wi-Fi + 5G cellular / 11-inch · 512 GB · Wi-Fi / 11-inch · 512 GB · Wi-Fi + 5G cellular / 11-inch · 1 TB · Wi-Fi · standard glass / 11-inch · 1 TB · Wi-Fi + 5G cellular · standard glass / 11-inch · 2 TB · Wi-Fi · standard glass / 11-inch · 2 TB · Wi-Fi + 5G cellular · standard glass / 13-inch · 256 GB · Wi-Fi / 13-inch · 256 GB · Wi-Fi + 5G cellular / 13-inch · 512 GB · Wi-Fi / 13-inch · 512 GB · Wi-Fi + 5G cellular / 13-inch · 1 TB · Wi-Fi · standard glass / 13-inch · 1 TB · Wi-Fi + 5G cellular · standard glass / 13-inch · 2 TB · Wi-Fi · standard glass / 13-inch · 2 TB · Wi-Fi + 5G cellular · standard glassTandem OLED, standard glass11-inch · 1 TB · Wi-Fi · nano-texture glass / 11-inch · 1 TB · Wi-Fi + 5G cellular · nano-texture glass / 11-inch · 2 TB · Wi-Fi · nano-texture glass / 11-inch · 2 TB · Wi-Fi + 5G cellular · nano-texture glass / 13-inch · 1 TB · Wi-Fi · nano-texture glass / 13-inch · 1 TB · Wi-Fi + 5G cellular · nano-texture glass / 13-inch · 2 TB · Wi-Fi · nano-texture glass / 13-inch · 2 TB · Wi-Fi + 5G cellular · nano-texture glassTandem OLED, nano-texture glass
- Processor
- 256 GB / 512 GBApple M5, 9-core CPU and 10-core GPU1 TB / 2 TBApple M5, 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU
- Storage
- 256GB512GB1TB2TB
- Operating system
- iPadOS
Pros
- Tandem OLED with adaptive ProMotion
- Thunderbolt / USB 4 for fast compatible peripherals
Cons
- Pencil and keyboard are separate purchases
- Your desktop workflow still needs suitable iPad apps
Display
- Adaptive 10–120 Hz
Apple's Ultra Retina XDR display is available in both sizes. A small bright detail can sit beside a dark background because the pixels produce their own light. Nano-texture glass is a choice on the higher-capacity models. For a photographer, the question is where the screen will be used and whether distracting reflections there justify the extra cost.
Performance & Storage
The M5 is useful for large files and demanding creative apps, but choose the app before choosing the hardware. Check that its iPad version can import the formats, plug-ins, and external files you rely on. A faster tablet cannot supply a desktop-only tool. Storage capacity also affects the processor and memory configuration Apple supplies.
Connectivity & Accessories
- Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 up to 40 Gbps
Thunderbolt / USB 4 can move a large project to a compatible external drive or connect a display. The cable and enclosure need to support the intended speed. A Pencil Pro makes sense for illustration, while someone editing chiefly with shortcuts should budget for a keyboard and handle the full setup before settling on a size.
Battery life
- Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi web browsing or video (Apple rating)
At maximum screen brightness, Notebookcheck recorded 8 hours 11 minutes of Wi-Fi browsing on the 11-inch, 1 TB iPad Pro. That is a demanding display setting and a different processor configuration from the entry 256 GB model. 1
Alternatives
An M4 iPad Air still offers Pencil Pro and the same two screen sizes. It is a more economical answer for ordinary drawing if OLED and ProMotion carry little weight. An owner of an M4 iPad Pro already has those display features.
Verdict
Buy the M5 Pro for a workflow that benefits from its screen, port, or sustained creative workload. For a good M4 Pro that already handles the project, keeping it is a reasonable decision.
About this review
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this product.
Sources & Research
1 reference
Independent sources cited in this article.
- NotebookcheckApple iPad Pro M5 (2025) tablet review (opens in a new tab)https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-iPad-Pro-M5-2025-tablet-review-An-extremely-fast-M5-SoC-and-Wi-Fi-7.1143628.0.html
Wi-Fi browsing at maximum brightness on the 11-inch, 1 TB M5 Pro.