Apple iPad Pro Apple 13" iPad Pro M5 Chip (Standard Glass, 256GB, Review
The iPad Pro M5's OLED screen is a game-changer, and the performance is insane. But iPadOS still holds it back from being a true laptop killer.
Overview
The 13-inch iPad Pro with the M5 chip is Apple's latest attempt to convince you that a tablet can be your main computer. It's got that stunning new OLED screen, the latest processor, and all the polish you expect. But it's still running iPadOS, and that's the big question mark hanging over the whole thing.
Performance
The M5 chip is predictably fast. It scores in the 94th percentile for both CPU and GPU, so it'll handle anything you throw at it, from 4K video editing to complex 3D modeling. The real star is that 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR OLED display, which lands in the 98th percentile. It's incredibly bright, with perfect blacks and vibrant colors. The battery life is just average, though, sitting right at the 50th percentile mark. And while WiFi 7 and 5G are great, the 256GB storage and 12GB RAM are middle-of-the-pack specs.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong screen (98th percentile) 100th
- Strong cpu (94th percentile) 97th
- Strong gpu (94th percentile) 96th
- Strong connectivity (90th percentile) 95th
Cons
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Apple M5 |
| Cores | 10 |
| GPU | Apple (10-Core) |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Expandable | No |
Display
| Size | 13" |
| Resolution | 2752 |
| Panel | OLED |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 1000 nits |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Cellular | Yes |
Features
| Stylus Support | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.3 lbs |
| OS | iPadOS |
Value & Pricing
Let's be real, you're not buying this for value. You're buying it because you want the absolute best tablet screen and performance Apple makes. If that's your goal, and you're locked into the Apple ecosystem for creative work, it justifies its premium. For everyone else, the price is a tough pill to swallow, especially when you add the necessary keyboard to make it a laptop replacement.
Price History
vs Competition
Against the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, you're choosing between iPadOS and full Windows 11. The Surface is a real laptop replacement. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has a bigger screen and more flexible software with Dex mode, but its raw power and app ecosystem can't quite match Apple's. The Lenovo Legion Go is a different beast for gaming. If you need a pure tablet for drawing and media with blistering speed, the iPad Pro wins. If you need to run desktop software or do serious multitasking, the Surface Pro is the smarter buy.
| Spec | Apple iPad Pro Apple 13" iPad Pro M5 Chip (Standard Glass, 256GB, | Apple iPad Pro Apple - 11-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung - Galaxy Tab S10+ - 12.4" 256GB - Wi-Fi - | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” - | Lenovo Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM | GPD GPD Pocket 4: Mini Laptop with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Apple M5 | Apple M5 | Mediatek MT6989 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 | MediaTek Dimensity | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM (GB) | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 256 | 256 | 256 | 512 | 256 | 2048 |
| Screen | 13" 2752x2064 | 11" 2420x1668 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 8.8" 2560x1600 |
| OS | iPadOS | iPadOS | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home |
| Stylus | true | true | true | false | true | false |
| Cellular | true | false | false | false | false | false |
Verdict
Buy this if you're an artist, designer, or creative pro who lives in Apple's ecosystem and values that incredible OLED display above all else. It's the best drawing and media consumption device money can buy. But if you need a true laptop replacement for spreadsheets, coding, or any real 'work' work, the iPadOS limitations will frustrate you. Look at a Surface Pro or a MacBook Air instead.