Apple iPad Pro Apple - 13-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with Review

The iPad Pro M5 has the best screen on any tablet and performance that shames laptops. But its high price and iPadOS limits make it a tough sell for most people.

CPU Apple M5
RAM 12 GB
Storage 256 GB
Screen 13" 2752x2064
OS iPadOS
Stylus Yes
Cellular No
Apple iPad Pro Apple - 13-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with tablet
100 Overall Score

Overview

The new 13-inch iPad Pro with the M5 chip is basically a desktop computer in tablet form. It's got that stunning OLED screen and power to burn, making it feel like the future. But it's still running iPadOS, which means you're stuck in Apple's walled garden for software.

Performance

Performance is a monster. The M5 chip puts it in the 94th percentile for both CPU and GPU, so nothing you throw at it will slow it down. Creative apps and games fly. The screen is its star feature, hitting the 98th percentile with incredible brightness and color. The only real letdown is the battery life, which is just average at the 50th percentile. It won't last as long as you'd hope for a device this expensive.

Performance Percentiles

CPU 96.3
GPU 95.6
RAM 81.4
Screen 99.3
Battery 48.5
Feature 63.3
Storage 74.4
Connectivity 84.1
Social Proof 99.6

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • That OLED screen is absolutely gorgeous and best-in-class. 100th
  • The M5 chip delivers insane, desktop-level performance. 99th
  • Incredibly thin and light for the power it packs. 96th
  • Perfect for artists and designers with the Apple Pencil. 96th

Cons

  • Battery life is just okay, not great for the price.
  • You're still limited by iPadOS, not a full desktop OS.
  • Very expensive, especially once you add the keyboard and pen.
  • Weakest area is for business tasks compared to competitors.

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 6
Bluetooth Bluetooth 6.0
Cellular No

Features

Stylus Support Yes

Physical

Weight 0.6 kg / 1.3 lbs
OS iPadOS

Value & Pricing

It's hard to call this a good value. Starting around $1200 for just the tablet, it's a huge investment. You get a phenomenal screen and unmatched power in this form factor, but you're paying a massive premium for the Apple logo and design. For most people, it's overkill.

Price History

$1,180 $1,200 $1,220 $1,240 $1,260 Feb 20Feb 20Feb 21Feb 28 $1,249

vs Competition

Compared to the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, you get a much better screen and more raw power with the M5, but you lose the flexibility of Windows. The Samsung Tab S10 Ultra has a bigger screen and might be better for media, but its processor isn't as fast. If you need a true laptop replacement for work, the Surface is the better pick. If you live in Apple's ecosystem and want the ultimate creative tablet, this is it.

Spec Apple iPad Pro Apple - 13-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” OLED Lenovo Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM HP GPD Win MAX 2 2025 Handheld Gaming PC with AMD GPD Pocket 4: Mini Laptop with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX
CPU Apple M5 Mediatek MT6989 Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 MediaTek Dimensity AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
RAM (GB) 12 12 16 8 32 32
Storage (GB) 256 256 1000 256 2048 2048
Screen 13" 2752x2064 12.4" 2800x1752 13" 2880x1920 12.7" 2944x1840 10.1" 1920x1200 8.8" 2560x1600
OS iPadOS Android 14 Windows 11 Home Android 14 Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Home
Stylus true true false true false false
Cellular false false false false false false
Product CpuGpuRamScreenBatteryFeatureStorageConnectivitySocial Proof
Apple iPad Pro Apple - 13-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with 96.395.681.499.348.563.374.484.199.6
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung - Galaxy Tab S10+ - 12.4" 256GB - Wi-Fi - 67.968.381.490.199.498.874.491.798.5
Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” OLED 99.297.99386.348.55892.371.591.7
Lenovo Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM 41.843.771.48499.699.574.491.794.6
HP GPD Win MAX 2 2025 Handheld Gaming PC with AMD 97.7979553.948.55899.871.533.5
GPD Pocket 4: Mini Laptop with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 97.7979575.148.519.599.971.565.9

Verdict

Buy this if you're a professional artist, designer, or editor who needs a portable powerhouse and loves the Apple Pencil. It's the best creative tablet money can buy. For everyone else, especially if you need to do real business work, a Surface Pro or even a MacBook Air will give you more for your money.