Apple iPad Pro Apple 11" iPad Pro M5 Chip (Nano-Texture Glass, Review

The 11-inch iPad Pro with the M5 chip is the best small tablet you can buy, full stop. It's a pocket rocket of a computer that feels like it's from the future. The one thing you need to know is that this OLED screen is absolutely stunning. It makes everything else look dull. But, and this is a big but, you're paying a premium for a device that still runs iPadOS, which can feel limiting for that price.

The M5 chip is a monster. Everything from editing 4K video to running complex 3D modeling apps feels instantaneous. The GPU lands in the 94th percentile, so yeah, it's fast. The only real surprise is the battery life, which sits right at the 50th percentile. It's fine for a day of work, but it's not the all-weekend marathon runner you might hope for from a tablet this expensive.

At $2099 to $2299, this is a tough sell. You're paying for the best compact hardware on the planet, but the software doesn't always match that ambition. If you find it for $2099, it stings a little less. But at the top end of that range, you have to really, really want that perfect 11-inch form factor.

The 13-inch iPad Pro M5 is the obvious choice if you want a bigger canvas for art or movies, but it's even more expensive. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is the real competitor for productivity. It runs full Windows, has a great keyboard included, and often costs less, but its screen and app ecosystem for creatives aren't as polished. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has a gorgeous, huge screen for media and DeX mode for a more desktop-like feel, but its processor isn't in the same league as the M5.

Buy this if you're a creative pro or a power user who needs the absolute best portable hardware and is locked into the Apple ecosystem. For everyone else, the high price and software limits make the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 or even a high-end laptop a smarter, more flexible buy. This is a luxury item, not a necessity.