Apple has officially announced two new iPad Pro tablets. The latest flagship iPads from Apple boast the new Apple M5 processor, new modems, faster memory, and other improvements over the previous-gen M4 iPad Pro.
The new iPad Pro is available in two sizes: 11 inches and 13 inches. The biggest change in these devices is the new Apple M5 processor, which promises faster CPU, more advanced GPU, and a better Neural Engine. Apple claims the M5 is 3.5 times faster in AI performance than the M4, and up to 5.6 times faster than the M1-powered iPad Pro. In rendering, the M5 is 6.7 times faster than the M1 and 1.5 times faster than the M4. Those who render videos on their iPads in Final Cut will see up to 6 times better performance than the M1 iPad Pro and up to 1.2 times better than the M4 iPad Pro.
Besides increasing the raw power, the M5 processor enables 120Hz support for external display and Adaptive Sync support for smoother motion and fewer glitches.
Apple has also increased the memory bandwidth and storage read/write speeds. Memory now operates at 150GB/s (RAM starts at 12GB in 256GB and 512GB configurations), and storage speeds are two times higher. The new iPad Pro also received fast charging support, which now gets the tablet to 50% in 30 minutes.
Another big improvement in the M5-powered iPad Pro is connectivity. Wi-Fi + Cellular models now have the C1X chip, which promises a 50% data speed increase and a 30% lower energy consumption. Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support are enabled by the Apple N1 wireless networking chip.
Other than that, the new iPad Pro is similar to its predecessor with the same Tandem OLED displays and accessory support. You can now preorder the new iPad Pro models, with sales beginning October 22. The base 256GB 11-inch iPad Pro still costs $999 ($1,299 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant), while the 13-inch 256GB variant costs $1,199 for Wi-Fi only or $1,499 for Wi-Fi + Cellular. Storage options include 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. The most expensive config will set you back $2,599.