Apple gave the iPad Pro the M5 chip, but forgot to give it a reason to exist

Just like the new A19 and A19 Pro chips powering the iPhone 17 lineup, the M5 comes with next-gen Neural Accelerators that crank up AI and ML performance. It’s basically Apple showing off how much horsepower it can pack – but the problem is, there’s not much room to actually use it.

M5 vs M4: how much faster are we talking?

The M5 takes AI performance to a whole new level with its upgraded GPU architecture, more powerful CPU, faster Neural Engine, and boosted unified memory bandwidth. | Image credit – Apple

When Apple unveiled the M5 – the same chip running inside both the new iPad Pro and the latest 14-inch MacBook Pro – it didn’t shy away from flexing how much better it is than last year’s M4. Here’s a quick rundown:

• 4x the peak GPU compute performance for AI compared to the M4
• Next-gen GPU with a Neural Accelerator in every core
• More powerful CPU, faster Neural Engine, and higher memory bandwidth
• 153GB/s unified memory bandwidth – up almost 30% from M4
• Up to 1.8x faster AI video enhancement in Topaz Video
• Up to 1.7x faster 3D rendering in Blender
• Up to 1.6x higher frame rates in games
• Up to 1.2x faster code compiling in Xcode

So yeah, the numbers check out – it’s faster across the board. The new iPad Pro with M5 should easily outshine last year’s model, especially in AI-heavy workloads. But even with all that raw power, it feels like the hardware has once again sprinted way ahead of what the software can actually do.

iPadOS got better, but not enough

iPadOS 26. | Image credit – Apple

Here’s the thing – this iPad deserves more. And yes, Apple has been improving iPadOS. With iPadOS 26, the iPad finally feels more like a laptop than ever before. You can actually run two apps side by side now (took them long enough, right?).

The new windowing system lets you arrange apps however you want – split your screen into halves, thirds, or quarters with just a flick. You can swipe up and hold to see all your open windows, tap one to bring it forward, and even use a new always-there menu bar for quick app commands. Plus, you can now drop folders right in the Dock for faster access.

Apple also added a few Apple Intelligence tools like Live Translate, Genmoji, and Image Playground updates, but let’s be honest – none of these really justify a tablet this powerful.

Apple’s AI still isn’t ready for the big leagues

That’s the real issue here: Apple’s AI just isn’t there yet. The company talked big about an upgraded, smarter Siri, but we’re still waiting for that promise to actually mean something.

With the M5, the iPad Pro could be the dream machine creators and power users want – but the software still doesn’t let it flex all that power. Honestly, the MacBook Pro might make better use of the chip for now.

The iPad Pro M5 is almost too good for its own good

Let’s not forget, last year’s iPad Pro M4 (2024) was already ridiculously fast. Most people couldn’t even push it to its limits. And now, with the M5, it’s even better – I’m just not entirely sure for what.

Because, in reality, the iPad Pro is already one of the best tablets out there. It’s premium, it’s polished, and yes, its price absolutely reflects that. Sure, there are Android tablets that cost as much or more, but when it comes to power, Apple still owns the high ground.

The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is Samsung’s most premium tablet. | Image credit – PhoneArena

Take Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, for instance. It’s huge – 32.6 by 20.8 mm, almost the size of a 14-inch MacBook Pro screen – which is great for artists and note-takers. But the Android ecosystem still lacks serious pro apps, which makes it less appealing for actual power users.

And price-wise? The Tab S11 Ultra starts at $1,199, which puts it right next to the iPad Pro M5 – with the 11-inch iPad starting at $999 and the 13-inch at $1,299.

Both come with pricey accessories, but Apple’s are still more refined. For example, Samsung’s new S Pen has dropped Bluetooth and vibration feedback – small things, but they matter when you are working on creative projects.

Now, I’m not turning this into a full-blown comparison because that’s not the point. The real point is that Apple’s iPad Pro is already the powerhouse tablet – and with the M5 chip, it’s even more so. But until Apple’s software and AI catch up, it’s like owning a high-end sports car that you can only drive around a parking lot.

And next year, when the M5 Pro and M5 Max inevitably arrive, that gap between hardware and software will only get wider – unless Apple really steps up its game in AI, AR/VR, and creative tools.

Because right now, the iPad Pro is ready for the future – but Apple still needs to build it.

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