Apple iPad Pro (M5) review: Two months with Apple’s £999 tablet — is it worth it?

Apple’s iPad Pro is the creme de la creme when it comes to tablets. It’s always been Apple’s most advanced offering, sitting above the regular iPad (A16) and the mighty iPad Air (M3) but it’s also one of the best tablets around, period. There’s more power than many will be able to utilise in the M4 model, let alone this new M5 option, so if you’re after a slim tablet that has enough oomph to replace your laptop, this is the one you’ll want.

I’ve been using it for the last couple of months since it was announced, switching between it and the MacBook Pro (M5).

It might look the same as its predecessor but one of the upgrades it comes with under the surface could be considered a reason in itself to buy it. Here’s everything you need to know about the iPad Pro (M5).

iPAD PRO (M5): IN SHORT

• Same design: The iPad Pro (M5) looks identical to its predecessor and it comes in the same colour options of Space Black and Silver.
• Upgraded performance: There have been a number of improvements under the iPad Pro (M5)’s hood, including an upgraded processor, as well as support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
• Stunning display: There have been no changes to the iPad Pro (M5)’s display but there’s nothing wrong with that – it’s a superb screen.
• Faster charging: Finally! The iPad Pro (M5) supports fast charging, with up to 50 per cent in 30 minutes.
• Pricing and availability: The iPad Pro (M5) starts at £999. That’s for 256GB of storage, though it can be configured in storage capacities of 512GB, 1TB and 2TB with a Nano-texture display coating also available for £100 on the 1TB and 2TB models.

DESIGN: THE SAME - IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT

Apple has kept the design of the iPad Pro (M5) identical to the iPad Pro (M4) but that is by no means a bad thing. Instead, it’s probably the best decision Apple could have made for this tablet. The iPad Pro was redesigned in 2024 with a super slim 5.4mm frame and it is gorgeous as far as metal slabs go. It’s also skinnier than the iPhone Air for anyone counting those millimetres.

It comes in 11-inch and 13-inch size options but even the larger 13-inch model is portable. It’s the kind of thing you can fling in a backpack and barely notice it, which is more than we can say for most laptops out there. Add the Magic Keyboard (sold separately) to it and that’s a slightly different story but on its own, the iPad Pro (M5) is a delight.

It comes in Space Black and Silver colour options, which is the same offering as the MacBook Pro (M5). That’s a more serious affair than you’ll find on the pastel-coloured iPad Air and the punchy iPad (A16) but the iPad Pro (M5) is a more serious product so that all fits.

On the back, you’ll find the Smart Connector for attaching the Magic Keyboard, or a third party option, along with a single camera lens in the top left corner when holding this tablet in portrait. The camera lens is more than adequate for scanning documents and it will take a decent snap in good lighting but don’t expect the same quality as you would get from a smartphone. Also, just... don’t use a tablet for taking pictures. There is nothing big or clever in doing that.

On the shorter edges of the iPad Pro (M5), are where you’ll find the four-speakers, while the power button is positioned at the top. There’s no Touch ID fingerprint sensor, with unlocking and authentication happening through Face ID instead, as it has done since 2019 on the iPad Pro line. The Face ID sensors are built into the landscape-orientated front camera, which is great for video calls, while Face ID makes for a much more seamless experience when it comes to unlocking the tablet, accessing passwords or buying things using Apple Pay.

DISPLAY: MORE OF THE SAME BUT THAT’S MORE THAN OK

Just as the design hasn’t changed for the iPad Pro (M5), neither has the display but again, that’s far from a criticism. The Tandem OLED panel – which is effectively two OLED panels on top of each other to deliver a brighter screen – is one of the best in the business. It’s stunning.

Colours are wonderfully vibrant and punchy, blacks are true black and whites nice and bright.

Everything looks amazing, and that applies whether you’re watching a film or reading the news. The ProMotion tech and support for 120Hz refresh rates make for a lovely smooth scrolling experience too, especially when viewing social media or reading, though it’s handy for gaming too.

As with the MacBook Pro (M5), we’d highly recommend adding the Nano-texture glass option if your budget allows. It does a superb job of minimising reflections so it’s great for sunny day or using the iPad Pro (M5) outside or near a window. The only issue with the matte screen is that it is only an option on the higher storage models (1TB and 2TB), which is a real shame. On the MacBook Pro (M5), you can opt for the Nano-texture screen even in the base model so we’re disappointed that’s still the case for the iPad Pro.

Otherwise, there is almost nothing to criticise the iPad Pro (M5)’s display for. The bezels around the edge could be a little slimmer if we were being super picky, but both the 11-inch and 13-inch offer pin sharp detail, excellent brightness and a wonderful viewing experience.

INTERNAL SPECS: UPGRADED PERFORMANCE AND CONNECTIVITY

Lift the iPad Pro (M5)’s hood up (not literally, you can’t) and you’ll find the upgrades for this model. First up is the new Apple M5 processor, with this iPad and the MacBook Pro (M5) being the first two devices to run on the new hardware.

If you have the iPad Pro (M4) it’s very unlikely you’ll feel the need to upgrade to this model but if you’re coming from an older iPad model, like the iPad Pro (M1), you’ll notice a huge bump in power.

It’s seamless in its operation, switching rapidly between apps with no lag whatsoever and delivering smooth multitasking. There was nothing we tried to do on the iPad Pro (M5) that it wasn’t able to manage, from editing images and videos to playing games and watching movies. Its performance is excellent, offering a brilliant user experience.

Processor aside and the iPad Pro (M5)’s connectivity specifications have also been updated. It now supports WI-Fi 7 so if you have a compatible router, you’ll have access to the fastest Wi-Fi speeds. There’s also Bluetooth 6.0 support.

BATTERY AND CHARGING: THE MAIN REASON TO UPGRADE

Right, so to recap, the design and display have stayed the same compared to the iPad Pro (M5), while the processor and connectivity options have been upgraded. But this is the area you’ll really want to pay attention to because for the first time since iPad was announced over 15 years ago, fast charging has been introduced. Yes, you did read that right.

If you have ever plugged a tablet in before a plane journey or commute, you’ll know all too well the age these slabs can take to juice up. Ten minutes before you are due to leave the house wouldn’t make a dent in most tablet batteries, but for the iPad Pro (M5), you’ll get up to 50 per cent in 30 minutes and that’s almost worth upgrading for alone, even from the iPad Pro (M4).

Apple claims you will be able to watch video for 10 hours, or browse the web for nine hours and I have found this to be pretty much on the money over the last couple of months. Using the Magic Keyboard does deplete the battery faster than just browsing or watching, so expect around half that figure if you are typing for a long period of time.

It matters a lot less with the fast charging though because it is much quicker to get enough juice to watch a film on your morning train ride or sign a quick document. There is no power adapter in the box, however, so you will need to source your own, and if you want to benefit from the fast charging, you’ll need to make sure it is 60W or higher.

IPADOS 26: NEW DESIGN, NEW FEATURES, MORE LIKE MAC

When Apple first launched iPad, it ran on the same software as iPhone, with a couple of tweaks. It wasn’t until iPadOS arrived in 2019 where iPad got its own features, like Split Screen and multi-tasking, allowing it to come into its own a little more.

It still wasn’t as fluid to use as macOS if you wanted to use your iPad as a productivity tool, however, and while some features continue to be missing with iPadOS 26 like support for multiple users, the user experience is more like Mac now than it’s ever been before and we are here for that.

There’s things like the menu bar at the top with the traffic light buttons for closing down an app or snapping it into a grid on the screen so you can use multiple apps at the same time, like you can on Mac. You can also drag the corners of each app to resize them exactly how you want them and they will sit on top of each other should you want them to.

It’s possible to opt for the traditional iPad layout that we’ve seen for years that still allows you to use two apps side by side but otherwise will minimise an app when you open another one. If you’re planning on working on your iPad Pro (M5), we strongly recommend using the new layout but there’s nothing stopping you switching between them.

The latest iPadOS software also introduces coloured folders like Mac for better customisation of files, while also adding a Game app, Phone app and Preview app to iPad. The overall experience is significantly improved compared to previous iPadOS software and while iPadOS 26 runs on older iPads as well as the iPad Pro (M5), it’s seamless on the latest iPad with everything from switching between apps, using multiple apps at the same time and running background tasks buttery smooth.

FINAL VERDICT: PLENTY TO LOVE

The Apple iPad Pro (M5) is a superb tablet, retaining its crown as the best in class. Its super slim and lightweight build makes it exceptionally portable whichever size you choose, while the power under the hood leaves nothing to be desired.

There’s no getting away from its price, especially if you opt for the matte screen and the higher storage options, and we’d really like to see support for multiple profiles so families could share easier. But that’s really all we have to complain about.

The fast charging support is a huge upgrade and while those with an iPad Pro (M4) can probably skip this iteration, anyone with an older iPad or those coming to iPad for the first time will adore this tablet.

• Apple MacBook Pro (M5) review: Two months with the entry-level ‘Pro’ laptop – and why not to overlook it

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