Apple updated its iPad Pro lineup with a new chip, double the amount of RAM, and faster storage. The new iPad Pro models also feature the C1X modem and N1 chip – the same components used in the iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air.
M5 chip
Compared to the M4, Apple says the M5 chip delivers up to 3.5x the AI performance, up to 1.5x faster 3D rendering with ray tracing, and up to 15% faster multithreaded performance. This makes the iPad Pro (M5) more than capable of handling complex vector graphics (e.g., Adobe Illustrator) and accessing large files across different apps.
Double the amount of RAM and faster memory bandwidth
The 256GB and 512GB models now come with 12GB of RAM – double that of their M4 predecessors. For the 1TB and 2TB models, they have 16GB of RAM.
The new iPad Pro (M5) also has over 150GB/s of unified memory bandwidth, representing a nearly 30% boost over the previous generation.
The faster memory bandwidth and more RAM allow iPad Pro (M5) users to multitask more efficiently, process AI models faster, and enjoy smoother performance in demanding games.
The M5 iPad Pro works with the Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C).
Photo: Apple
Faster charging
The iPad Pro (M5) supports fast charging, reaching up to 50% charge in about 30 minutes when paired with a high-wattage USB-C power adapter, like Apple’s 70W USB-C power adapter.
C1X modem and N1 chip
Announced last month, the C1X modem and N1 chip come to the iPad Pro.
Cellular models with the C1X modem will enjoy up to 50% faster cellular data performance with up to 30% lower power consumption than the iPad Pro (M4).
The N1 chip, an Apple-designed wireless networking chip, brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread to the iPad Pro. Wireless performance on the 5GHz networks is enhanced alongside a boost in overall performance and reliability of Personal Hotspot and AirDrop features.
Availability and pricing
The iPad Pro (M5) is now available for pre-order on the Apple Online Store. Retail availability is slated for October 22 at Apple Stores and Apple Authorised Resellers. They come in two sizes (11-inch and 13-inch) and two finishes (silver and space black).
The 11-inch model starts from S$1,499 (Wi-Fi only) and S$1,799 (Wi-Fi + cellular). The 13-inch model is priced from S$1,999 (Wi-Fi) and S$2,299 (Wi-Fi + cellular). The nano-texture glass options are available for the 1TB and 2TB models with a top-up of S$150.
Source: Apple
Apart from the iPad Pro, Apple also announced a new 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip, which you can read about below.
