M4 vs. M5 iPad Pro Buyer's Guide: 20 Differences Compared

[MacRumors]

Apple's new iPad Pro comes almost 18 months after the previous version with the M4 chip, so how different is the new model and should you consider upgrading?

The iPad Pro introduced last year was a major update, debuting the M4 chip, a significantly thinner design, a nano-texture option, OLED displays, a landscape front-facing camera, and more, as well as a new Magic Keyboard with an aluminum top case, function keys, and a trackpad with haptic feedback. With such a big update last year, the new iPad Pro Apple just launched with the M5 chip is much more iterative, focusing largely on chips and connectivity. Beyond their chips, the key differences are as follows:

M4 iPad Pro (2024)	M5 iPad Pro (2025)
Broadcom Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip	N1 chip
Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 6
Wi-Fi 6E connectivity	Wi-Fi 7 connectivity
Qualcomm Snapdragon 5G modem (cellular models only)	C1X chip (cellular models only)
	Up to 2× faster SSD read and write speeds
256GB and 512GB models: 8GB memory 1TB and 2TB models: 16GB memory	256GB and 512GB models: 12GB memory 1TB and 2TB models: 16GB memory
~2–4 nits minimum brightness	1 nit minimum brightness
Drive external displays at 60Hz	Drive external displays at up to 120Hz
	Adaptive Sync support
	Fast-charge capable (Up to 50% charge using a 60W adapter or higher in 30 minutes with the 11-inch model or 35 minutes with the 13-inch model)

With the latest version of the iPad Pro, Apple is mainly touting the power of the M5 chip. Compared to the M4, it says the M5 is:

• Up to 15% faster multithreaded CPU performance
• Up to 30% faster overall graphics performance
• Up to 45% faster ray tracing performance
• 27.5% higher unified memory bandwidth

In addition to general performance claims, Apple published a set of specific real-world workload results showing measurable gains in AI-driven applications with the M5 chip:

• 4×+ peak GPU compute performance for AI
• 3.6× faster time to first token (LLM)
• 1.8× faster Topaz Video Enhance AI processing
• 1.7× faster Blender ray-traced rendering
• 2.9× faster AI speech enhancement in Premiere Pro

Other notable changes compared to the M4 chip in the iPad Pro include:

M4 Chip	M5 Chip
Made with TSMC's second-generation 3nm process (N3E)	Made TSMC's third-generation 3nm process (N3P)
Based on A18 Pro chip from iPhone 16 Pro	Based on A19 Pro chip from iPhone 17 Pro
No integrated Neural Accelerators	Integrated Neural Accelerator in every GPU core
Metal 3 developer APIs	Metal 4 developer APIs with Tensor APIs to program GPU Neural Accelerators
Second-generation ray tracing engine	Third-generation ray tracing engine
First-generation dynamic caching	Second-generation dynamic caching
Shader cores	Enhanced shader cores
120 GB/s unified memory bandwidth	153 GB/s unified memory bandwidth

The M5 iPad Pro does have some notable upgrades: baseline memory has increased, SSD speed has doubled, the external display controller now supports 120Hz and Adaptive Sync, the GPU now integrates neural accelerators per core with new Tensor APIs, cellular connectivity is faster, and it now supports both Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

However, the practical effect of these changes is very narrow. Almost every common iPad Pro workflow is already well within the capability envelope of the M4 model. As a result, the M5's gains will only reveal themselves in edge-case behaviors: very large AI-driven workloads, long exports on external drives, workloads that page into memory, or professional use with a 120Hz external display. Even for power-users of the M4 model, these situations are very rare.

• M4 vs. M5 Chip Buyer's Guide: How Much Better Really Is M5?

This means the M5 is primarily a replacement-cycle product for owners of older iPads or laptops, rather than an upgrade-cycle product for recent buyers. If you currently own an M4 iPad Pro, there is no general-purpose reason to upgrade. Even for creative professionals, unless your pipeline explicitly leverages GPU-accelerated AI tools or 120Hz external displays, the upgrade will not translate into much time saved or dramatic capability gained.

By contrast, if you are upgrading from an older iPad Pro or intend to rely on the device for sustained AI or pro-grade external-monitor work for the next five years, the M5 does offer greater future headroom and reduced likelihood of hitting ceilings. The new model will likely last longer, being capable through more years of successive software updates and evolving requirements.

Article Link: M4 vs. M5 iPad Pro Buyer's Guide: 20 Differences Compared

 

[Woodcrest64]

There is no denying its faster but I think we improvements with pro apps and what they can do on the iPad. I'd love for the iPad to be able to work with external storage better than it currently does with say apps like Lightroom.

 

[Apple-achian]

However, the practical effect of these changes is very narrow.

This is an extreme statement. The upgrades alone from the M4 Ipad pro are more significant than any single generation update in any Android competitor.

 

[centauratlas]

It does sound like noticeable improvements, but my current one is doing perfectly so I am waiting a bit until the kids need a "new one" and can use my current one.

 

[meetajhu]

Isn't Pro motion basically Adaptive Sync? What's cooking here?

 

[novagamer]

1. When / if someone compares M4 and M5 iPad Pro, please comment on any changes in speaker quality and @ me. I'd greatly appreciate it.

2. Tensor APIs? I Looked on GitHub and awni said last week, in response to a question about M4/M5 support:

"Neural accelerator support is a work in progress. We will be evaluating additional Metal 4 features on a case-by-case basis and include what makes sense."

ref: https://github.com/ml-explore/mlx/issues/2693

Are there new API docs that you're referencing in this article @Hartley?

 

[DribbleCastle]

Very nice and detailed write-up.

 

[DribbleCastle]

This is an extreme statement. The upgrades alone from the M4 Ipad pro are more significant than any single generation update in any Android competitor.

I think the point is that the improvements might not be valued by most people. Doesn't mean they are not noticable and valuable to some users.

 

[Shirasaki]

Does M5 iPad Pro also features apples new in-house modem for cellular iPad? I think article should include that.
While my M1 iPad Pro still rocks strong, I’d love to have M5 iPad Pro for better GPU performance and better gaming experience, plus 512GB has become woefully inadequate for me.

 

[cloudyo]

I would really like to know whether the new M5 supports emte/mie! The A19 does, and I assume that apple develops both chips simultaneously. So that would point to „yes“.

But unfortunately there are no references to these new memory safeguards in any of the official docs.

Does anyone know by any chance?

 

[cardfan]

Doesn't sound like much difference. Worse cellular. Better wifi. Bit faster processor. Hard to see really wanting an upgrade over the M4 anytime soon. OLED was the draw considering how limited the apps are.

 

[miamialley]

Yawn. Let me know when it has always on display.

 

[JeffNT326]

Thank you for this comparison! Was super tempted to grab the M4 iPad when it came out last year, but decided to keep using my 3rd gen iPad Pro. Now that iPadOS 26 is realllyyy slowing it down, I just might grab M5 (unless 26.1 somehow fixes performance problems which doesn't look promising).

 

[Digitalguy]

1. When / if someone compares M4 and M5 iPad Pro, please comment on any changes in speaker quality and @ me. I'd greatly appreciate it.

Check this comment, I made a comparison video for the all the 12.9 / 13 M series iPad pros https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/m5-speaker-quality-not-great.2469941/post-34254604

 

[Digitalguy]

Isn't Pro motion basically Adaptive Sync? What's cooking here?

That's for external display, not the iPad screen

 

[Icehawk]

Now the age old debate of eventually upgrading my ipad air. To I splurge on an ipad that does way more fancy things than I need it or do I do teh smart thing and get the air that meets my needs easily. First world problems.

 

[kingtj1971]

Personally, I'd buy one of these M5 based iPad Pros if I decide it makes sense to put an iPad back into my personal computer ecosystem.

I haven't owned an iPad since the original iPad Pro and version 1 Apple Pencil, and I haven't really missed it. It was more useful to me back then, when I had a regular commute for 60-70 minutes each way on a train. For most of my needs at this point, I'd rather use a Macbook Pro and a full-blown operating system.

I do like the "forward thinking" steps of selling the new iPad with capabilities beyond what's currently used/required by most applications. This is how it *should* be done, instead of constantly selling people hardware that's just enough for today's needs. That puts them on the upgrade hamster wheel, where all it takes is one major new piece of software to make things "outdated".

 

[MacPoulet]

Oof. I was going to pick up a discounted M4 iPad Pro until I saw the M5 model can do down to 1nit of brightness. That alone is probably enough to sway me over to the M5 as my current 2020 model can't ever get dim enough in low-light settings.

 

[Royksöpp]

My M4 is so gorgeous and fast, but the price to upgrade with trade in is so tempting. It’s definitely more of a want than need kind of upgrade. I’m so close to pulling the trigger. Someone either stop me or convince me!

 

[novagamer]

I would really like to know whether the new M5 supports emte/mie! The A19 does, and I assume that apple develops both chips simultaneously. So that would point to „yes“.

But unfortunately there are no references to these new memory safeguards in any of the official docs.

Does anyone know by any chance?

It does, per the latest episode of ATP.

I think it's a much bigger deal for upcoming macs, but if you're concerned and have an older device lockdown mode should prevent a lot of the browser based vectors, it isn't too bad other than it affects message attachments and links.

 

[macduke]

Overall this seems like a solid technical upgrade year. They’re keeping everything on pace under the hood, lots of snappiness across the board.

Wonder what new features we’ll get with the M6 generation? Probably that second front camera that has been rumored. Not sure what else they can really do feature-wise besides a folding model that will cost way more. Hardware-wise, perhaps another bezel reduction if they can ensure accidental taps won’t happen from normal handling? And with the M6 using 2nm maybe longer battery life. Would be nice if the M6 could start with 16GB memory!

Otherwise I’m really racking my brain and can’t think of what else this thing needs? It’s functionally feature complete for the current form factor. Most of the needs are on the software side. It’s already rumored to be getting a vapor chamber. Maybe a second Thunderbolt port? Though I don’t know where they would put it. An SD card reader would be great but that will never happen, and a lot of professionals are using CFExpress Type A cards nowadays so it can be difficult to justify that on something this thin and light. Maybe they could finally make the iPad waterproof?

There is no denying its faster but I think we improvements with pro apps and what they can do on the iPad. I'd love for the iPad to be able to work with external storage better than it currently does with say apps like Lightroom.

This, this x1000! I just want Lightroom to work like it does on my Mac where I can open my full resolution catalog off of my SSD! Most of the improvements we need on the iPad are on the software side.

 

[Clawdawg]

My M4 is so gorgeous and fast, but the price to upgrade with trade in is so tempting. It’s definitely more of a want than need kind of upgrade. I’m so close to pulling the trigger. Someone either stop me or convince me!

Not sure if you're referring to Apple’s trade in offer, but Best Buy gave me $300 more than Apple for a 1TB 13” M3 WiFi.

 

[nepalisherpa]

M4 iPad models are already powerful enough. iPadOS is where it needs to improve.

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

Now that's what I call a real upgrade. But I agree that the software side is still lacking.

 

[Clawdawg]

There is no denying it’s faster but I think we improvements with pro apps and what they can do on the iPad. I'd love for the iPad to be able to work with external storage better than it currently does with say apps like Lightroom.

Is Lr now supporting referenced images? I may have missed that. I’m running referenced images in my 2025 catalog in Capture One for iPad, and it’s flawless.