All iPads When M5 Pro comes out, 8GB M4 Pro or 12GB M5 Air?

[Kendo]

When new iPads come out, the older models always drop in price. When the M5 iPad Pro comes out, existing M4 iPad Pros should drop to around $600 based on previous drops. This will bring it in line with the M5 iPad Air (same $600).

It was always my plan to get the M4 Pro but now that we see iPhone 17 Pro and Air both having 12GB RAM, it appears the M5 iPads will follow suit.

Which now has me wondering, would you sacrifice 4GB RAM and get the M4 OLED screen or get the Air with 12GB?

As an iPhone 14 Pro user (with 6GB RAM), it is so frustrating having my apps reload all the time so I’m thinking in a year or two, 8GB won’t be enough.

 

[Digitalguy]

Who said that the Air is getting 12GB RAM? If Apple didn't bother to increase the base pro to 16GB (as people expected based on the iPhone pro getting 12GB) and the Air is inheriting the M4, the only reasonable expectation is that the next iPad air will get 8GB. I don't see any scenario in which the air would get more. If you are basing your idea on the name "air" the iPhone air is not the equivalent of the iPad air (if anything the standard iPhone is), actually there is no equivalent.

 

[alexsa]

Are you expecting airs to get updated same time as pros ?

 

[Kendo]

Who said that the Air is getting 12GB RAM? If Apple didn't bother to increase the base pro to 16GB (as people expected based on the iPhone pro getting 12GB) and the Air is inheriting the M4, the only reasonable expectation is that the next iPad air will get 8GB. I don't see any scenario in which the air would get more. If you are basing your idea on the name "air" the iPhone air is not the equivalent of the iPad air (if anything the standard iPhone is), actually there is no equivalent.

I’m basing it on the fact that when 8GB was the de facto RAM size for Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro and the M2 and M3 iPad Air and the M4 iPad Pro all had 8GB.

Now it appears 12GB is the de facto standard for Apple Intelligence.

 

[joeblow7777]

Now it appears 12GB is the de facto standard for Apple Intelligence.

That doesn't make sense. 8GB devices including the recent base model iPhone 17 still run AI, don't they?

 

[BB714]

The question really should be can you stick with Touch ID when Face ID is available? Personally, I wish Touch ID would go away forever. And the iPad Pro (current) Face ID is now positioned where Im always inadvertently covering it up. Hopefully the M5 rectifies this with two cameras. As far as RAM... I was spoiled having 16 GB in my Pro when I owned it, so the headroom was always there. But at 12 GB but less storage seems like a reasonable trade off. I NEVER use Apple Intelligence so mileage may vary with 8 GB. My plan is similar to you.. though I'm waiting for the 1 TB (possibly 2 TB) to reduce in price when M5 is released and I'll just make do with the one Face ID cam.

 

[joeblow7777]

The question really should be can you stick with Touch ID when Face ID is available? Personally, I wish Touch ID would go away forever.

Why?

 

[BB714]

Why?

On an iPad especially, it’s just inconvenient. Always reaching for the button when I'm already comfortably staring at the screen. Sometimes the iPad is mounted (I'm a part time musician) and reaching for the button with a guitar strapped around the neck is a hassle. On a laptop, Touch ID isn't ideal either, but the fingers are already in the area due to the keyboard so it's passable, but really, ANY screen should have Face ID imo.

 

[Josieb1]

The M5 Pro. I am a heavy excel user and can use the extra ram. I currently have an M1 Pro

 

[JPack]

I’m basing it on the fact that when 8GB was the de facto RAM size for Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro and the M2 and M3 iPad Air and the M4 iPad Pro all had 8GB.

Now it appears 12GB is the de facto standard for Apple Intelligence.

iPhone 17 is 8GB.

iPad will be A18/8GB.

M4/8GB for iPad Air.

 

[1BadManVan]

You're forgetting the Air's are one gen behind for the m series. Current gen air is M3, so next gen is likely M4 vs pro having the M5.

 

[NotApplicable]

Hoping this announcement happens tomorrow so I can return the M4 I just bought and get the M5. The M4 is great, it just feels really strange to have a new iPad Pro that has less RAM than my new iPhone

 

[1BadManVan]

Hoping this announcement happens tomorrow so I can return the M4 I just bought and get the M5. The M4 is great, it just feels really strange to have a new iPad Pro that has less RAM than my new iPhone

So how come you bought the M4? Rumours been out for awhile these were due to be released, especially when the unboxing video got leaked like 2 weeks ago

 

[NotApplicable]

So how come you bought the M4? Rumours been out for awhile these were due to be released, especially when the unboxing video got leaked like 2 weeks ago

I knew it would probably be released in the return window if rumors were right, but I needed a tablet asap

I knew I was concerned about the idea that Apple saw a need for 12GB RAM in the iPhone 17 Pro, yet my iPad Pro would only have 8, so I planned on returning it for the new generation

 

[1BadManVan]

I knew it would probably be released in the return window if rumors were right, but I needed a tablet asap

I knew I was concerned about the idea that Apple saw a need for 12GB RAM in the iPhone 17 Pro, yet my iPad Pro would only have 8, so I planned on returning it for the new generation

Fair enough

 

[adonis72]

If performance is your main concern, go with the 12-gig Air. If it’s M4 or M5, I bet either way it gets the 12-gig RAM upgrade. I have the 512-gig 13” M4, and I’m constantly running into reloads and limitations with the RAM. I read on here in another thread that the M4 8-gig is going to age poorly, like the 5th-gen A5X iPad, and I have to agree. The 12 gigs of RAM in my 17 Pro make a huge difference and make my phone feel snappier than my M4 iPad. Unless you only care about display then just get an M4 Pro on clearance.

 

[Kendo]

If performance is your main concern, go with the 12-gig Air. If it’s M4 or M5, I bet either way it gets the 12-gig RAM upgrade. I have the 512-gig 13” M4, and I’m constantly running into reloads and limitations with the RAM. I read on here in another thread that the M4 8-gig is going to age poorly, like the 5th-gen A5X iPad, and I have to agree. The 12 gigs of RAM in my 17 Pro make a huge difference and make my phone feel snappier than my M4 iPad. Unless you only care about display then just get an M4 Pro on clearance.

Lol you said A5X iPad. I still have PTSD from buying that model. It introduced the Retina display on an iPad for the first time but was so sluggish because A5X was so underpowered.

Then we got a double punch in the gut when they released an updated iPad with A6X just 6 months later.

 

[MacPoulet]

I think the more interesting comparison would be a top-of-the-line M4 iPad Pro (1TB or 2TB) compared to a regular M5 iPad Pro (512GB and under). As stores clear out the old stock, the M4s will get liquidated and drop in price. I've seen previous gen models at Best Buy Canada go for $600 off, which if applied to the M4 would bring the price in line with the base M5 model...

 

[JCCL]

Lol you said A5X iPad. I still have PTSD from buying that model. It introduced the Retina display on an iPad for the first time but was so sluggish because A5X was so underpowered.

Then we got a double punch in the gut when they released an updated iPad with A6X just 6 months later.

Except that base M1, M2, and M4 iPad Pros keep running like a champ, even under iPadOS 26 (sure if people have 100 tabs open, it may reload, but for most folks they're just fine). I wouldn't say is anywhere near that scenario.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

the real question is if ipad air will follow iphones into getting 120hz screens. The screen to me is the deal killer not the power. it doesn’t look like that’s the case for macbooks considering they released the macbook pro w/ base m5.

also as mentioned elsewhere, ipad air is a generation behind… Also, it’s almost always better ot buy a used pro or a clearance pro IMO

 

[FlyingDutch]

When new iPads come out, the older models always drop in price. When the M5 iPad Pro comes out, existing M4 iPad Pros should drop to around $600 based on previous drops. This will bring it in line with the M5 iPad Air (same $600).

It was always my plan to get the M4 Pro but now that we see iPhone 17 Pro and Air both having 12GB RAM, it appears the M5 iPads will follow suit.

Which now has me wondering, would you sacrifice 4GB RAM and get the M4 OLED screen or get the Air with 12GB?

As an iPhone 14 Pro user (with 6GB RAM), it is so frustrating having my apps reload all the time so I’m thinking in a year or two, 8GB won’t be enough.

I’m confused. 😵‍💫
M4 iPad Pro are around $800 at discount now (not $600 !), and there is no “M5 iPad Air” ! iPad Air was updated earlier this year, and it still is an M3 (with a 60 Hz display ! 🤦🏻‍♂️). Maybe we will have an updated model next year, but it will be an M4 (hopefully with a ProMotion display this time).

 

[FlyingDutch]

Except that base M1, M2, and M4 iPad Pros keep running like a champ, even under iPadOS 26 (sure if people have 100 tabs open, it may reload, but for most folks they're just fine). I wouldn't say is anywhere near that scenario.

I do confirm. Even on quite extensive tasks, my iPad Pro M1 still run very well. I upgraded to an M4 just because I needed more storage (it was a 128 Gb model).