After Using M5 Ipad Pro, I'm Seriously Considering Putting Away My Macbook For It

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The M5 iPad Pro is now disposable for purchase, starting astatine $999 for nan 11-inch and $1,199 for nan 13-inch variant.
  
• It features Apple's astir powerful processor yet, promising faster speeds, improved AI workflows, and amended efficiency.
  
• It besides runs connected Apple's astir updated connectivity chipsets.
  

Apple just announced its fastest and strongest processor past week: nan M5. The caller spot powers nan latest iPad Pro and MacBook Pro, some of which are connected waste today. The iPad Pro is renowned for being Apple's astir cutting-edge tablet, designed for powerfulness users and, according to nan company's claims, is tin of replacing a laptop. 

Also: The caller iPad Pro's biggest upgrade isn't nan M5 spot - I'd bargain it for this logic instead

I've utilized each nan latest iPads, from nan iPad Mini to nan iPad 11, nan iPad Air, and nan iPad Pro pinch M1. Based connected a week of use, nan iPad Pro pinch M5 is already nan champion performer of each - and it's not moreover close.

Visually, nan iPad Pro looks sleek, pinch a thin, unassuming build that makes it almost unsettling to spot really overmuch powerfulness is packed into thing truthful ray -- particularly erstwhile testing nan 11-inch variant. 

Before this, I was utilizing nan 13-inch iPad Air, and it was awesome capable to switch my MacBook Pro for astir tasks, but not all. However, I tin already show that nan iPad Pro pinch nan M5 spot and iPadOS 26 will get overmuch person to nan laptop experience, if not better, moreover successful nan 11-inch shape factor.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

My biggest gripe pinch Apple's declare that an iPad tin switch a laptop successful a pinch is that nan mobile acquisition and interface simply can't spell one-to-one pinch MacOS. You could, pinch Samsung DeX, for example, bask a laptop-like acquisition connected a Samsung Galaxy tablet, but nan iPad conscionable hasn't trim it -- until iPadOS 26.

With iPadOS 26, nan enhanced windowing system, which allows you to freely arrange, resize, and furniture aggregate apps, paper bar, and docked folders, among different things, person fixed Apple's ultraportable shape facet much functioanlity.

Also: I gave iPadOS 26 a afloat summertime proceedings - my verdict connected utilizing it arsenic a MacBook alternative

The powerfulness of nan M5 successful nan caller iPad Pro, mixed pinch iPadOS 26 and a keyboard, makes this tablet nan closest acquisition to a MacBook I've ever had, and I've only utilized it for a fewer days.

The biggest benefit? You besides get iPad-exclusive perks, for illustration a touchscreen (which hasn't been introduced connected MacBooks yet) and nan expertise to usage a stylus, for illustration nan Apple Pencil Pro. In specified ways, nan iPad is an moreover amended activity instrumentality than Apple's laptop.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The drawback of this year's model, for illustration nan ones earlier it, remains that nan iPad Pro is acold from cheap, starting astatine conscionable astir $1,000 and quickly rising depending connected retention and peripherals configuration. For astir users, you'll apt want to adhd successful nan Magic Keyboard, Apple Pencil Pro, and perchance moreover a surface protector. That each equates to a minimum walk of $1,500. So it boils down to really overmuch you're consenting to salary for nan use of nan slim and thin, multitouch device.

Lastly, Apple promises enhanced connectivity features pinch nan C1X and N1 chips connected nan iPad Pro, some fo which I'm looking guardant to testing much thoroughly. The chips springiness nan iPad Pro Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread, and faster 5G connectivity, each of which translates to faster downloads, a amended and much reliable AirDrop experience, and smoother hotspot use. 

Also: Best tablets for note-taking 2025: My hand-picked options for penning notes

I'm peculiarly excited to spot really nan iPad Pro fares erstwhile utilized outdoors and tapping connected LTE. If Apple tin nail nan on-the-go computing experience, that whitethorn beryllium each that's needed to put nan iPad supra nan MacBook for immoderate professionals.

Thread connectivity doesn't look to beryllium enabled for nonstop relationship to smart location devices astatine this time, and it's unclear whether Apple plans to utilize it for this purpose, arsenic seen successful nan iPhone 15 Pro and newer models. 

ZDNET's early verdict

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

After a fewer days of use, nan iPad Pro, pinch M5 and iPadOS 26, is disconnected to a promising start.

I've been moving connected a MacBook Pro pinch an M1 processor for complete 3 years, and I've already noticed a sizeable quality successful snappiness betwixt it and nan iPad Pro. 

The tablet is amazingly faster and much accordant successful rendering graphics and loading assets than my laptop, and nan spread is larger from my M4 iPad Air, which was my go-to tablet for astir of this year.

As a reviewer, I'm looking guardant to testing really nan M5 spot connected nan iPad Pro handles everything from regular tasks to much challenging workflows, and I'll update this article pinch my afloat reappraisal then. I'll benchmark processing power, artillery life, AI processes, and app compatibility earlier delivering a last verdict. 

Looking for nan adjacent champion product? Get master reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.