Key Takeaways
1. Display Upgrades: The M5 iPad Pro supports external displays with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and features a slightly larger 11.1-inch Ultra Retina XDR display.
2. Chip Configuration: The M5 chip retains a similar CPU layout to the M4 but introduces a redesigned GPU with dedicated Neural Accelerators for better AI and graphics performance.
3. Performance Enhancements: The M5 offers up to 3.5 times greater AI performance, improved memory bandwidth of 153 GB/s, and more RAM in its base models (12 GB compared to 8 GB in the M4).
4. Camera and Connectivity: Camera hardware remains unchanged, but the M5 includes new connectivity options like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, along with faster cellular data speeds from the new C1X modem.
5. Battery Life and Charging: Battery life is unchanged, but the M5 now supports official fast charging and retains the USB-C connector with Thunderbolt / USB 4 support.
Apple has recently upgraded the chip inside its iPad Pro to the new M5 processor, launching it alongside the tablet. At first sight, you might think the M4 iPad Pro from last year and this year’s M5 version are the same, but there are several significant changes beneath the surface beyond just the chip upgrade. Let’s dive into what’s new with the M5 iPad Pro and what still remains the same in Apple’s latest high-end tablet.
Display Upgrades
The M5 iPad Pro now supports external displays with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. In contrast, the M4 iPad Pro had a maximum refresh rate of only 60 Hz for external displays. Additionally, the M5 model sports a slightly larger 11.1-inch (28.22 cm) Ultra Retina XDR Tandem OLED display, compared to the 11.0-inch (27.96 cm) display on the M4. However, the displays on the 13-inch M4 and M5 iPad Pro models are exactly the same. Other than this, the display and build specs of both the M4 and M5 iPad Pro models are unchanged.
Chip Configuration
Inside the new iPad Pro, the M5 chip keeps a similar CPU layout to the M4, featuring a 9-core setup (three performance and six efficiency cores) on the 256 GB and 512 GB models, while a 10-core configuration (four performance and six efficiency cores) is available for the 1 TB and 2 TB versions. The M5 also introduces a completely redesigned GPU with dedicated Neural Accelerators in each core, which Apple states offers significantly enhanced AI and graphics performance.
Performance Enhancements
Apple asserts that this new architecture can provide up to 3.5 times greater AI performance than the M4, with a quicker 16-core Neural Engine and improved memory bandwidth of 153 GB/s compared to 120 GB/s on the M4. The M5 iPad Pro also comes with more memory in its base model, featuring 12 GB of RAM for the 256 GB and 512 GB versions. Meanwhile, the 1 TB and 2 TB models still have 16 GB of RAM. Both chips utilize the same advanced media engine, but the M5 introduces better encoding and decoding efficiency.
Camera and Connectivity
The iPad Pro M5 keeps the front and rear camera hardware identical to the M4, but it brings new advancements in connectivity. The new N1 wireless chip allows for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, which Apple claims enhances hotspot reliability and general wireless performance. Additionally, cellular models now include Apple’s new C1X modem, which promises data speeds that are up to 50% faster and 30% more efficient in power usage.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life remains the same as its predecessor, but the M5 iPad Pro now supports official fast charging, allowing quicker power replenishment with a compatible high-wattage adapter. Both models retain a USB-C connector with Thunderbolt / USB 4 support.
Audio and Pricing
Concerning audio, both the M5 and M4 iPad Pro versions possess the same four-speaker audio system along with four high-quality microphones. The number and types of sensors are also unchanged across both models.
The pricing for the M4 and M5 iPad Pro models is the same. You can find detailed pricing for the M5 iPad Pro. However, it’s worth noting that the M4 iPad Pro lineup began with a model that had 8 GB of memory and 256 GB of storage, whereas the M5 iPad Pro starts with 12 GB of memory and the same 256 GB of storage.
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