iPad Pro M5: You Don’t Need It, but It’s Funny How Close This Is Getting to a Mac

TLDR

The new iPad Pro M5, especially with iPadOS 26, is getting remarkably close to offering a Mac-like experience, but it's not yet a full replacement and the M5 upgrade itself isn't a significant leap from the M4.

Takeways

• iPadOS 26 significantly enhances iPad Pro's Mac-like workflow.

• M5 is an incremental update, not a must-have upgrade from M4.

• The iPad Pro offers premium features but comes at a high cost, with core OS benefits available on cheaper models.

The iPad Pro M5, powered by iPadOS 26, offers a significantly improved Mac-like workflow, with multitasking windows and a highly responsive M5 processor. While the iPad Pro boasts a superior display and Face ID compared to MacBooks, the M5 is an incremental upgrade from the M4, and the full potential requires further software advancements. Although closer than ever to a Mac, it remains a distinct product with a premium price for the Pro model and accessories.

iPad Pro as a Mac Alternative

• 00:00:00 The new iPad Pro, particularly with iPadOS 26, brings multitasking windows and an interface that makes the device feel much closer to a laptop, almost like a Mac. Its M5 processor feels incredibly zippy, and the device features a fantastic, vivid display and convenient Face ID, aspects that surpass current MacBooks. This convergence suggests the iPad Pro could function as an everyday work computer, blurring the lines between tablet and laptop.

M5 Upgrade and Value

• 00:01:11 The M5 processor in the new iPad Pro offers incremental improvements in graphics and AI capabilities over the M4, which was already very fast. For those with an M4 iPad Pro, the M5 is not a necessary upgrade, as significant software and app advancements are needed to fully utilize its power. While the Pro model comes with faster 5G, Wi-Fi, and fast charging (with a separate adapter), the core Mac-like experience enabled by iPadOS 26 is available on all current iPads, including cheaper models, making the high cost of the M5 Pro and its accessories a considerable factor.