2025 iPad Pro M5 - Unboxing, Setup, Testing and Review

The 2025 M5 iPad Pro offers incremental performance gains over the M4 model, primarily due to an upgraded M5 chip, faster SSD, and improved cellular/networking, making it a compelling upgrade for older iPads but less so for M4 users.

• M5 iPad Pro offers incremental gains over M4, with significant spec bumps in chip, SSD, and networking.

• Performance benchmarks confirm faster CPU, GPU, and AI, improving tasks like video export and transcription.

• Upgrading from M4 is hard to justify for most users; better suited for those with M1 or older iPads.

The 2025 13-inch M5 iPad Pro, available in space black or silver, features a new M5 chip with a 10-core CPU and GPU, up to 16GB RAM, and a nano-texture display option. While externally identical to the M4 model, it boasts significant internal upgrades, including a two times faster SSD, a C1X modem offering 50% faster cellular data, and an N1 networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Benchmarks confirm a notable performance boost across CPU, GPU, and AI tasks, with practical applications like video export and transcription also showing improved speeds.

Unboxing and Physical Overview

• 00:00:00 The 2025 13-inch M5 iPad Pro, available in 11-inch and 13-inch variants, ranges from $1299 to $2599 depending on configuration, including options for a nano-texture display, Wi-Fi, and cellular. The unboxing reveals typical Apple accessories: a 20W charger and a braided USB-C to USB-C cable. Physically, the M5 iPad Pro is almost identical to the M4 model, sharing the same camera, LiDAR sensor, button placement, and quad speakers, with the only noticeable external difference being the absence of 'iPad Pro' labeling on the new device's back.

Initial Setup and Software Experience

• 00:03:11 Setting up the M5 iPad Pro is a straightforward process, involving quick transfer from a previous iPad, Face ID setup, and immediate software updates. The transfer of data, though initially estimated at an hour, significantly speeds up to minutes when using a Thunderbolt 5 cable. Cellular plan transfer is also simple and quick, leveraging the new C1X modem for 50% faster cellular data performance and the N1 networking chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

Performance Benchmarks and AI Capabilities

• 00:08:52 The M5 iPad Pro demonstrates notable performance improvements over the M4 in various benchmarks. Geekbench 6 shows higher single-core (4,140 vs. 3,769) and multi-core (16,455 vs. 15,016) CPU scores, along with a substantial increase in GPU scores (74,395 vs. 55,352). AI benchmarks also indicate faster processing with scores of 5,284 compared to 4,933 for half precision. Real-world tests, such as 4K video export in Final Cut Pro and audio transcription, confirm these gains, with the M5 being faster by over a minute in video export and a few seconds in transcription, attributed partly to a two times faster SSD.

Magic Keyboard and Upgrade Recommendation

• 00:13:32 The Magic Keyboard remains a recommended accessory for the iPad Pro, despite its $349 price and weight, offering excellent protection and functionality. While older black Magic Keyboards show wear and smudges, a new white version provides an updated aesthetic. Regarding an upgrade, moving from an M4 iPad Pro to the M5 is considered an incremental improvement, primarily beneficial for specific tasks like video editing due to the faster SSD, or for those desiring the nano-texture display. However, users with older iPads (M1 or earlier) will experience a more significant difference in smoothness, speed, and overall fluid performance.