Apple today refreshed the iPad Pro with an M5 chip, offering the next generation of Apple Silicon performance in its thinnest tablet form factor. The cellular models are also now powered by the Apple C1X modem.
Apple says the new iPad Pro with M5 delivers up to 3.5x the AI performance than is predecessor, thanks to the new Neural Accelerators in each GPU core. The new iPad Pro lineup is available to order starting today, with first deliveries shipping on October 22.
Compared to M4, the M5 chip has faster CPU cores, updated GPU cores with Neural Accelerators, and a faster Neural Engine.
On the CPU side, Apple says customers should expect a 15% multi-core speed improvement compared to M4.
For artificial intelligence workloads, Apple says peak GPU compute performance is up to 4x faster. General graphics performance is up to 45% higher than M4.
Overall memory bandwidth across the chip is also 30% bigger than M4, up to 153 GB/s.
Top comment by Scrodd
Ugh. SOOOO let down by this. I only wanted one of three things out of this update: 1) Thunderbolt 5 so it could have more bandwidth for external monitor support; 2) the rumored double front camera; or 3) compatibility with the Apple Smart Folio Keyboard (RIP) so that I could use the iPad as an actual tablet. Love the strides Apple has made with iPadOS but the Magic Keyboard still makes the iPad into something that is primarily a laptop, competing against a (potentially cheaper) 14” MacBook Pro. The ram update is okay I guess, but hard to imagine how it will change daily life at all. Getting a used M4 with the 1TB option may be a better deal if you want the ram. 🤷♂️
Also today, Apple launched new MacBook Pro and Vision Pro models powered by the M5 chip.
For the new iPad Pro cellular models, the Qualcomm modem has been replaced with the Apple C1X modem. Apple says this offers up to 50 percent faster cellular speeds compared to the previous iPad Pro, while using up to 30% less power. The C1X previously featured in the iPhone Air.
All new iPad Pro models also take advantage of the Apple N1 chip, which handles WiFi, Bluetooth and Thread radio communications. This chip first debuted in the iPhone 17 lineup.
iPad Pro with M5 starts at the same $999 price for the 11-inch model, and the same $1299 price for the 13-inch model. Cellular variants cost $200 more, respectively.
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