iPad Pro M5 vs iPad Pro M1: Comparing Key Specs & Changes

Apple’s iPad Pro M5 represents a major leap from the M1 iPad Pro, both in terms of design and performance. When the M1 launched in 2021, it set a new standard for tablets by introducing Apple’s desktop-grade silicon to the iPad. Now, the M5 builds on that foundation with a thinner design, OLED display, and on-device Apple Intelligence support powered by iPadOS 26.

If you’re using an M1 iPad Pro, in this comparison, I’ll help you understand exactly what’s changed and whether upgrading to the M5 makes sense for your workflow.

Apple iPad Pro M5 vs iPad Pro M1: Comparing the new ship with an old boat

Specs & Features Comparison

Here’s a direct look at how the M5 compares with the M1 in real specifications and day-to-day capability:

Design and Build

Apple has completely refined the hardware in the M5 iPad Pro. The new model is the thinnest device Apple has ever made — measuring only 5.3 mm for the 11-inch and 5.1 mm for the 13-inch version. Despite the reduced thickness, it feels sturdy thanks to a reinforced aluminum frame and internal structure. The bezels are smaller, and the overall device is lighter, making it easier to hold during long sessions.

By comparison, the M1 iPad Pro was slightly bulkier — 5.9 mm thick for the 11-inch and 6.4 mm for the 12.9-inch. It still has a premium, durable build, but the newer M5 is noticeably slimmer and more balanced. Both retain features like Face ID, quad speakers, and USB-C with Thunderbolt, but the M5’s upgraded Thunderbolt 4 connection supports faster external devices.

The new Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard (2025) also bring improvements like haptic feedback and a larger trackpad, both exclusive to the M5 model.

Display

The iPad Pro M5’s Ultra Retina XDR display is its most striking upgrade. Apple switched from mini-LED to Tandem OLED, layering two OLED panels to achieve extreme brightness and contrast precision. This allows 1,000 nits sustained brightness and 1,600 nits peak HDR, producing a more immersive, color-accurate experience with true blacks and finer shadow detail.

The M1’s Liquid Retina XDR display (on the 12.9-inch version) is still great, offering high brightness and accurate colors, but its backlighting zones can’t match OLED’s per-pixel contrast. The 11-inch M1 model used an LCD panel, so upgrading to the M5’s OLED display brings a much larger visual jump.

For designers, video editors, and photographers, the M5’s panel offers finer HDR precision and color consistency, making it ideal for professional workflows.

Performance

Apple’s M5 chip outpaces the M1 by a wide margin. Built on a 3-nanometer process, it delivers much faster CPU performance and a major leap in graphics power thanks to hardware-accelerated ray tracing and improved memory bandwidth.

The M5’s Neural Engine is also redesigned — capable of running complex AI models directly on the device. This means features like Apple Intelligence (text rewriting, summarization, image generation, and enhanced Siri) run locally, privately, and instantly.

The M1, while still powerful, starts to show its age with newer, AI-driven workflows. It performs well in creative apps like Procreate and Affinity Photo, but lacks the dedicated hardware to handle AI tasks natively. For multitasking and advanced creative work, the M5 is significantly faster and more efficient.

Battery and Charging

Both models offer around 10 hours of mixed-use battery life, but the M5’s efficiency is noticeably better in high-performance scenarios. The 3nm chip consumes less power when running CPU- or GPU-intensive tasks, maintaining consistent output without heating or throttling.

Charging remains via USB-C, though the M5 supports Thunderbolt 4, allowing faster data transfers and external display support — an advantage for professional users who use external SSDs or 6K monitors.

Cameras and Audio

Apple made subtle yet useful improvements here. The front camera on the M5 iPad Pro is now centered on the landscape edge, fixing one of the most requested user complaints. It still supports Center Stage for dynamic framing during video calls.

Audio also benefits from refined tuning. The M5’s quad-speaker setup offers better stereo separation and deeper sound, while microphones capture cleaner input with studio-quality clarity. The rear camera setup remains the same (12 MP wide with LiDAR), but image processing is slightly improved.

Software and AI

The iPad Pro M5 ships with iPadOS 26, featuring Apple Intelligence, Apple’s system-wide AI platform. These new features — like text rewriting, summarization, and image generation — run directly on the M5’s Neural Engine, meaning they’re fast, secure, and don’t require an internet connection.

The M1 iPad Pro, while still running the latest iPadOS versions, lacks the hardware power for Apple Intelligence. It can handle standard productivity and creative tasks well, but it’s not built for on-device AI operations or next-generation machine learning tools.

Price and Value

In the United States, pricing reflects the technological gap.

• iPad Pro M5: Starts at $999 (11-inch) and $1,299 (13-inch)
  
• iPad Pro M1: Starts at $799 (11-inch) and $1,099 (12.9-inch) (not available from official channels anymore)

The M1 remains a strong option for users who want high performance at a lower cost, while the M5 is clearly positioned as the future-proof choice for professionals. For a deeper dive into how the iPad Pro M5 compares to the iPad Pro M4, this breakdown offers additional insights.

Buying Advice

• Buy the iPad Pro M5 if you want the best performance, OLED display, and full Apple Intelligence support. It’s ideal for creative pros, video editors, and users who plan to keep their iPad for years.
  
• Stick with or buy the iPad Pro M1 if your workflow involves note-taking, streaming, light editing, or productivity apps. It still offers fast performance and premium quality for much less money.
  
• For students or general users, the M1 remains more than enough. For professionals, the M5’s AI integration, better display, and faster architecture make it the smarter investment.
  

Conclusion

The iPad Pro M5 is a massive step up from the M1. It’s thinner, more efficient, and far more advanced in terms of display and AI capability. For users in creative or technical fields, or those who want to be ready for the future of Apple Intelligence, the M5 is an easy recommendation.

However, the M1 iPad Pro hasn’t lost its relevance. It remains powerful, well-built, and capable of handling demanding apps even today. For users who don’t need OLED visuals or AI integration, the M1 still offers excellent value.

In short, the M5 is the future, while the M1 remains a smart, reliable choice for most current users. For context about where both fit in the broader iPad lineup, also check out MacObserver’s full list of all iPad generations.