I just bought an M4 iPad Pro. Here’s why I’m not tempted by the M5

While the rest of the world was waiting for the iPad Pro M5 earlier this month, I decided to buy an iPad Pro M4, just days before Apple dropped its big M5 announcement, in fact. Yes, I knew the iPad Pro M5 was imminent. But the deal I got on the previous generation model was compelling enough that I didn’t hesitate.

When the M5 model arrived last week, I was still within my return window. However, after exploring what’s new in the new iPad Pro, I concluded that choosing the M5 was not an obvious choice. In fact, I’m here to argue that buying the M4 version now might be the smarter move if you want to save money. And if you already own an M4 iPad Pro, you shouldn’t worry about buying a new one.

For context, I replaced an iPad Pro M2 with 128GB of storage, which was more than enough for what I do with my iPad (usually watching videos, browsing the web, and writing articles). I wasn’t really considering an upgrade, but I couldn’t pass up a good upgrade opportunity.

I found a good deal on the entry-level M4 iPad Pro with 256GB of storage, so I sold my old iPad and bought the M4 for a small price difference. I could have waited a few more weeks to buy the new M5 iPad Pro, but would that have made a huge difference? Not really – and here’s why.

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Same design, same screen, same iPad experience

Design-wise, if you compare the two models side by side, you will be hard-pressed to find any differences. Aside from the fact that the M5 version no longer has “iPad Pro” written on the back, the M5 iPad Pro has retained the same ultra-thin design introduced with last year’s M4 model.

Both versions have exactly the same dimensions, weight and thickness. But those aren’t the only things they have in common.

The iPad Pro M4 was the first to include a Tandem OLED display that reaches peak brightness of up to 1,600 nits when displaying HDR content. It’s an incredible show and I love it. Guess what? The iPad Pro M5 has the same panel as last year’s model.

The cameras of the iPad Pro M4 and M5 are also the same. You’ll get a 12 MP wide-angle lens on the back and a 12 MP ultra-wide camera with Center Stage on the front, no matter which iPad you choose. There was a rumor that the M5 version would receive dual front cameras for a better experience in different orientations, but it seems Apple has abandoned that idea.

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Since the design is the same, Apple has not updated any of its accessories for the new iPad Pro M5. This means you can get the same experience with an iPad Pro M4 by pairing it with the same Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro.

In fact, the Magic Keyboard was one of the reasons I considered upgrading from the old M2 iPad Pro. The improved angle adjustment, premium aluminum finish and function keys really make a difference. And I didn’t need to buy this year’s model to get all of this.

What else is the same? Well, the same 10 hours of battery life, the same four built-in speakers (which are also pretty good), and the same USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support.

What’s new with the iPad Pro M5

Okay, so there must be something new in this year’s iPad Pro, right?

The first and most obvious change concerns the chip. This year’s iPad Pro is one of the first Apple products to receive the M5 chip, and it has some interesting improvements. Apple says the new GPU offers up to 45% more performance compared to the M4, while the M5 also has an improved neural engine to handle AI-based tasks.

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Based on our testing of the MacBook Pro, the M5 is indeed a huge boost on the graphics side. As for the processor, the M5 chip is only about 15% faster than the M4.

To be honest, my iPad Pro M2 already seemed fast enough for just about everything, from basic tasks to casual gaming. The M4 chip made everything even snappier. I doubt most users will notice the performance difference between the M4 and M5 chips in their daily use.

Another difference between the iPad Pro M4 and M5 is that this year’s models start with 12GB of RAM and go up to 16GB of RAM in the 1TB and 2TB storage versions. Previously, the 256GB and 512GB models only had 8GB of RAM.

These improvements will definitely make a difference if you plan to play AAA games or run local AI models on your iPad. But other than that, few iPadOS apps take advantage of such hardware. The iPad Pro M4 is still able to handle everything without difficulty.

Apple has also improved the connectivity of the new iPad Pro. This year’s models feature the Apple-designed N1 chip introduced with the iPhone 17 models. The chip enables Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, while last year’s iPad still works on Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

Wi-Fi 7 is certainly a major step forward from Wi-Fi 6E, offering much higher theoretical speeds. But if you don’t have a Wi-Fi 7 setup at home (which I do), it won’t make any difference for now. Additionally, there aren’t many Bluetooth 6 compatible accessories on the market yet.

Those who opt for the cellular version of the iPad Pro M5 may notice a major upgrade, as Apple has installed its own 5G modem (called C1X) there. Again, we still have to wait for real-world testing, but Apple says the new modem supports up to 50% faster speeds on 5G and it also uses less power.

Another minor difference is support for external monitors with a 120Hz refresh rate. I currently have a Studio Display, limited to 60Hz, so that’s another thing I don’t have to worry about right now. Oh, and the new M5 iPad Pro supports fast charging to 50% in just 30 minutes, but it’s not like the M4 version’s charging speed bothers me.

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Why I stick to the M4

When using my iPad Pro M4, I don’t feel the need for more performance than what it already offers. That alone makes me feel more comfortable about not being tempted by the M5 model. And since both models have the same design and accessories, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything.

If you plan to use your iPad to run heavy generative AI workloads, constant 3D rendering, or play console-level games like Resident Evil 4, the new iPad Pro M5 may be the best option for you.

Otherwise, if you already own an iPad Pro M4 or want to buy a new iPad without spending too much money, last year’s model is still a very solid and sufficient option for most people. I recommend looking for deals on Amazon or even purchasing a refurbished model.

Having the latest technology is certainly tempting, but it’s worth asking yourself if you really need the latest and greatest devices.