I’m not holding my breath for the M5 iPad Pro, here’s why

In many respects, I’m a fan of iPads. When I’m working, I use my 11-inch, 2020 iPad Pro as a second screen — it lets me check notifications, control my music and lights, and respond to messages without having to switch away from writing tools on my laptop. Traveling, I’ll use my iPad as a compact laptop replacement, if mostly just for mid-flight entertainment. I started and finished all of the Apple TV+ show Masters of the Air during a trip back to Texas.

Apple is, of course, working on a next-generation iPad Pro, having just released an updated iPad Air and an 11th-generation base iPad. The update is rumored to center around an Apple M5 processor. That should, in theory, make me salivate as someone who’s overdue for an upgrade — but honestly, I don’t know if I’d buy one even with a sudden influx of cash.

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Here’s why you should use Stage Manager on your iPad instead of split-screen

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The perpetual problem with iPads

What is all this power for?

I hate to sound like a broken record, but it’s as true as ever that iPads are overpowered for most of the apps they’re running. Yes, you really should buy a recent Air or Pro if you expect to do video editing, 3D modeling, or complex audio production, but most people aren’t in those fields. If you’re just trying to browse the web, write, watch a movie, or play a 2D game like Stardew Valley, even the cheapest iPad is faster than you could possibly need. My 2020 Pro has an outdated A12Z processor — the 11th-gen iPad uses an A16 — and it still blazes through most apps.

In many respects, I’m a fan of iPads. When I’m working, I use my 11-inch, 2020 iPad Pro as a second screen — it lets me check notifications, control my music and lights, and respond to messages without having to switch away from writing tools on my laptop. Traveling, I’ll use my iPad as a compact laptop replacement, if mostly just for mid-flight entertainment. I started and finished all of the Apple TV+ show Masters of the Air during a trip back to Texas.

Apple is, of course, working on a next-generation iPad Pro, having just released an updated iPad Air and an 11th-generation base iPad. The update is rumored to center around an Apple M5 processor. That should, in theory, make me salivate as someone who’s overdue for an upgrade — but honestly, I don’t know if I’d buy one even with a sudden influx of cash.

Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)

The 13-inch iPad Pro packs its powerful M4 chip into a very thin, light, and portable design. It also offers a brighter, more vibrant OLED screen display.

Brand

Apple

Storage

256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB

CPU

M4

Operating System

Apple iPadOS

Battery

38.99-watt-hour battery. Up to 10 hours of surfing the web using Wi-Fi.

Display type

Ultra Retina XDR display (OLED)

Expand

Related

Here’s why you should use Stage Manager on your iPad instead of split-screen

Your iPad can feel a lot more like a Mac if you embrace Stage Manager.

The perpetual problem with iPads

What is all this power for?

I hate to sound like a broken record, but it’s as true as ever that iPads are overpowered for most of the apps they’re running. Yes, you really should buy a recent Air or Pro if you expect to do video editing, 3D modeling, or complex audio production, but most people aren’t in those fields. If you’re just trying to browse the web, write, watch a movie, or play a 2D game like Stardew Valley,