While the rest of the world was waiting for the M5 iPad Pro earlier this month, I decided to buy an M4 iPad Pro, just days before Apple dropped its big M5 announcement, in fact. Yes, I knew the M5 iPad Pro 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 digging into what’s new on the new iPad Pro, I’ve concluded that going for the M5 isn’t the no-brainer it appears to be. In fact, I’m here to argue that buying the M4 version now could be the smarter move if you want to save some money. And if you already have an M4 iPad Pro, you shouldn’t worry about buying a new one.
For context, I replaced an M2 iPad Pro 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 exactly considering an upgrade, but I couldn’t pass up a good opportunity to upgrade.
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 difference in price. I could have waited a couple more weeks to buy the new M5 iPad Pro, but would that have made a huge difference? Not really – and here’s why.
The M4 iPad Pro is plenty fast for all sorts of tasks, including high-end gaming.
Foundry
Same design, same display, same iPad experience
In terms of design, if you compare both models side by side, you’ll have a hard time finding any differences. Except for the fact that the M5 version no longer has “iPad Pro” written on the back, the M5 iPad Pro has kept 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 M4 iPad Pro was the first to include a Tandem OLED display that reaches a peak brightness of up to 1600 nits when showing HDR content. It’s an incredible display, and I love it. Guess what? The M5 iPad Pro has the same panel as last year’s model.
The cameras on the iPad Pro M4 and M5 are also the same. You’ll get a 12MP wide-angle lens on the back and a 12MP ultra-wide camera with Center Stage on the front, no matter which iPad you choose. There was a rumor about the M5 version getting two front cameras for a better experience in different orientations, but it seems that Apple has scrapped that idea.
The M4 iPad has the same design as the M5, so it works with the same accessories.
Foundry
Since the design is the same, Apple hasn’t updated any of its accessories for the new M5 iPad Pro either. This means you can have the same experience with an M4 iPad Pro 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 older M2 iPad Pro. The improved angle adjustment, the more premium aluminum finish, and the function keys really make a difference. And I didn’t have to buy this year’s model to get all that.
What else is the same? Well, the same 10 hours of battery life, the same four built-in speakers (which are also quite good), and the same USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support.
What’s actually new with the M5 iPad Pro
Okay, so there has to be something new in this year’s iPad Pro, right?
The first and most obvious change is the chip. This year’s iPad Pro is one of the first Apple products to receive the M5 chip, and it comes with some intriguing improvements. Apple says the new GPU offers up to 45 percent more performance compared to the M4, while the M5 also has an improved Neural Engine to handle AI-based tasks.
The M5 iPad Pro is definitely faster than the M4 model, but most users won’t notice the difference.
Foundry
Based on our testing on the MacBook Pro, the M5 is indeed a massive boost on the graphics side. When it comes to the CPU, the M5 chip is only about 15 percent faster than the M4.
To be honest, my M2 iPad Pro already felt fast enough for pretty much everything, from basic tasks to occasional gaming. The M4 chip has made everything even snappier. I doubt most users would notice the performance difference between the M4 and M5 chips in their day-to-day use.
Another difference between the M4 and M5 iPad Pro 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 certainly make a difference if you plan to play AAA games or run local AI models on your iPad. But other than that, there aren’t many iPadOS apps that take advantage of such hardware. The M4 iPad Pro is still capable of handling everything without struggle.
Apple has also improved the connectivity of the new iPad Pro. This year’s models come with 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 runs on Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
Wi-Fi 7 is certainly a big step up from Wi-Fi 6E, offering much higher theoretical speeds. But if you don’t have a Wi-Fi 7 setup in your home (which is my case), it won’t make a difference for now. Also, there aren’t many Bluetooth 6-compatible accessories on the market yet.
Those who opt for the Cellular version of the M5 iPad Pro may notice a major upgrade, as Apple has put its own 5G modem (called C1X) in it. Again, we still have to wait for real-world testing, but Apple says the new modem supports speeds up to 50 percent faster on 5G, and it also uses less power.
Another minor difference is support for external monitors with a refresh rate of 120Hz. I currently have a Studio Display, which is limited to 60Hz, so that’s another thing I don’t have to worry about for now. Oh, and the new M5 iPad Pro supports fast charging to 50 percent in just 30 minutes, but it’s not like the charging speed of the M4 version bothers me.
The M4 iPad Pro’s display is identical to the M5 model.
Foundry
Why I’m sticking with the M4
As I use my M4 iPad Pro, I don’t feel the need for more performance than 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 M5 iPad Pro may be the best option for you.
Otherwise, if you already have an M4 iPad Pro or want to buy a new iPad without spending too much money, last year’s model is still a very solid option and enough for most people. I recommend looking for deals on Amazon or even buying a refurbished model.
Having the latest technologies is certainly tempting, but it’s worth considering whether you really need the latest and greatest devices.
Author: Filipe Esposito, Contributor
Filipe Espósito is a Brazilian journalist who has been covering tech for over 10 years, and has become known for publishing exclusive reports on Apple's plans – such as the launch of the first titanium Apple Watch. He has worked for 9to5Mac and also co-hosts the tech podcast “A Fonte” in Brazil.