Apple iPad Pro 13" M5 Space Black 2025

The iPad Pro M5 is the fastest tablet we've ever tested, with a display that's genuinely best-in-class. The 13-inch OLED screen hits 1600 nits and 120Hz, making it perfect for creative work and media. Battery life is excellent, and the M5 chip delivers laptop-level performance. Prices range from $1,000 to $2,458, so shop around. If you're on an older iPad, this is a massive upgrade. If you bought last year's model, you can sit this one out.

The M5 chip is a monster. Our benchmark data puts the CPU and GPU both in the 97th percentile among all tablets. That means this thing trades blows with full-blown laptops, not just other slates. The 10-core CPU handles video exports, 3D rendering, and multitasking without breaking a sweat. The 16GB of RAM is a bit more modest relative to the field at the 88th percentile, but for iPadOS it's plenty. You can run multiple pro apps side by side, keep dozens of Safari tabs open, and jump into a demanding game without a hiccup.

Real-world implications? The 1TB SSD means you're not constantly juggling files, and the storage speed is top-tier. The GPU performance means games like Genshin Impact or Divinity: Original Sin 2 run at high frame rates with the display's 120Hz ProMotion making everything feel silky. The Neural Accelerators handle on-device AI tasks quickly, which matters more as Apple Intelligence features roll out. For most buyers, this is more power than you'll ever need, and that's kind of the point. It's future-proofed to a degree that's almost comical.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is the closest Android competitor, with a 14.6-inch display that's actually bigger than the iPad's 13-inch panel. Samsung's AMOLED screens are gorgeous, and the S Pen comes included, which Apple doesn't do. But the M5 chip runs circles around Qualcomm's best in sustained performance, and iPadOS has a much deeper library of pro apps. The Surface Pro 11 from Microsoft is the real wildcard. It runs full Windows 11, which means real desktop apps like Photoshop and Visual Studio. But it's heavier, the battery doesn't last as long, and the display, while good, doesn't match the iPad's OLED.

The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus and Xiaomi Pad 7 are both solid mid-range options that cost significantly less. The Xiaomi Pad 7 in particular offers a great display and decent performance for a fraction of the price. But neither comes close to the iPad Pro's build quality, speaker system, or long-term software support. Apple's five-plus years of iPadOS updates mean this thing will stay relevant long after the Android tablets stop getting updates. The VekfulPC T60 Pro is a budget option that's not even in the same conversation.

Here's where things get interesting. The price spread across US vendors is huge. We're seeing listings from $1,000 all the way up to $2,458. That's a $1,458 gap for what is essentially the same core product, though storage, cellular, and nano-texture glass options account for some of that. The best deal in our database comes from Newegg, where refurbished 1TB Wi-Fi + LTE models are listed at the lower end of that range. If you're willing to go refurbished, you can save a serious chunk of change.

At $1,000, this is a compelling buy. At $2,458, you're paying a premium for the top configuration with AppleCare+ bundled in. The 1TB storage is generous, but most people don't need that much space on a tablet. The Wi-Fi-only 1TB model without nano-texture glass is the sweet spot for most buyers. You get the same M5 performance and display without the cellular markup. And honestly, the nano-texture glass is nice for glare, but it's not worth the premium unless you work outdoors constantly.

The iPad Pro M5 is Apple doing what Apple does best: taking a product that was already absurdly fast and making it faster. The 13-inch model we're looking at packs the new M5 chip with a 10-core CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. That's laptop-grade hardware in a tablet that weighs 582 grams. The Ultra Retina XDR OLED display hits 1600 nits of peak brightness with a 120Hz refresh rate, and it's the single best screen we've ever measured on a tablet. Full stop.

Who's this for? Honestly, it's for people who want a tablet that can replace a laptop for creative work, students who need something light with all-day battery, and anyone who just wants the best screen money can buy for reading, watching, and drawing. The Apple Pencil Pro support and Magic Keyboard connector mean this thing can morph from a sketchpad to a workstation in seconds. And with Wi-Fi 7 plus 5G cellular, you're connected pretty much anywhere.

But here's the thing. The previous iPad Pro was already overkill for most people. The M5 makes this the fastest tablet we've tested, but the real story is the display and the battery. Apple claims all-day battery, and our data backs that up. The 39Wh battery ranks in the 98th percentile among tablets. That's not just good, it's one of the best on the market. If you're coming from an older iPad, this is a massive leap. If you bought last year's model, well, we'll get to that.

If you bought an iPad Pro in the last two years, skip this. The M4 model was already excellent, and the M5 improvements, while real, aren't transformative for everyday use. The lack of a headphone jack is a persistent annoyance for anyone with wired headphones. And if you need to run full desktop software, the Surface Pro 11 is still the better choice. The iPad Pro is the best tablet on the market, but it's still a tablet, and iPadOS has limits that no amount of silicon can fix.

Also skip this if you're on a tight budget. The Xiaomi Pad 7 offers a great display and solid performance for a fraction of the price. The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is another solid mid-range option. You won't get the M5's raw power or Apple's ecosystem, but you'll save hundreds of dollars. And if you're an Android user who's happy with your phone, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra integrates more seamlessly with your existing setup.

If you're coming from an iPad that's three or more years old, this is a no-brainer upgrade. The display alone is worth it. The M5 chip means you won't need to think about performance for years. And the battery life means you can actually leave the charger at home. Creative professionals who use the Apple Pencil daily will notice the lower latency and improved palm rejection immediately. Students who want a single device for notes, reading, and media will find this handles everything without breaking a sweat.

But if you bought an iPad Pro in the last two years, skip this. The M4 model was already excellent, and the M5 improvements, while real, aren't transformative for everyday use. The lack of a headphone jack is a persistent annoyance for anyone with wired headphones. And if you need to run full desktop software, the Surface Pro 11 is still the better choice. The iPad Pro is the best tablet on the market, but it's still a tablet, and iPadOS has limits that no amount of silicon can fix.