The Pros and Cons of the iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025)

For users who already rely on the Apple ecosystem, the iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) is one of the best tablets to have! The Apple M5 chip gives it fast and efficient performance. Its large screen makes it suitable as a PC or laptop replacement for daily work.

Some reviewers even believe it can replace a MacBook. The iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) has quick FaceID sign-in, a smooth OLED display, and responsive touch controls. If you want to know more, here are the pros and cons.

Pros of the iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025)

The iPad Pro Series has always been Apple’s top tablet line. This year, Apple improves the performance again with a new chip. Below are some of its main highlights.

1. Fast Performance with the Apple M5

The iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) uses the new Apple M5 chip. It outperforms the Apple M4 used in the iPad Pro 13 (2024). The M5 still uses 3 nm technology that keeps power use efficient while delivering strong performance.

Apple applies the same two-version pattern for this chip. The 256 GB and 512 GB models come with a 9-core CPU. It has 3 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores. Both models use 12 GB RAM. The 1 TB and 2 TB versions come with a 10-core CPU. They have 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores. These versions also carry 16 GB RAM.

The M5 chip is known for its speed. The iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) handles complex tasks and gaming very well. Apple includes Neural Accelerators on the GPU, which speed up processing.

To show the difference between the M5 and the M4, The Tech Chap compared both. Using GeekBench 6, the Apple M4 reached 3773 for single core and 13530 for multi core. The M5 reached higher scores at 4157 for single core and 16373 for multi core.

Both chips support strong AI performance. On GeekBench AI (NPU through GPU), the Apple M4 reached 4998 for single precision, 36388 for half precision, and 51168 for quantized. The M5 performed better with 5283 for single precision, 41387 for half precision, and 57596 for quantized.

2. iOS 26 for PC or Laptop Style Multitasking

The iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) runs on iOS 26. One of the most discussed features is Liquid Glass, which debuted with the iPhone 17 Series. For the iPad, Apple adds a new multi-window system that lets you open and run several apps at the same time.

The multi-window setup feels more flexible. You can move app windows freely, resize them, or place them side by side for real multitasking.

iOS 26 also adds a Menu Bar to store and access apps more easily. Its look is similar to MacOS or Windows, but the layout feels more flexible and simple to adjust.

The iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) also supports Live Translations on AirPods Pro 3, Genmoji, and various Apple Intelligence shortcuts. This shows that Apple Intelligence is now more advanced and designed to assist daily activities more efficiently.

3. Supported by WiFi 7 and 5G Connectivity

The iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) provides complete connectivity. It supports WiFi 7 with very low latency for smoother performance. Apple also includes the Apple N1 wireless chip that keeps the connection stable. Bluetooth 6.0 is available as well and this is the latest version at the time of release.

The tablet also supports 5G. The 5G model costs slightly more, but the ability to stay connected almost anywhere makes it a strong option for people who rely on mobile data.

The slim frame includes a USB C port that supports the Thunderbolt 3 interface. The data transfer speed can reach 40 Gb per second. This speed is helpful when you need to send 3D renders, professional video files, large graphic assets, or any other heavy data without long waits.

4. Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro Support

The accessories for the iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) remain the same as the previous generation. This is good news because Apple keeps the device fully compatible with the Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard, and many third party accessories from older models.

This decision benefits users who already own accessories from the previous iPad Pro line. They do not need to buy new ones since high quality accessories often come at a premium price. Anyone who already has the Apple Pencil Pro or Magic Keyboard can use them immediately with the 2025 model.

The accessories from the iPad Pro 13 M4 (2024) are already considered excellent. The Magic Keyboard has a large trackpad and a sturdy aluminum frame. It also features haptic feedback, which feels unique for a tablet keyboard.

The Apple Pencil Pro supports text markup, note taking, and creative work. The squeeze gesture lets you change settings such as color, line thickness, or tool selection. A built-in gyro sensor improves brush control and helps artists draw with higher precision.

5. Stunning Tandem OLED Screen

The iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) keeps the excellent display quality from the previous generation. It uses an Ultra Retina XDR Tandem OLED panel that measures 13 inches with a resolution of 2064 x 2752 pixels.

A Tandem OLED panel uses two layers of organic material that produce light. Each layer works with low power input, so the device can reach high brightness levels while maintaining long term durability. This type of panel lasts longer than most standard OLED screens.

The screen can reach 1600 nits at peak brightness. It also has an anti-reflective coating that reduces glare and an oleophobic layer that keeps fingerprints away. The display feels comfortable to use outdoors even in bright light.

Several advanced display technologies support the overall quality. P3 wide color provides accurate and vibrant colors. True Tone adjusts the white balance based on surrounding light to create a natural look for the eyes.

The screen also feels smooth because it supports an adaptive refresh rate from 10 Hz to 120 Hz. Apple calls this ProMotion and it is the same feature used on the iPhone 17 Series.

6. Loud and Immersive Quad Speakers

The iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) delivers excellent audio quality for a tablet. It uses four speakers placed on both short sides of the body. The sound feels dynamic and creates an immersive experience when you watch movies or play games.

In portrait mode, the lower speakers focus on bass frequencies. The upper speakers handle higher frequencies to produce clearer sound. Apple doesn't mention official Dolby Atmos support for this model.

The audio input quality is also strong. The tablet has four microphones that capture stereo audio accurately in both portrait and landscape orientations.

These microphones support an audio zoom feature. When you zoom in while recording a video, the microphone focuses on the subject you enlarged. Background noise becomes softer, so the captured sound feels more directed.

7. Good Battery Life with Fast Charging

The iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) carries a 10290 mAh battery. This capacity feels impressive when you consider that the body is only 5.1 mm thick. The new chip also improves power efficiency, so the tablet can last longer.

Apple claims that the tablet can run for up to 10 hours for browsing and video playback on WiFi. The estimate becomes 9 hours when you use a 5G connection.

PCMag tested the battery life and found that the tablet stays on for 8 hours under the same conditions. This result sits below Apple’s claim but still performs better than the iPad Pro 13 M4 (2024), which lasted 7 hours.

The iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) also supports fast charging. Apple states that the battery can reach 50 percent in 30 minutes. A full charge takes about 1 hour and 19 minutes.

8. Premium, Thin, and Solid Design

The design of the iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) remains similar to the previous generation. It brings the same strengths and limitations found on the iPad Pro 13 M4 (2024).

The body is extremely thin at 5.1 mm. This is even slimmer than the iPhone Air, which measures 5.6 mm. The WiFi model weighs 579 grams and the 5G model weighs 582 grams.

Apple still uses aluminum for the rear panel. The flat edges improve grip and the rounded corners feel comfortable in the hand. The matte finish has a smooth texture that resists fingerprints. The body stays clean and keeps its premium appearance. Apple offers two colors, Silver and Cosmic Black.

Durability is one area where Apple still falls behind Samsung. The iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) does not have any water resistance certification. Samsung provides this protection on many of its tablets without a significant increase in price.

Cons of iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025)

Although the iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) has many strengths, there are a few points that may matter to some users. These can be useful to consider before you decide to buy it.

1. No Improvements in the Camera Section

The overall camera quality of the iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) remains good for a tablet. The front camera uses an ultrawide lens with a wide viewing angle. This makes video calls comfortable because the frame captures more space.

The front camera also features Center Stage. This feature keeps you in the center of the frame even when you move forward, step back, shift sideways, or share the frame with someone else.

The downside is the lack of progress. The camera configuration is still the same as the previous generation. The rear camera setup doesn't include an ultrawide lens. Older models such as the iPad Pro (2022) still had that option.

The rear camera system consists of a main camera and a depth sensor. The quality is good enough for a tablet, but it still cannot replace the flexibility and quality of a smartphone camera.

2. No Water Resistance

Apple still lags behind Samsung in this area. The iPad Pro 11 M5 (2025) doesn't have any water resistance certification. Samsung provides this protection on many of its tablets without a major increase in cost.

This means that users need to stay careful around water. Spilled drinks or light splashes may cause damage. Hopefully, Apple will improve this aspect in future models.

Conclusion

The iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) is the most advanced tablet Apple offers in 2025. The Apple M5 chip provides strong and efficient performance. iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence give it multitasking capability that feels close to a PC or laptop.

The screen feels premium. The speakers and microphones create an immersive experience. The battery life shows improvement and the charging speed is faster than before.

The price remains the main consideration. Its strong performance and premium features come at a cost, and the accessories are sold separately if you do not already own them. With all of that in mind, you can decide whether the iPad Pro 13 M5 (2025) still feels worth buying.