When the M5 iPad Pro was announced, I was excited. I had been looking for a reason to upgrade my M2 iPad Pro, and with promises of improved performance for artificial intelligence—which will only become more integrated into future products—it seemed like a worthy upgrade.
My current iPad was still running well, but with the M5 chip and the improvements already made in the M4 model’s design, screen, and performance, I thought the upgrade would be justified. After using the M5 iPad Pro for a while, however, I’ve realized I should have stuck with my previous iPad and saved the money.
I had to buy all new accessories
With my previous iPad, Iused it with the floating Magic Keyboard and thesecond-generation Apple Pencil. I also had other accessories, like a third-party magnetic case and stand, which I switched between depending on the work I was doing.
Apple Pencil 2
- Compatibility
- iPad Air (4th generation), iPad Air (5th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad mini (6th generation)
- Color
- White
- Weight
- 0.73 Ounces
The Apple Pencil 2 offers enhanced improvements over the Apple Pencil 1, including improved latency and an all-new flatter side that makes it easier to grip.
Apple Magic Keyboard Case
- Num Pad
- No
- Replaceable Keys
- No
If you want to turn your iPad Pro into a laptop, you can't do better than Apple's own Magic Keyboard case. It's hard to beat with a best-in-class typing experience, gesture trackpad, and USB-C passthrough.
When I got my new iPad, however, none of these accessories were compatible. That meant I had to spend extra money on new accessories, in addition to the cost of the iPad itself.
So with my purchase, I had to buy the next-generation Magic Keyboard, which set me back $299, andthe Apple Pencil Pro, which cost me an additional $129.
Apple Pencil Pro
- Weight
- 0.68 Ounces
- Compatibility
- DevicesiPad Air 11-inch (M2 and M3), iPad Air 11-inch (M2), iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and M3), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), iPad Pro 13-inch (M4), iPad mini (A17 Pro)iPad Air 11-inch (M2 and M3), iPad Air 11-inch (M2), iPad Air 13-inch (M2 and M3), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), iPad Pro 13-inch (M4), iPad mini (A17 Pro)
The Apple Pencil Pro is hands down the best stylus for the iPad Pro. It offers a slew of extra features compared to the regular Apple Pencil, which can be game-changers for artists, it looks nice, and it's got a solid battery life.
Fortunately, I was able to get a refurbished Magic Keyboard for over $100 less and theApple Pencil Pro on discount at Walmart, and there arestudent discount options available. Even so, I still had to spend extra money since the previous-generation accessories were not compatible.
The previous-generation accessories aren’t compatible due to changes in the iPad’s physical and internal design. The new camera arrangement and the thinner body required a rearrangement of internal components, which led to a new charging setup for the Apple Pencil and repositioned magnets for the keyboardto align with the slimmer design.
When I upgraded my A12Z iPad Proto the M2 version, the accessories were compatible, so I could simply transfer them from one iPad to the other. That wasn’t the case this time, making this upgrade more expensive than previous ones.
The performance difference is not that noticeable
Even though the chip inside is three generations newer than the one in my previous iPad, I’m not seeing much difference in my device's speed. It does run a bit faster, but nothing groundbreaking that I have noticed with how I use the device.
I use my iPadfor reading online content, browsing social media,playing games on Apple Arcade, and typing up articles—just to name a few tasks. Since these are simpler tasks on the device, I am not using the chip to its full capacity.
Now, for peoplewho are video editors,graphic designers, or who use a lot of internal power in their tasks, they'll most likely see a considerable difference between the M2 and the M5. Still, for the above-average user like me, I don’t.
While this isn’t a significant strike against the new iPad Pro, it does highlight that with M-series chips, upgrades don’t need to happen as often. And if you’re only using your iPad for basic tasks, an older model or one of the more affordableoptions in the lineup will serve you just fine.
Multiple camera changes
One of the most noticeable changes to the iPad Pro, starting with the M4 model, is the front-facing camera’s move to the landscape edge for easier video call capture. When the iPad is in landscape orientation, the camera now centers on you rather than capturing you from the left.
iPad Pro (M4)
- Storage
- 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
- CPU
- M4 chip
The new camera position is a learning curve when holding the iPad in portrait orientation. Its new placement is precisely where I rest my finger when holding the device to read articles or scroll through social media.
More often than not, when doing those tasks, I end up placing my finger directly on the camera lens. That leaves smudges and fingerprints, which means I’m constantly wiping it clean.
I personally did not have an issue with the original camera placement,especially when Center Stage is enabled, but the movement makes sense. However, it took me some time to adjust my finger placement when holding my iPad to read.
Additionally, Apple has removed the ultrawide camera on the back of the iPad Pro, bringing the rear camera design from two lenses to one. Even though it appears there are still two lenses on the back, the lower circle isactually a LiDAR scanner that measures the distance to surrounding objects.
While not many people used the ultrawide camera, I did, especially when taking weird photos of my pets when I didn’t have my iPhone with me. This may also be a blow to people whotake pictures and videos on their iPads, since it limits the flexibility they have in framing shots.
The thinner design is nice, but when it comes at the cost of features, the trade-off doesn’t always feel worth it. Losing the ultrawide camera isn’t a dealbreaker for many, but it does feel like a small step backward for a product that’s still meant for pro-level tasks and use cases.
The iPad Pro M5 is not for me
The M5 iPad Pro is far from a bad device; it’s just not tailored to a user like me. It’s built for people who handle heavy, power-intensive tasks, whether that’s video editing, audio mixing, or anything in between.
When I pictured myself with the new iPad Pro, I didn’t initially realize how expensive the upgrade would be. Yes, I got creditfor trading in my old iPad, but that amount drops every upgrade cycle, which was another reason I made the switch when I did.
Looking back, I wasn’t just upgrading my iPad; I was upgrading my whole workstation, which is not cheap. Plus, I had to figure out what to do with my old accessories, since you cannot trade them in.
Unfortunately, I’m well past the return window and already traded in my previous iPad, so there’s no going back. That doesn’t mean I’m unhappy with the device. It’s still a solid tablet and does everything I need it to do, but looking back, the upgrade wasn’t really worth it, and I would’ve been just as satisfied with my M2 iPad Pro.
