Does the M5-based iPad Pro change the tablet/laptop equation?

Apple unveiled its M5-based iPad Pro earlier this month, hard on the heels of the introduction in September of the much more Mac-like iPadOS 26. It’s a powerful hardware/software combination that makes the popular tablet a primary device for many users. 

For IT admins, it also raises a question: Is it finally time to consider replacing laptops with iPad Pro models?

The newest iPad Pro looks just like last year’s model, but offers useful under-the-hood changes such as more RAM, faster SSD speeds, quicker charging, and Wi-Fi 7 capabilities — all of which deliver distinct advantages over previous models. And, of course, it contains Apple’s new flagship processor, the M5. But its potential as a laptop replacement largely depends on big advances Apple made in its operating system. 

Let’s take the hardware and performance first. 

The M5 and other upgrades

The M5 represents a big upgrade from earlier Apple Silicon ships (though perhaps not as a dramatic change from the M4 model). But pure performance only matters to those who can use it. iPad Pro owners who  only use the iPad for web browsing or who rely mainly on cloud-based apps should see some modest improvements. But M5 really shines in its ability to run on-device generative AI (genAI) models and for graphics/video production.  

Today, most companies deploying large language models (LLMs) are doing so with third-party tools accessed via the internet. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, Llama and most other genAI tools don’t run on device; you submit data and/or queries and they deliver the results with the actual computing done in a remote data center. 

Models that run locally, such as Apple’s foundation models, are gaining ground in the market because they offer a major advantage for businesses: privacy and security. Your data remains on the device; it never interacts with something outside your knowledge or control. And to run those models you need powerful hardware.

That’s one reason the M5 in the iPad Pro stands out — it’s built to run resource-hungry genAI models. It also likely explains why Apple,  notoriously stingy when it comes to RAM, boosted the memory capacity of the lower-end iPad Pros to 12GB and of the higher-end models to 16GB. More RAM can only help run genAI tools on device.

Stepping back to see the larger picture, what Apple is doing — to use a hockey metaphor — is trying to skate to where the puck (genAI tools) will be (on-device) as opposed to where they are now (largely in the cloud). 

Another area where the new iPad Pro excels is as a powerful tool for designers and artists working with or rendering graphics. The higher-end versions (with storage of 1TB or 2TB) are particularly useful for visual arts as buyers can order their iPad Pros with nano-textured glass. The glass can reduce reflections and offers a more “paper-like” feel when drawing or sketching with the Apple Pencil. 

The processor isn’t the only new Apple chip — there’s also an N1 networking chip and a C1X modem (for cellular models), both designed by Apple. Initial reviews note that the inclusion of the N1 and its support for Wi-Fi 7 delivers network performance gains.

Where iPadOS 26 fits in

All these advances on the hardware side of the ledger also mean that iPadOS 26 can really shine, particularly when compared to older M1-based models. (I’m not going to get into the debate about whether the “Liquid Glass” look is a hit or miss. Some users like it; others loathe it.)

Apple has long tried to segregate the Mac and iPad markets and avoided anything that seemed like a hybrid of the two. The result was years of frustrations by tablet owners who felt like the iPad’s hardware was deliberately being held back from its potential. This year, Apple finally gave in; it delivered real multitasking and windowed app support as well as a vastly improved Files app (roughly akin to the Mac’s finder or Windows explorer). Those changes alone finally making the iPad a true laptop replacement. 

Being able multitask well requires serious computing power, which the M5 delivers in spades. While iPadOS 26 can run on a surprising swath of devices (including any iPad Pro or Air with an M series processor and even newer entry-level iPads/iPad minis), it’s clear that the added processing power makes for serious performance gains over an M1 iPad Pro. 

It’s worth noting that while some older models technically support iPadOS 26, there are multitasking limits around the number of apps that can run simultaneously. Those limitations underline that iPadOS 26 is a revolutionary release and is clearly designed for newer hardware. For practical purposes, the newest iPad Pro will give the best performance.

Transforming a tablet into a laptop

Any iPad, even these new Pro models, require additional hardware to become a potential laptop replacement. At the very least, a separate keyboard is an obvious requirement for real-world productivity. This could mean Apple’s Magic Keyboard or one of a variety of third party keyboard/case combinations. Beyond support for the Apple Pencil, iPadOS also has mouse and trackpad support, further blurring the line between tablet and laptop. 

Although not strictly necessary, a case (with or without built-in keyboard) is something that you’ll want to include for protection. 

Each of these add-ons, of course, adds to the cost of the iPad Pro, which isn’t exactly cheap to begin with ($999 for the 11-in. model.) Apple’s Magic Keyboard clocks in at $299 or $349 depending on size, and an Apple Pencil is either $79 or $129 (for the Apple Pencil Pro). Go for the top-end 2TB model, add in cellular and the nano-textured glass and you’re looking at a sticker price north of $2,599. That’s higher than most laptops (including the popular MacBook Air).

As usual, specific use cases and price will be deciding factors for many businesses. The new iPad Pro delivers on performance, is especially suited for designers and its AI credibility is without question — especially if you’re looking to build local (on-device) AI solutions. But all that comes at a cost. 

It will be interesting to watch how Apple rolls out future M5 upgrades and whether we’ll see it in the notably cheaper iPad Air. That would make the cost/benefit equation more workable, since iPad Air starts at $400 less than the cheapest iPad Pro. At that price point, it would be easier for corporate bean counters to consider an iPad as a primary device for employees. 

For now, however, the new iPad Pro is more likely to be a device bought for designers and executives than for the larger workforce. It has the chops now to replace laptops in the vast majority of circumstances, but at a cost that’s still likely to be higher than a Mac or PC.In Memoriam: Lucas Mearian, 1962-2025 – ComputerworldRead More