iPad Pro M5 (2025) release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades

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iPad Pro M5 (2025) release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades

iPad Pro M4 (2024). | Image credit – PhoneArena

What we know so far

Apple is expected to launch the next-gen iPad Pro later this year – likely in the fall – and it is shaping up to be a serious powerhouse. This will be the eighth generation of the Pro model and all signs point to it being even more capable than the current iPad Pro M4 (2024). The big reason? A new chip.Apple is likely gearing up to debut the next-gen M5 chipset in the upcoming iPad Pro. The M5 should deliver a boost in both speed and efficiency. Every chip jump so far has made a difference and the M5 is expected to keep that momentum going, pushing performance and battery life to the next level.

Design-wise, don’t expect anything major this time. Apple already gave the iPad Pro a serious redesign with its 2024 model, so it is unlikely we will see another major shakeup just a year later. This means the new iPad Pro will probably stick with that super slim form factor, OLED displays in two sizes, a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1000 nits of brightness.

As for pricing, that is still a mystery for now – especially with the looming threat of higher tariffs on imports. So we will have to wait and see how that plays out.

iPad Pro M5 release date

The iPad Pro M5 is expected to land later in 2025 – likely in late summer or fall.

Reportedly, the new models have already reached an advanced testing phase and mass production is set to kick off in the second half of the year. If all goes according to plan, Apple could unveil the next-gen iPad Pro lineup around October.

That would line up nicely with the launch timeline of previous models like the 2018 and 2022 versions. However, the most recent iPad Pro models dropped in May 2024, so you never know with Apple and what the company could decide.

Want to see how past releases stack up? Check out the full timeline in the table below.

Device family	Announcement	Market release
Apple iPad Pro (5th generation)	April 20, 2021	May 21, 2021
Apple iPad Pro 2022 (6th generation)	October 18, 2022	October 26, 2022
Apple iPad Pro M4 (2024)	May 7, 2024	May 15, 2024
Apple iPad Pro M5 (2025)	October, 2025*	October, 2025*

* – probable dates

iPad Pro M5 price

There is no doubt the iPad Pro M5 will come with different price tags depending on the configuration you choose. But whether those prices will stay the same or climb higher? That is still up in the air.

The current model already saw a slight price bump, so another hike this year didn’t seem likely – at least not at first. But with the new tariffs introduced by the Trump administration, a price increase could still be on the table. Exactly how much? No one knows yet, so for now, it is too early to make any solid predictions.

iPad model	128GB of storage	256GB of storage	512GB of storage	1TB of storage	2TB of storage
11-inch iPad Pro 2022 (6th generation)	$799	$899	$1099	$1499	$1899
12.9-inch iPad Pro 2022 (6th generation)	$1099	$1199	$1399	$1799	$2199
11-inch iPad Pro M4 (2024)	–	$1000	$1200	$1600	$2000
13-inch iPad Pro M4 (2024)	–	$1300	$1500	$1900	$2300
11-inch iPad Pro M5 (2025)	–	$1000*	$1200*	$1600*	$2000*
13-inch iPad Pro M5 (2025)	–	$1300*	$1500*	$1900*	$2300*

*– anticipated prices

If you are going for the Wi-Fi + Cellular version, expect to tack on around $200 more to the prices mentioned above.

iPad Pro M5 camera

The next model will probably have the same camera setup as the current one. | Image credit – PhoneArena

For now, there aren’t any signs of changes to the camera setup, so the iPad Pro M5 is expected to keep the same cameras as the current model. Apple moved the selfie camera to the center with the iPad Pro M4 (2024) and that position will likely stick around.

The ultra-wide lens was dropped with the 2024 model and chances are it won’t be making a return this time either. So, the upcoming model will probably have only one 12 MP main camera and the same front facing one.

That said, the chip inside should still let you shoot 4K video at 24, 25, 30, or 60 FPS, plus ProRes video at 4K 30 FPS – if you are into doing all that with a 12 MP tablet camera, of course.

iPad Pro M5 expected camera setup:

12 MP main camera
12 MP selfie camera

iPad Pro M5 storage

With the last model, Apple dropped the entry-level 128GB option and don’t count on it coming back. In 2025, for a device that starts around $1,000, that kind of base storage just doesn’t cut it anymore.

That said, we are not expecting any changes in storage tiers either, so you will likely be choosing from the same four configurations again.

11-inch iPad Pro M5 expected storage capacity:

13-inch iPad Pro M5 expected storage capacity:

iPad Pro M5 design

Last year was a huge one for the iPad Pro, with its first-ever OLED display, a thinner and lighter design, the M4 chip, support for the new Apple Pencil Pro and more. This year, however, it is expected to be a more modest update, with the M5 chip likely being the only major change.So, we will likely see the same ultra-thin build, with the 11-inch model staying at just 5.1mm thin, and the larger 13-inch model around 5.3mm thin. That makes it the thinnest Apple device to date. While the upcoming iPhone 17 Air might try to take that title later this year, for now, the iPad Pro holds it and the next model should be just as slim.

The new Pro model will likely come in two sizes – 11-inch and 13-inch – available in Silver and Space Gray, at the very least.

iPad Pro M5 display

iPad Pro M5 should be available in a 11-inch and a 13-inch variant. | Image credit – PhoneArena

Just like the current iPad Pro, the upcoming M5 model is expected to pack the Ultra Retina XDR display, pushing the boundaries of what is possible on a tablet screen.

Thanks to Tandem OLED tech, the display packs two OLED layers stacked together, delivering 1,600 nits of brightness for HDR content. This makes the colors more accurate and the image quality sharp, giving you a totally immersive viewing experience.

Apple also added a nano-textured glass option last year for those who need to work in bright environments. It is only available on the 1TB and 2TB models for an extra $100, but it seriously reduces glare, making it a game-changer for anyone needing clear visuals in any lighting.

Pair all of this with the ProMotion technology that offers a fluid 120Hz refresh rate, and you’ve got a tablet that is not just easy on the eyes but also impressively smooth in performance.

iPad Pro M5 battery

Apple tends to keep battery details under wraps, so we don’t usually get exact numbers for battery sizes or charging speeds.

Still, looking at past models and their power specs, we can make some educated guesses about what is in store for the upcoming Pro models. For example, the 11-inch iPad Pro is likely to feature an 8,300mAh battery, while the 13-inch version might come with a larger 10,340mAh battery.

As for charging speeds, we are probably looking at the same range as before – between 20W and 30W. Don’t expect massive leaps in charging speed, meaning it might still take a bit longer to juice up the new models.

iPad Pro M5 features and software

The new iPad Pro models are expected to ship with either iPadOS 18 or iPadOS 19, depending on their release date. Apple typically provides updates for at least five years, so the iPad Pro M5 will likely get updates all the way to iPadOS 23 or iPadOS 24.

With Apple putting a strong emphasis on its AI features under the Apple Intelligence umbrella, you can expect these advancements to make their way into the upcoming iPad Pro as well. This means you can look forward to AI-driven features like:

AI-assisted writing and drawing with the Apple Pencil
Image Playground to generate images directly in apps
Generative photo editing (like Magic Eraser)
Image and emoji creation (Genmoji)
Audio recording transcription
A revamped iPad Calculator that integrates with Notes, turning numbers and formulas into dynamic, editable graphics in real-time
The ability to compose and modify the tone of emails or messages
Auto-generated replies to messages
AI-powered summarized notifications
Smarter Siri, capable of grasping deeper context and providing more complex answers and solutions (if Apple even rolls out Siri before the new models’ debut)
ChatGPT integration, in case Siri falls short of answering your questions

iPad Pro M5 hardware and specs

As mentioned before, the next-gen iPad Pro is set to feature the M5 chipset.

While the M5 will offer some improvements over the M4, don’t expect it to be a game-changing leap. The M4 is already a powerhouse, so the M5 will refine things further rather than overhaul the performance. Like its predecessors, the M5 might be built using TSMC’s 3nm process instead of jumping to the more advanced 2nm technology.

To put it simply, the “nm” (nanometer) size of a chip indicates how small the parts inside are. A lower number generally means better performance and power efficiency. But even though the M5 won’t be using the latest 2nm tech, Apple is still stacking more circuit layers to boost efficiency. This means the M5 should still offer better performance while consuming less power, even if the nanometer size doesn’t change dramatically.

The current iPad Pro model is already fast, smooth and ultra-responsive, and we can expect the same with the M5 version. When it comes to performance, the current iPad Pro tops its competition and with the M5 chipset, the next model is set to keep that streak going strong.

The current iPad Pro M4 (2024) tops its main rivals in performance benchmarks. | Image credit – PhoneArena

Should I wait for the iPad Pro M5?

You should wait for the iPad Pro M5 if you want the latest and greatest by Apple. If you are rocking an older iPad Pro or iPad Air and you are thinking about upgrading, but you are not in a rush, this might be the perfect choice for you. The iPad Pro is an awesome digital companion for a variety of tasks – whether you are into drawing, writing, video calls, binge-watching YouTube and Netflix, or even tackling light audio/video projects. Plus, iPads are known for their durability, so even though they come with a hefty price tag, it is more of a one-time investment that can last you at least five years, and maybe even longer.

You should not wait for the iPad Pro M5 if you are rocking last year’s M4-powered iPad Pro. Or even the M1 version if you are a light user and just need it for basic stuff and no heavy tasks. While the new model will bring even better performance, those older versions are still more than capable. Also, if you are thinking about using it for a digital nomad lifestyle, just remember that iPadOS still leans toward a “one app at a time” setup. So, in terms of functionality, iPads still aren’t quite ready to replace laptops just yet.

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