Apple has unveiled refreshed versions of its iPad Pro lineup, bringing both the 11-inch and 13-inch models up to speed with new chipsets and expanded memory options. This latest release maintains the familiar design and display technology, but updates much of what’s inside.
M5 Chip Debuts
The most significant change this year is the inclusion of the new M5 chip. This processor, which Apple[1] is also rolling out to the 14-inch MacBook Pro and Apple Vision Pro, features a 10-core CPU built with four performance cores and six efficiency cores. The chip’s new 10-core GPU includes dedicated neural accelerators for each core.
Memory bandwidth rises to 153GB/s, and Apple reports that ray tracing is now 1.5 times faster than the previous M4 chip. AI performance gets a major boost, up to 3.5 times higher than last year’s model. Video transcoding in Final Cut Pro is also faster, with the company citing a 1.2 times improvement.
The new processor brings improved external display support. Both iPad Pro models can now output at up to 120Hz to an external screen and support Adaptive Sync for compatible displays.
Apple has increased the memory for certain configurations. The 256GB and 512GB iPad Pro models now ship with 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB last year. Devices with 1TB or 2TB storage continue to offer 16GB of RAM. The new tablets also include the N1 wireless networking chip and C1X modem, both of which first appeared in this year’s iPhones.
Fast Charging Arrives
Charging is now quicker across the iPad Pro range. Apple says that with its 40W Dynamic Power Adapter, users can charge the 11-inch iPad Pro to 50% in 30 minutes. The 13-inch model reaches 50% in 35 minutes, provided a compatible charger is used. The fast-charging standard matches what is now offered with the iPhone 17 series.
Apart from these updates, the new iPad Pro models are nearly identical to last year’s devices, running the M4 chip. Apple continues to use the Tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR displays on both sizes. The rear camera remains a 12MP unit, while the front camera also stays at 12MP with Center Stage support. The four-speaker system and Thunderbolt/USB4 connectivity are unchanged.
Pricing and Availability
Apple is keeping prices steady for this release. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999, and the 13-inch version is priced from $1,299. Cellular models are available at $1,199 and $1,499, respectively.
References
- ^ Apple Mobiles Price in Pakistan (propakistani.pk)