The iPad Pro has been the flagship of tablet technology at Apple. Since the iPad Pro with the M4 chip launched in 2024 and the iPad M5 chip in 2025, a question is beginning to be asked in the simplest yet crucial way by many users.
This paper will give a full and explicit comparison of the two iPad Pro models. It details performance, display, battery life, design, software, connectivity, accessories, and value overall. The idea is to make you grasp all that with no confusion and superfluous information.
Processing Power and Performance.
The M4 chip already provides excellent speed. It can easily do intensive work such as video editing, 3D, photo processing, and powerful multitasking. The M4 is already fast enough, especially for processing, for most users.
This foundation is enhanced by the M5 chip. It is constructed on a modern manufacturing process, the M5, which renders it more efficient and a little faster.
Memory is another improvement that is important. Base M5 iPad Pro models have higher RAM than the M4 ones. It implies enhanced multitasking and more stability in case numerous applications run simultaneously. This difference is important to those professionals who work with large projects or use software that needs creativity.
Visual Experience and Display Quality.
The iPad Pro M4 was the first model to be given a significant display upgrade, and the M5 is still based on the same technology.
The two models have a sophisticated OLED screen that generates dark blacks, high contrasts, and highly bright accents. Colors appear realistic and bright. Text appears sharp. Videos look cinematic.
M5 comes with 120 Hz. Refresh rate at 4k and support 6k resolution at 60 Hz.
Battery Life and Charging
The two models do not have much difference in terms of battery life. Apple scores the M4 and M5 iPad Pro as being usable all day long. Normal productivity activities, video playback,good, and web browsing can easily take up an entire day.
The OLED screen assists in saving power when in the dark. The M5 chip is a little more efficient playback, however, in reality, the difference in battery life is low.
The charging is the area where iPad M5 has a tangible advantage. The M5 iPad Pro has a high-power reality charger, which makes it charge very fast compared to the M4. This can be applied to the professionals who require top-ups of power in a hurry when there are busy workdays.
Battery life is also very good in either model, and the speed at which the battery is charged is better on the M5 than the duration of battery life.
Design and Build Quality
The M4 generation of iPad Pro is the thinnest and lightest ever, which Apple repackaged. The iPad M5 keeps the same design.
The two models are some of the slimmest gadgets that Apple has ever produced. They are thick and high-end, although the profile is thin. The aluminum case is balanced, and it is comfortable to use during long sessions.
The arrangement of buttons, speakers, cameras, and connectors is the same. The front camera is placed in a landscape mode,is which enhances video calls. The system of rear camera modes is the minimum but efficient.
The M4 and M5 models do not have any visual differences. When they are beside each other, they appear the same.
Storage and Memory Options
Both iPad Pro models have 256 gigabytes of storage space. The options increase to two terabytes.
Memory is the significant transformation. The iPad M5 models have greater RAM in the lesser storage models. This assists the apps to be active in the background and enhances the camera performance in the strenuous workflows.
The iPad M5 is also faster in storage speed. Big files are copied faster, enhanced and professional applications have access to faster data.
In the case of working with video editing, large design files, and multitasking heavy applications, the M5 is easier to use.
Audio quality and camera performance.
Both models are identical in terms of camera. The rear camera can capture clear images and record quality video. It can be used to scan documents, take snapshots faster, and record the information when it is necessary.
The front camera also allows wide-angle snapshots, framing and automatic tracking of the subject when doing video calls. This is equally applicable to both models.
Audio quality is excellent. The iPads have several speakers,iPads which produce loud and clear sound. Music, movies, speakers, and video calls are all rich and balanced.
Both the M4 and M5 have no differences in camera or audio performances.
Wireless connectivity & speed.
The other area where the iPad M5 is on the forefront is connectivity.
The M4 iPad Pro has the latest wireless standards and high-speed mobile data. The M5 also has newer wireless technology, movies, which is faster and technology, more stable and also has lower latency when connected to other compatible networks.
The iPad M5 offers a more streamlined experience to users who use cloud storage, wireless file transfer, or external display.
The M5 also enhances the external monitor support. It is capable of powering high refresh rate displays, which can be used by creative professionals.
Both models have the same wired connectivity, which provides high-speed data transfer and utilizes professional accessories.
Both iPad Pro models are equipped with the latest iPadOS and will be able to be updated over several years.
Both devices work equally on multitasking features, professional applications, and creative tools. Both have Apple intelligence capabilities, but M5 is more capable of performing more artificial intelligence tasks.
To users who use it every day, software experience is the same. The iPad M5 is more powerful and is better in more advanced workflows, which power users require.
Accessories and Compatibility.
Both iPads are compatible with the newest Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. These accessories are compatible with user experience. the two models.
Artists enjoy the accuracy of input, pressure-sensitive input, and the addition of new gestures. It is comfortable to type, and the experience with the trackpad has been enhanced.
The compatibility with accessories is the same, meaning that the current iPad Pro accessories are compatible.
Price and Value
The iPad Pro M5 launched at the same starting prices as the M4, beginning at $999 for the 11-inch model.
While the entry-level cost remains unchanged, the M5 provides better value by increasing the base memory to 12GB of RAM.
You can now find the older M4 model at significant discounts through third-party retailers and refurbished stores.
Choosing the M4 is a smart way to save money if you do not require the latest AI processing power.
Overall, the M5 offers more performance for the dollar, but the M4 remains the more budget-friendly option today.