Apple iPad Pro (M5)
Exact average 87.3 · 11 printed, 4 estimated · printed scores only: 90
Image: Apple15 professional reviewers tested the Apple iPad Pro (M5), and 12 recommend it. Most praised: performance and picture quality. Most common complaint: price.
Reviewed by ZDNET, IT Pro, T3 and 12 more
The catch: Very expensive, and accessories add up.
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What 15 critics said
Highest score first · all converted to 0–100- 96ZDNET
The most powerful tablet she has tested, with class-leading battery life and near-laptop capability under iPadOS 26.
Read ZDNET review - 95IT Pro
Calls it the most powerful tablet around and a genuine laptop replacement, with a great screen, keyboard and very long battery life.
Read IT Pro review - 95T3
Called the best tablet money can buy, with a big speed jump and a stunning OLED display.
Read T3 review - 90The Independent
A tempting, much faster iPad Pro with a gorgeous OLED screen and new fast charging.
Read The Independent review - 90Tom's Guide
The reviewer calls it a phenomenal tablet and his favorite, thanks to fast M5 performance, a superb OLED screen and strong battery life.
Read Tom's Guide review - 90WIRED
The most capable tablet available, helped by iPadOS 26 windowing, though it is only a modest step over the M4 model and very pricey.
Read WIRED review - 90Tech Advisor
An exceptional, best-in-class tablet with superb performance, a stunning display and fast charging, but its very high price and lack of included accessories mean cheaper iPads may suit most people.
Read Tech Advisor review - 90The Disconnekt
An exceptional, ultra-slim tablet with a glorious display, big power and new fast charging, though very expensive and more than most people need.
Read The Disconnekt review - 88CNET
An Editors' Choice tablet with the best display and performance on an iPad, and iPadOS 26 makes it far more versatile.
Read CNET review - 85Engadget
A very capable tablet with a stunning display and a much-improved iPadOS 26, but the price is hard to swallow and M4 owners gain little.
Read Engadget review - 80Expert Reviews
A wonderful, powerful tablet, but the reviewer questions its value when a MacBook Air costs the same without needing extras, calling it nice to have rather than essential.
Read Expert Reviews review - 89est.Six Colors
The M5 is mostly an M4 with a new chip, so only older-iPad owners should upgrade, but paired with iPadOS 26 the Pro finally fulfils its promise and is the ultimate iPad.
Read Six Colors review - 83est.Trusted Reviews
A beautifully made tablet with the best screen around and plenty of power, but a modest update that is very expensive when the iPad Air is nearly as capable.
Read Trusted Reviews review - 77est.CNN Underscored
The best iPad tested, with great speed, screen and battery, but largely unchanged from last year and overkill for most people given the price and cheaper alternatives.
Read CNN Underscored review - 71est.How-To Geek
A first-person upgrade account from an M2 owner who finds the M5 a good tablet but not worth the cost, since new accessories were needed and everyday speed gains were small.
Read How-To Geek review
"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
How it compares
Direct comparisons by professional outlets, exact models only, in our words. Shown as evidence; they never change the critic score.
vs Apple iPad Air (M4)84
- PCMag (2026): it depends. Choose this one if: you want the most capable, fastest iPad, especially for content creation and watching movies on its screen and speakers.
What critics praise most
What critics dislike most
Other tablets critics rate highly
Also reviewed, not yet scored
- Huawei MatePad 11.5 · 3 reviews so far
- Microsoft Surface Pro 12-inch · 3 reviews so far
- OnePlus Pad Go · 3 reviews so far
Common questions
Is the Apple iPad Pro (M5) worth it?
Most critics think so: 12 of 15 recommend it. Very expensive, and accessories add up.
Do critics agree about the Apple iPad Pro (M5)?
Broad agreement: scores range from 71 (How-To Geek) to 96 (ZDNET), a spread of 25 points across 15 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.
What do critics dislike about the Apple iPad Pro (M5)?
Price (13 of 15 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Apple iPad Pro (M5)?
The OnePlus Pad 3 (critic score 88), top pick, narrowly.