Maria Diaz/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways The M5 iPad Pro is now available for purchase, starting at $999 for the 11-inch and $1,199 for the 13-inch variant. It features Apple's most powerful processor yet, promising faster speeds, improved AI workflows, and better efficiency. It also runs on Apple's most updated connectivity chipsets. Apple just announced its fastest and strongest processor last week: the M5. The new chip powers the latest iPad Pro and MacBook Pro, both of which are on sale today. The iPad Pro is renowned for being Apple's most cutting-edge tablet, designed for power users and, according to the company's claims, is capable of replacing a laptop. Also: The new iPad Pro's biggest upgrade isn't the M5 chip - I'd buy it for this reason instead I've used all the latest iPads, from the iPad Mini to the iPad 11, the iPad Air, and the iPad Pro with M1. Based on a week of use, the iPad Pro with M5 is already the best performer of all - and it's not even close. Visually, the iPad Pro looks sleek, with a thin, unassuming build that makes it almost unsettling to see how much power is packed into something so light -- especially when testing the 11-inch variant. Before this, I was using the 13-inch iPad Air, and it was impressive enough to replace my MacBook Pro for most tasks, but not all. However, I can already tell that the iPad Pro with the M5 chip and iPadOS 26 will get much closer to the laptop experience, if not better, even in the 11-inch form factor. Maria Diaz/ZDNET My biggest gripe with Apple's claim that an iPad can replace a laptop in a pinch is that the mobile experience and interface simply can't go one-to-one with MacOS. You could, with Samsung DeX, for example, enjoy a laptop-like experience on a Samsung Galaxy tablet, but the iPad just hasn't cut it -- until iPadOS 26. With iPadOS 26, the enhanced windowing system, which allows you to freely arrange, resize, and layer multiple apps, menu bar, and docked folders, among other things, have given Apple's ultraportable form factor more functioanlity. Also: I gave iPadOS 26 a full summer trial - my verdict on using it as a MacBook alternative The power of the M5 in the new iPad Pro, combined with iPadOS 26 and a keyboard, makes this tablet the closest experience to a MacBook I've ever had, and I've only used it for a few days. The biggest benefit? You also get iPad-exclusive perks, like a touchscreen (which hasn't been introduced on MacBooks yet) and the ability to use a stylus, like the Apple Pencil Pro. In such ways, the iPad is an even better work machine than Apple's laptop. Maria Diaz/ZDNET The drawback of this year's model, like the ones before it, remains that the iPad Pro is far from cheap, starting at just about $1,000 and quickly rising depending on storage and peripherals configuration. For most users, you'll likely want to add in the Magic Keyboard, Apple Pencil Pro, and possibly even a screen protector. That all equates to a minimum spend of $1,500. So it boils down to how much you're willing to pay for the benefit of the slim and thin, multitouch device. Lastly, Apple promises enhanced connectivity features with the C1X and N1 chips on the iPad Pro, both fo which I'm looking forward to testing more thoroughly. The chips give the iPad Pro Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread, and faster 5G connectivity, all of which translates to faster downloads, a better and more reliable AirDrop experience, and smoother hotspot use. Also: Best tablets for note-taking 2025: My hand-picked options for writing notes I'm particularly excited to see how the iPad Pro fares when used outdoors and tapping on LTE. If Apple can nail the on-the-go computing experience, that may be all that's needed to put the iPad above the MacBook for some professionals. Thread connectivity doesn't appear to be enabled for direct connection to smart home devices at this time, and it's unclear whether Apple plans to utilize it for this purpose, as seen in the iPhone 15 Pro and newer models. ZDNET's early verdict Maria Diaz/ZDNET After a few days of use, the iPad Pro, with M5 and iPadOS 26, is off to a promising start. I've been working on a MacBook Pro with an M1 processor for over three years, and I've already noticed a considerable difference in snappiness between it and the iPad Pro. The tablet is surprisingly faster and more consistent in rendering graphics and loading assets than my laptop, and the gap is larger from my M4 iPad Air, which was my go-to tablet for most of this year. As a reviewer, I'm looking forward to testing how the M5 chip on the iPad Pro handles everything from daily tasks to more challenging workflows, and I'll update this article with my full review then. I'll benchmark processing power, battery life, AI processes, and app compatibility before delivering a final verdict. Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.