New iPad Pro

Apple’s newest iPad Pro is the kind of device that makes you do a double-take in publicpartly because it’s so thin, and partly because your wallet starts
sweating the moment you say “13-inch.” The latest model pairs Apple’s M5 chip with the Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED display, faster wireless (hello, Wi-Fi 7),
and iPadOS 26’s more desktop-like multitasking. The result is a tablet that’s closer than ever to being a “real computer”… while also still being, unmistakably,
an iPad that occasionally asks you to please stop trying to do laptop things. In other words: it’s brilliant, it’s extra, and it’s surprisingly practicalif
you buy it for the right reasons.

What “New iPad Pro” means in 2026

As of early 2026, “new iPad Pro” typically refers to the iPad Pro with M5 (announced October 2025). It comes in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, keeps the
tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR display, and leans hard into on-device AI performance, faster storage, and upgraded connectivity. If you remember the 2024
iPad Pro (M4) as the one that got dramatically thinner and switched to OLED, you’re not wrongM5 is the refinement pass, plus iPadOS 26 is the software
glow-up many people have been waiting for.

Big upgrades, explained like you’re not trying to join a chip design team

M5 performance: built for creative workand a whole lot of “because we can”

The headline is the M5 chip, which Apple positions as a major leap for AI workflows on iPad. In practical terms, that means smoother performance in tasks like
on-device image generation, object masking in video, complex 3D scenes, and heavy multitaskingespecially when you’re bouncing between pro apps.
Apple also calls out a next-generation GPU design aimed at AI workloads and ray tracing for graphics-intensive work and games. If you’ve ever exported a video
on an iPad and thought, “This is fast, but I want it to be obnoxiously fast,” M5 is here for you.

More memory in the entry models (finally), plus faster storage and charging

One of the most meaningful quality upgrades: the 256GB and 512GB models now start with more unified memory, which helps with big creative files, large
canvases, and keeping more apps alive without constant reloads. Apple also claims faster storage read/write speeds, which matters when you’re scrubbing through
large video libraries or opening huge project files.

Charging also gets a boost: with a sufficiently powerful USB-C adapter, Apple says you can hit around 50% in about 30 minutes. That doesn’t just help in a
pinchit changes how you think about battery anxiety. Suddenly, a short coffee break becomes a legit “top-off” strategy.

Wi-Fi 7, better wireless reliability, and faster cellular on the go

The new iPad Pro supports Wi-Fi 7, and Apple also highlights improvements to real-world wireless reliability (which is the stuff you actually feel when a Zoom
call doesn’t freeze at the exact moment you start talking). Cellular models add Apple’s newer modem tech and continue to use eSIM, making it easier to add or
switch plans without hunting down a physical SIM like it’s 2012.

Tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR: the display upgrade that ruins other screens

If you care about screen qualityeven a littlethe Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED is a big deal. Tandem OLED uses stacked OLED layers to drive higher brightness
while keeping OLED’s signature per-pixel contrast. Translation: deep blacks, punchy HDR, and that “how is the bezel disappearing?” effect when you watch movies
with letterboxing.

Apple rates the display for very high full-screen brightness and peak HDR brightness, and offers a nano-texture glass option to reduce glare for people who
work in bright rooms or near windows. If your iPad regularly shares a desk with a ring light, a sunbeam, or a suspiciously reflective white wall, nano-texture
can be the difference between “wow” and “why am I editing my own reflection?”

Still ridiculously thinand now better at external displays

The 11-inch model remains about 5.3 mm thin, and the 13-inch model about 5.1 mmso yes, it’s still the “please don’t sit on it” iPad Pro era.
But thin isn’t the only story: the new iPad Pro can drive external displays at up to 120Hz, and Apple adds Adaptive Sync support for smoother motion and lower
latency in compatible setups. If you’re using the iPad Pro as a docked workstation, this matters more than you might expect.

iPadOS 26: the software that finally meets the hardware halfway

Every iPad Pro generation sparks the same debate: “Is iPadOS holding it back?” iPadOS 26 is Apple’s strongest answer yet. The update introduces a new visual
design (Liquid Glass), a more flexible windowing system, and a menu bar for quicker access to app commandspushing the experience closer to a desktop workflow
without turning iPad into a full-time Mac impersonator.

File management improves too, with a stronger Files app experience (more organization options, easier access, better control over how files open). And there’s a
dedicated Preview app on iPad for viewing and editing PDFsan underrated win for students, office work, and anyone who has ever tried to sign a form on a phone
and accidentally zoomed into a single pixel of their own name.

Apple Intelligence features and system-level AI tools are also positioned as a major part of iPadOS 26, including helpful automation and communication features
like Live Translation in supported apps. Whether you love AI features or you’re cautiously optimistic, the important point is this: M5 iPad Pro is designed to
do more on-device, with privacy and speed benefits compared to cloud-only approaches.

Accessories that matter (and why Apple Pencil Pro is more than “a fancy stick”)

Apple Pencil Pro: squeeze, roll, hapticsand Find My

Apple Pencil Pro is the best way to understand Apple’s “pro” vision for iPad: it’s not just about faster chips, it’s about turning the screen into a tool.
Pencil Pro adds a squeeze gesture for quick tool palettes, haptic feedback so interactions feel confirmable, barrel roll for more natural brush control,
and Find My support so you can stop accusing your couch of theft.

If you draw, storyboard, annotate, retouch photos, mark up PDFs, or take handwritten notes daily, Pencil Pro isn’t a gimmickit’s a workflow shortcut you feel
hundreds of times a week.

Magic Keyboard: the “this is basically a laptop” move

The Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro remains one of the best tablet keyboards around, and the latest version leans further into laptop comfort with a function row,
an aluminum palm rest, and a roomy trackpad experience. If you want your iPad Pro to act like a portable workstationemail, docs, spreadsheets, editing,
multitaskingthis is the accessory that makes the whole setup click.

The honest warning: once you add the Magic Keyboard (and maybe Apple Pencil Pro), you’re no longer “buying a tablet.” You’re building a modular computer that
happens to detach into a ridiculously nice handheld screen.

Pricing reality check: what the “Pro” costs in the real world

In the U.S., the 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999 (Wi-Fi) and $1,199 (Wi-Fi + Cellular). The 13-inch starts at $1,299 (Wi-Fi) and $1,499 (Wi-Fi + Cellular).
Storage options run from 256GB up to 2TB.

Accessories add up quickly: Apple Pencil Pro is $129, and Magic Keyboard is $299 (11-inch) or $349 (13-inch). That means a “fully loaded” experience can drift
into laptop territory fastsometimes premium laptop territory. The good news is that the iPad Pro can genuinely earn that price for specific users. The bad
news is that it won’t for everyone, and Apple will happily let you find out the expensive way.

Who should buy the new iPad Pro (and who should back away slowly)

Buy it if you’re in the “screen + speed = money” club

• Creators who edit video, do color work, animate, illustrate, or retouch photos and care about display accuracy and HDR contrast.
• Power multitaskers who want multiple app windows, external displays, and fast project switching without the device feeling “tablet-y.”
• Mobile pros who work on the go and need great cellular, eSIM convenience, and a strong battery + fast top-ups.
• Students with heavy workflows (STEM notes + PDFs + research + creative projects) who actually use the Pencil and keyboard daily.

Consider alternatives if your biggest app is… your streaming app

If your iPad life is mostly browsing, email, school notes, and entertainment, you’ll still love the new iPad Probut you probably won’t need it.
In that case, a cheaper iPad (or iPad Air) can deliver 80–90% of the experience for much less money. The iPad Pro is best when you can point to a
repeatable, weekly task that benefits from the display, the Pencil, the keyboard, the multitasking, or the horsepower.

Tips to get “Pro” value without turning your iPad into an expensive coaster

• Pick your “anchor app.” If the iPad Pro isn’t supporting one major workflow (video, art, writing, music, design), you’ll underuse it.
• Use the new windowing system intentionally. Keep a research browser window, a working doc, and a communication app visibledon’t just full-screen hop all day.
• Go external when it matters. A monitor turns iPad Pro into a desk machine; 120Hz support makes it feel smoother for editing and motion-heavy work.
• Buy storage for your workflow, not your feelings. If you live in cloud docs, you might not need 2TB. If you shoot video, you might.
• Don’t forget ergonomics. The 13-inch is a dream on a desk; the 11-inch is friendlier as a handheld note-taking machine.

Conclusion: the most “almost-a-laptop” iPad yetand that’s the point

The new iPad Pro doesn’t try to be everything for everyone. It tries to be a thin, astonishing display strapped to a serious chip, wrapped in software that’s
finally taking multitasking and pro workflows more seriously. With M5, Wi-Fi 7, faster charging, and iPadOS 26’s windowing and file improvements, this is the
strongest “iPad as a primary computer” argument Apple has made so far. If you’ll use the Pencil Pro, lean into the Magic Keyboard, and actually benefit from
the display and speed, it’s one of the best tablets ever built. If not… it’s also an extremely beautiful way to watch cooking videos while you order takeout.

Real-world experiences with the New iPad Pro

The first “experience” people talk about with the new iPad Pro is physical: it feels unreal in your hands. The thinness is not a spec-sheet flex you forget
after an hourit changes how you carry it, how you pick it up, and how quickly it becomes your default “grab-and-go” screen. The 13-inch model, in particular,
has that sci-fi vibe: big canvas, low weight, and a sense that you’re holding more display than device. Most users end up putting it in a case or on the Magic
Keyboard quickly (because life happens), but the underlying portability still shows up every daymoving from desk to couch to kitchen counter feels effortless.

The next experience is visual, and it’s the one that quietly ruins other screens. Tandem OLED makes black backgrounds look like they’re simply absent, not
“dark gray pretending.” HDR scenes pop, highlights look intense without washing out the rest of the image, and text looks crisp even at small sizes. For
creators, this isn’t just pretty: it’s confidence. When you’re adjusting contrast, reviewing photos, or checking color consistency, you stop second-guessing
the display and start focusing on the work. Even non-creators notice it in subtle waysreading at night is more comfortable, and movies look more cinematic,
especially in dim rooms.

With iPadOS 26, the day-to-day experience shifts from “superpowered tablet” to “flexible work machine.” The new windowing approach encourages a different habit:
leaving apps open in a way that resembles a desktop routine. A common setup is a browser window for research, a note or writing app for output, and a chat or
email app for communicationvisible and reachable without constant app-switching. People who struggled with older iPad multitasking often describe this as the
moment the iPad finally started matching the hardware’s ambition. It’s still simpler than a Mac in many ways, but it’s also less limiting when you’re juggling
multiple tasks.

Apple Pencil Pro adds its own set of “you don’t realize you need it until you do” moments. The squeeze gesture sounds small, but in practice it removes friction:
switching tools, adjusting brush size, changing colors, or popping up quick controls becomes a natural motion instead of a UI hunt. Barrel roll is another
sleeper featureonce you use it with brush tools or calligraphy-like strokes, it feels closer to real media. And haptics matter more than expected: that tiny
confirmation tap reduces errors and makes digital input feel less floaty. For students and professionals marking up PDFs, the combination of Preview on iPadOS 26
plus Pencil Pro is especially satisfyingopen a document, annotate precisely, fill forms, export, done. No weird third-party workarounds required.

The Magic Keyboard experience is where the iPad Pro becomes “laptop-adjacent” in a real way. The improved trackpad and function row make the setup feel less
like a compromise and more like a choice. Many people end up using the iPad Pro in two modes: docked on the keyboard for writing, editing, and multitasking;
then detached for reading, sketching, and note-taking. That dual personalityworkstation and tabletremains the iPad Pro’s signature advantage over most
laptops. And with faster charging, the battery story becomes easier: you can top off quickly before heading out, rather than babysitting it for hours.

The final real-world “experience” is the one buyers should take seriously: the iPad Pro feels most rewarding when you commit to a workflow. If you treat it as a
luxury screen, it will be a luxury screen (a phenomenal one, but still). If you treat it as a creative tool, a portable editing station, a document markup
machine, or a serious productivity device, the value becomes obvious fast. The new iPad Pro isn’t trying to replace every computer. It’s trying to be the best
version of a computer you can hold in one handand for the right person, it absolutely succeeds.