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**Apple’s Latest Powerhouse: The iPad Pro with M5 Chip**
Apple has recently unveiled its most advanced processor yet, the M5, which now powers the newest iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models. The iPad Pro, long recognized as Apple’s flagship tablet for power users, is now being touted—more credibly than ever before—as a true laptop replacement.
ZDNET’s reviewer, who has extensive experience with all of Apple’s recent iPad models—including the iPad Mini, iPad 11, iPad Air, and the previous iPad Pro with M1—finds the new iPad Pro with M5 to be in a league of its own. After several weeks of hands-on use, the conclusion is clear: this is the best-performing iPad to date.
**Design and Display: Sleek, Light, and Powerful**
The iPad Pro continues Apple’s tradition of sleek and minimalist design. Its ultra-thin build is impressive, especially considering the power it houses. The 11-inch version strikes a perfect balance between portability and usability, though a larger 12.9-inch variant is available for those who need even more screen space.
**iPadOS 26: Bringing the iPad Closer to a Laptop**
One of the reviewer’s longstanding criticisms of iPads as laptop replacements has been the limitations of iPadOS compared to macOS. With the launch of iPadOS 26, Apple has introduced significant improvements, most notably an enhanced windowing system that allows users to freely arrange, resize, and layer multiple apps, access the menu bar, and dock folders. These additions make multitasking more intuitive and bring the iPad experience closer than ever to a true laptop.
While not perfect—some window management quirks remain—iPadOS 26 represents a refreshing change for Apple, which is often conservative with software innovation. These upgrades, combined