Apple is reportedly preparing its next iPad Pro for release later this year.Rumored new features are scarce other than the M5 chip, but there’s good reason to believe Apple plans to lean hard on one specific strength with its new iPad Pro: versatility.M4 iPad Pro is a tough act for Apple to follow Last year’s M4 iPad Pro was the kind of hardware update that doesn’t come along often.
It featured: a radically ultra-thin new design gorgeous tandem OLED display M4 chip, before the Mac even got it excellent Magic Keyboard update nano-texture display option Overall, it was a huge year for the iPad Pro.Easily the best since the 2018 model debuted.So what’s in store for the M5 iPad Pro this fall? So far, it seems, not a whole lot.
Besides getting the M5 chip, there aren’t any solid rumors about hardware upgrades.That’s not unusual for the follow-up to a major update.But in considering Apple’s software plans for iPadOS 26, and related hardware rumors, it seems the company could be planning to emphasize iPad’s greatest strength—its versatility—as the M5 marketing pitch.
Pitch for M5 iPad Pro could emphasize versatility iPadOS 26 is expected to be a major update for iPad productivity: Mark Gurman says it will focus on “productivity, multitasking and app window management — with an eye on the device operating more like a Mac.” Majin Bu gets more specific, saying iPadOS will gain a Mac-like menu bar and ‘Stage Manager 2.0.’ These changes should make the iPad a far more capable “computer,” for users who want that.But like Apple’s previous iPadOS upgrades, the company will undoubtedly still preserve the tablet’s simple, one-app-at-a-time UI for users who prefer it.In other words, the iPad’s versatility—serving both as a excellent tablet and capable laptop replacement—will be highlighted.
And this theme of versatility could go even further.Apple is preparing to ship a brand new Studio Display as early as this fall.The timing makes a lot of sense, aligning perfectly with expected launches of the M5 iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and perhaps a new Mac Pro.
Neither the new iPad Pro nor MacBook Pro are rumored to be huge upgrades.But pairing their launches with that of a new Studio Display would create a stronger marketing push.With the iPad and iPadOS 26, Apple can lean into versatility by showing how powerful its new Stage Manager 2.0 is when the M5 iPad Pro is connected to the new Studio Display.
So whether you want a tablet, laptop, or desktop setup, the versatile M5 iPad Pro will be Apple’s solution.Will any of these features be exclusive to the M5 model? Unlikely.But Apple can nonetheless use them to create a compelling marketing pitch for its brand new iPad.
Even if the hardware changes in the M5 iPad Pro are fairly minor.What features do you hope to see in an M5 iPad Pro? Let us know in the comments.Best iPad accessories Apple Pencil Pro (now only $99, down from $129) 100W USB-C power adapter for fast charging tomtoc Tablet sleeve bag for protection and style Baseus 10ft USB-C cable for extended reach AirPods Pro 2 (now only $199, down from $249) You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.
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