Apple today dropped a dual bombshell, unveiling both the iPad Pro and the 14-inch MacBook Pro—each powered by the revolutionary M5 chip. The company is promising a giant leap forward, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI)performance and speed, making a compelling case for users ready to upgrade to a next-generation experience. Both devices, running on the new iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe respectively, are available for pre-order today, with in-store availability starting Wednesday, October 22.
M5 CHIP: THE AI PERFORMANCE MONSTER
The star of both announcements is the M5 chip, which features a next-generation GPU and a Neural Accelerator in every core. This is where the devices gain their edge, delivering staggering performance gains for creators, developers, and everyday users who rely on AI for productivity.
| Feature | New iPad Pro (M5) | New 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5) |
| Chip | Apple M5 (up to 10-core CPU) | Apple M5 (up to 10-core CPU) |
| AI Performance | Up to 3.5x faster than M4 and 5.6x faster than M1 | Up to 3.5x faster than M4 and 6x faster than M1 |
| Graphics | Up to 1.5x faster 3D rendering (vs. M4) | Up to 1.6x faster graphics and frame rates (vs. M4) |
| CPU | Features the world’s fastest CPU core | Up to 20% faster multi-threaded performance (vs. M4) |
| Battery Life | Supports Fast Charge (50% in ∼30 mins) | Phenomenal up to 24 hours |
IPAD PRO: THINNER DESIGN, FASTER EVERYTHING
The new iPad Pro has been reimagined for power users with a focus on a stunning display, a dramatically thinner design, and blazing fast connectivity.
The new iPad Pro is driven by the Apple M5 chip, featuring an up to 10-core CPU and a next-gen GPU. Its incredible visuals come via the Ultra Retina XDR display, which uses groundbreaking tandem OLED technology and is available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with an optional Nano-texture glass finish for reduced glare. For connectivity, the device includes the N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7 support and the C1X Cellular Modem for up to 50 per cent faster cellular data speeds. The new models also significantly boost memory and storage; the 256GB and 512GB configurations now start with 12GB of unified memory—a 50% increase—and offer up to 2x faster storage read/write speeds. All of this power is packed into an ultra-thin design, with the 13-inch model measuring just 5.1 mm thin, and runs on the feature-rich iPadOS 26.
14-INCH MACBOOK PRO: UNPRECEDENTED POWER ON THE GO
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 delivers a phenomenal blend of raw speed and all-day endurance, making it a professional powerhouse. The M5 onboard the Macbook Pro, delivers a phenomenal blend of raw speed and all-day endurance, making it a professional powerhouse. The M5 chip brings up to 6.8x faster 3D rendering and up to 7.7x faster AI video enhancement compared to the M1 model, crushing demanding pro workflows.
Crucially, it offers an extraordinary up to 24 hours of battery life, allowing users to maintain peak M5 performance whether plugged in or on the move. The machine features the renowned Liquid Retina XDR display, which also gains a new nano-texture option, and boasts up to 2x faster SSD performance than the prior generation. Powered by macOS Tahoe, the MacBook Pro is enhanced with major updates to Spotlight, Continuity features like the new Phone app, and the integration of Apple Intelligence.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
| Device | Starting Price (Wi-Fi) | Availability |
| 11-inch iPad Pro (M5) | RRP AU$1,699 inc. GST | Pre-order now, in stores Oct 22 |
| 13-inch iPad Pro (M5) | RRP AU$2,199 inc. GST | Pre-order now, in stores Oct 22 |
| 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5) | RRP AU$2,499 inc. GST | Pre-order now, in stores Oct 22 |
With both devices receiving such a massive performance overhaul, which upgrade are you most excited to see in action?
