iPad Pro M2 vs iPad Pro M5
The iPad Pro M2 and the iPad Pro M5 are two Apple products from different product lines: related by name, separate by design. Of the 5 areas we compared, the iPad Pro M5 wins 4. If one area explains the result, it’s memory & storage. And the price tags aren’t close: the iPad Pro M2 came in $200 below the iPad Pro M5 at launch.
At a glance
- Display iPad Pro M5 wins
- Performance iPad Pro M5 wins
- Memory & Storage iPad Pro M5 wins
- Cameras Tie
- Battery & Connectivity iPad Pro M5 wins
- Price iPad Pro M2 wins
- Display2.5
- Memory & Storage1.7
- Battery & Connectivity1.7
- Display7.5
- Memory & Storage7.5
- Battery & Connectivity2.5
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The iPad Pro M5 has 4 GB more RAM
A clear win for the iPad Pro M5: 12 GB against 8 GB. Few specs in this matchup are as one-sided. Pro apps for photo, video and music work lean heavily on memory, so the iPad Pro M5 has more room to breathe.
-
The iPad Pro M5 has 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB
Here the iPad Pro M5 pulls well ahead of the iPad Pro M2, with 256 GB compared to 128 GB. Base storage decides how many movies, games and projects you can keep on the tablet without paying for an upgrade.
-
The iPad Pro M5 has 67% higher brightness
The iPad Pro M5 doesn’t just edge this one; 1,000 nits against 600 nits is a lead you’ll feel. Higher brightness keeps the screen readable next to bright windows, on a balcony or on a sunny train ride.
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The iPad Pro M5 has a 0.78 oz lighter build
Slight advantage to the iPad Pro M5: 15.66 oz compared with 16.44 oz. The iPad Pro M5 is easier to hold one-handed, especially in bed or on public transport.
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The iPad Pro M5 has 1 more CPU cores
On cpu cores, the iPad Pro M5 edges out the iPad Pro M2, 9 to 8. Core count is only part of the picture, since chip design and clock speeds also shape performance.
Design & Size
- iPad Pro M2 9.75 in × 7.03 in × 0.23 in
- iPad Pro M5 9.83 in × 6.99 in × 0.21 in
The official dimensions put the iPad Pro M2 and the iPad Pro M5 within a whisker of each other. The iPad Pro M5 saves 0.78 oz. How much that matters depends on how you use it. The iPad Pro M2 is the chunkier of the pair by 0.02 in.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPad Pro M2 | iPad Pro M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 9.75 in | 9.83 in |
| Width | 7.03 in | 6.99 in |
| Thickness | 0.23 in | 0.21 in (winner) |
| Weight | 16.44 oz | 15.66 oz (winner) |
Display
iPad Pro M5 leads
The display numbers point firmly in one direction: toward the iPad Pro M5. The iPad Pro M5 adds 67% higher brightness. Indoors, both may be plenty bright; the gap matters most in strong daylight. Net result: the iPad Pro M5 leads this part of the comparison.
Peak brightness (SDR)
iPad Pro M2: 600 nits iPad Pro M5: 1,000 nits The iPad Pro M5’s brighter panel also gives HDR video more punch.
Performance
iPad Pro M5 leads
The iPad Pro M2 comes close on performance, but the iPad Pro M5 does just enough to lead. Here the iPad Pro M5 offers 1 more CPU cores. For browsing and streaming, core count rarely matters; for creative work, the iPad Pro M5’s extra cores give more headroom. Bottom line for performance: the iPad Pro M5 has the edge.
CPU cores
iPad Pro M2: 8 iPad Pro M5: 9 More CPU cores help when you run several demanding apps at once or export large files.
Memory & Storage
iPad Pro M5 leads
If memory & storage is high on your list, the iPad Pro M5 makes the stronger case by a wide margin. The iPad Pro M5 pulls ahead with 4 GB more RAM. Extra memory also helps a tablet stay usable as apps grow heavier over the years. So if memory & storage tops your list, lean toward the iPad Pro M5.
RAM
iPad Pro M2: 8 GB iPad Pro M5: 12 GB More RAM lets a tablet keep more apps and browser tabs active, which matters for split-screen multitasking.
Base storage
iPad Pro M2: 128 GB iPad Pro M5: 256 GB Downloaded shows and large creative files fill space fast, so the iPad Pro M5’s bigger starting capacity is a practical win.
Accessories & Productivity
Here the spec sheet speaks in model names and types. Compare the iPad Pro M2 and the iPad Pro M5 row by row in the table below.
Cameras
Too close to call
Swap one for the other and you’d lose nothing on cameras. Bottom line for cameras: it’s a wash.
Battery & Connectivity
iPad Pro M5 leads
Call it a small but real win for the iPad Pro M5 in this area. Point to the iPad Pro M5 for 9.2% more battery capacity. The iPad Pro M5 carries more capacity, which helps with heavier work that drains a battery faster. Prioritize battery & connectivity, and the iPad Pro M5 is where you should land.
Battery
iPad Pro M2: 28.7 Wh iPad Pro M5: 31.3 Wh A bigger battery usually means more hours of reading, streaming and working between charges.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPad Pro M2 | iPad Pro M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 11 in | 11 in |
| Panel type | Liquid Retina (LCD), ProMotion | Ultra Retina XDR (tandem OLED) |
| Resolution | 2388 x 1668 | 2420 x 1668 |
| Pixel density | 264 ppi | 264 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness (SDR) | 600 nits Dimmest screen in class | 1,000 nits (winner) |
| Fully laminated display | Yes | Yes |
Performance
| Spec | iPad Pro M2 | iPad Pro M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | M2 | M5 |
| CPU cores | 8 Fewest CPU cores | 9 (winner) |
| GPU cores | 10 | 10 |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPad Pro M2 | iPad Pro M5 |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB (winner) |
| Base storage | 128 GB Least base storage | 256 GB (winner) |
| Max storage | 2 TB | 2 TB |
Accessories & Productivity
| Spec | iPad Pro M2 | iPad Pro M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Stylus support | Apple Pencil (2nd generation) with hover, Apple Pencil (USB-C) | Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C) |
| Keyboard accessory | Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio | Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (M4) |
| OS at launch | iPadOS 16 | iPadOS 26 |
Cameras
| Spec | iPad Pro M2 | iPad Pro M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Rear camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Front camera position | Portrait edge | Landscape edge |
Battery & Connectivity
| Spec | iPad Pro M2 | iPad Pro M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 28.7 Wh Smallest battery in class | 31.3 Wh (winner) |
| Rated battery lifeManufacturer rating | 10 h | 10 h |
| Port | USB-C (Thunderbolt / USB 4) | USB-C (Thunderbolt / USB 4) |
| Cellular option | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPad Pro M2 | iPad Pro M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 9.75 in | 9.83 in |
| Width | 7.03 in | 6.99 in |
| Thickness | 0.23 in | 0.21 in (winner) |
| Weight | 16.44 oz | 15.66 oz (winner) |
Price
| Spec | iPad Pro M2 | iPad Pro M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $799 (winner) Lowest price in class | $999 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
In launch price, the iPad Pro M2 is the clear budget pick, coming in $200 (25%) below the iPad Pro M5. If $200 isn’t a stretch, the iPad Pro M5 gives you 4 GB more RAM and 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB.
Based on US launch pricing as of October 2025. Deals and regional pricing can change the picture.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPad Pro M2 if…
- you’d rather keep $200 in your pocket
- you find the iPad Pro M2 already covers everything you need
Choose the iPad Pro M5 if…
- you multitask with split screens and many apps (12 GB vs 8 GB of RAM)
- you want more room without paying for an upgrade (256 GB vs 128 GB)
- you use your tablet near bright windows or outdoors (1,000 nits vs 600 nits)
- you want the lighter tablet (15.66 oz vs 16.44 oz)
- you plan to keep it for a long time and want to start from the newer generation
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the iPad Pro M2 or the iPad Pro M5?
The iPad Pro M5 makes more sense overall. Consider the alternative only if saving $200 matters more to you than the extras.
Is the iPad Pro M5 worth it over the iPad Pro M2?
If those changes matter to you, yes: the iPad Pro M5 adds 4 GB more RAM, 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB and 67% higher brightness compared with the iPad Pro M2.
Which has better battery life, the iPad Pro M2 or the iPad Pro M5?
Neither has a meaningful advantage. The iPad Pro M2 and the iPad Pro M5 are rated close enough that your usage will matter more than the spec sheet.
Is the iPad Pro M2 bigger than the iPad Pro M5?
The iPad Pro M2 and the iPad Pro M5 are so close in size that you’d struggle to tell them apart on dimensions alone.
Does the iPad Pro M2 perform better than the iPad Pro M5?
The iPad Pro M5 should be the quicker of the two, with 1 more CPU cores on its side.
Is the iPad Pro M2’s display better than the iPad Pro M5’s?
On display specs, the iPad Pro M5 leads thanks to 67% higher brightness.
Executive Summary
A lineup gives you options, and options give you headaches. Let me try to cure this one: the iPad Pro M2 or the iPad Pro M5. My main argument for the iPad Pro M5? It comes with 4 GB more RAM. It also helps that the iPad Pro M5 has 67% higher brightness.
If price is your thing, the iPad Pro M2 fits. If display matters more, the iPad Pro M5 makes more sense.
My pick: the iPad Pro M5; the one scenario where I’d reach for the iPad Pro M2 is if you’d rather keep $200 for something else.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.