Versus Engine
Apple M5 iPad Pro (OLED) vs Apple MacBook Air (M5)
Specs, price and the one trade-off that actually decides it — Apple M5 iPad Pro (OLED) against Apple MacBook Air (M5), side by side.
Cheaper to start
Apple MacBook Air (M5)
Starts about $100 lower.
Rated higher
Apple MacBook Air (M5)
9.6 vs 0.0 on our design scale.
Standout
Apple M5 iPad Pro (OLED)
Apple M5 chip
Apple M5 iPad Pro (OLED)
Apple's professional tablet with a Tandem OLED display and the M5 processor.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Stunning display
- Desktop-class performance
- Advanced eSIM technology
- LiDAR Scanner
- Support for Apple Pencil Pro
Cons
- iPadOS still limits multitasking
Specifications
- ChipApple M5 chip
- displayUltra Retina XDR
- Media EngineHardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW
- 10-core CPU10-core CPU with 4 super cores and 6 efficiency cores
- 10-core GPU10-core GPU
- 12MP Wide camera12MP Wide camera, ƒ/1.8 aperture
- 5G (sub-6 GHz)5G (sub-6 GHz) with 4x4 MIMO
- 5G, Gigabit LTE, and Wi-Fi callingavailable in select markets and through select carriers. Speeds are based on theoretical throughput and vary based on site conditions and carrier
- 9-core CPU9-core CPU with 3 super cores and 6 efficiency cores
- Apple IntelligenceApple Intelligence 4
- Apple Pencil supportApple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C)
- audio_playback—
- Battery and Power—
- battery_life_video_streaming—
- battery_life_wireless_web—
- battery_type—
- BluetoothBluetooth 6
- Camera12MP Wide camera, ƒ/1.8 aperture
- Cellular data plansold separately. The model you purchase is configured to work with a particular cellular network technology. Check with your carrier for compatibility and cellular data plan availability
- Charging and Expansion—
- charging_ports—
- configurable_memory—
- configurable_storage—
- cpu_cores—
- Data onlyData only 8
- Digital zoomup to 5x
- display_brightness—
- display_color—
- display_size—
- Displaysrounded corners. When measured diagonally as a rectangle, the 13-inch iPad Pro is 13 inches, and the 11-inch iPad Pro is 11.1 inches. Actual viewable area is less
- eSIMeSIM 9
- expansion_ports—
- external_display_support—
- Face IDEnabled by TrueDepth camera for facial recognition
- FaceTime callingrequires a FaceTime-enabled device for the caller and recipient and a Wi-Fi connection. Availability over a cellular network depends on carrier policies; data charges may apply
- Fast-charge capableUp to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with the 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max or other USB-C power adapter capable of providing 60W or higher (adapters sold separately) 13
- FDD-LTEFDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66, 71)
- FDD-LTE BandsBands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66, 71
- Gigabit LTEGigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO
- iPad Pro uses advanced eSIM technologyfor more convenience and security (not compatible with physical SIM cards)
- iPadOScomes with powerful features and built-in apps designed to take advantage of the unique capabilities of iPad
- keyboard—
- Memory—
- memory_bandwidth—
- Models A3358 and A33615G NR (Bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n77, n78, n79) 7
- Models A3358 and A3361 5G NR BandsBands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n77, n78, n79
- Nano-texture display glass optionon 1TB and 2TB models
- neural_accelerators—
- Operating SystemiPadOS
- Power and BatteryBuilt-in 38.99-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
- power_adapter—
- processorApple M5
- SDR brightness1000 nits max
- SensorsFace ID, LiDAR Scanner, Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Barometer, Ambient light sensors
- Size and weightvary by configuration and manufacturing process
- Storage—
- TD-LTETD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48)
- TD-LTE BandsBands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48
- thickness5.1mm
- UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPAUMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- Up to 4K AirPlayfor mirroring, photos, and video out to Apple TV (2nd generation or later) or AirPlay-enabled smart TV
- USB-C Digital AV Multiport AdapterVGA, HDMI, DVI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters (sold separately) 11
- video_playback—
- Wi-FiWi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO 6
- Wi-Fi + Cellular modelsUp to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network
- Wi-Fi 7available in countries and regions where supported
- Wi-Fi callingWi-Fi calling 7
- XDR brightness1000 nits max full screen, 1600 nits peak (HDR content only)
Apple MacBook Air (M5)
The fanless efficiency benchmark: desktop-class work in a silent chassis, from $1,099.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Completely silent under normal load
- Battery life that removes charger anxiety
- Very light for the performance on offer
Cons
- Throttles under sustained load — no fan to shed heat
- Not suitable for serious local model inference
- Memory and storage fixed at purchase
Specifications
- ChipApple M5 chip 10-core CPU with 4 super cores and 6 efficiency cores 10-core GPU Neural Accelerators Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine 153GB/s memory bandwidth Media Engine Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW Video decode engine Video encode engine ProRes encode and decode engine AV1 decode
- displayLiquid Retina display 13.6-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2 2560-by-1664 native resolution at 224 pixels per inch 500 nits brightness Color Support for 1 billion colors Wide color (P3) True Tone technology
- Media EngineHardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW
- 10-core CPU—
- 10-core GPU—
- 12MP Wide camera—
- 5G (sub-6 GHz)—
- 5G, Gigabit LTE, and Wi-Fi calling—
- 9-core CPU—
- Apple Intelligence—
- Apple Pencil support—
- audio_playbackSupported formats include AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Atmos
- Battery and PowerUp to 18 hours video streaming Up to 15 hours wireless web Built-in 53.8-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable (2 m) Fast-charge capable with 70W or higher USB PD power source
- battery_life_video_streamingUp to 18 hours video streaming
- battery_life_wireless_webUp to 15 hours wireless web
- battery_typeBuilt-in 53.8-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
- Bluetooth—
- Camera—
- Cellular data plan—
- Charging and ExpansionMagSafe 3 charging port 3.5 mm headphone jack Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports with support for: Charging DisplayPort Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s) USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s) MagSafe 3 3.5 mm headphone jack Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) External Display Support Supports up to two external displays: Two displays up to a native resolution of 6K at 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz
- charging_portsMagSafe 3 charging port, Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports
- configurable_memory24GB or 32GB
- configurable_storage1TB, 2TB, or 4TB
- cpu_cores10-core CPU with 4 super cores and 6 efficiency cores
- Data only—
- Digital zoom—
- display_brightness500 nits brightness
- display_colorSupport for 1 billion colors, Wide color (P3), True Tone technology
- display_size13.6-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2 2560-by-1664 native resolution at 224 pixels per inch
- Displays—
- eSIM—
- expansion_ports3.5 mm headphone jack
- external_display_supportSupports up to two external displays: Two displays up to a native resolution of 6K at 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz, One display up to a native resolution of 8K at 60Hz or 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
- Face ID—
- FaceTime calling—
- Fast-charge capable—
- FDD-LTE—
- FDD-LTE Bands—
- Gigabit LTE—
- iPad Pro uses advanced eSIM technology—
- iPadOS—
- keyboardBacklit Magic Keyboard with: 78 (ANSI) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 full-height function keys, Touch ID, Ambient light sensor
- Memory16GB 16GB unified memory Configurable to: 24GB or 32GB
- memory_bandwidth153GB/s memory bandwidth
- Models A3358 and A3361—
- Models A3358 and A3361 5G NR Bands—
- Nano-texture display glass option—
- neural_accelerators16-core Neural Engine
- Operating System—
- Power and Battery—
- power_adapter40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max
- processor—
- SDR brightness—
- Sensors—
- Size and weight—
- Storage512GB 512GB SSD Configurable to: 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB
- TD-LTE—
- TD-LTE Bands—
- thickness—
- UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA—
- Up to 4K AirPlay—
- USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter—
- video_playbackSupported formats include HEVC, H.264, AV1, and ProRes, HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10+/HDR10, and HLG
- Wi-Fi—
- Wi-Fi + Cellular models—
- Wi-Fi 7—
- Wi-Fi calling—
- XDR brightness—