There is a moment—quiet, almost unnoticeable—when technology stops being just a tool and starts becoming a companion. For creatives, professionals, and dreamers, that moment often begins with a device resting silently on a desk. Today, that device has a name: iPad Pro M5.
Officially released in Indonesia, the iPad Pro M5 arrives not with noise, but with promise. Apple says it is faster. Smarter. More powerful.
“Powered by next-generation Apple silicon, the new iPad Pro delivers the most advanced and versatile iPad experience ever,” said John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering.
But promises are easy. Performance is truth.
So the real question remains: Is the iPad Pro M5 truly faster than the M4—and should you upgrade?
Let’s walk through the evidence, slowly, clearly, and honestly.
First, Let’s Talk About Power: M5 vs. M4 in Real Numbers
Before emotion, there must be data. Before decisions, there must be proof.
That’s why detikINET tested both devices side by side—no marketing, no assumptions.
Antutu Benchmark: A Strong Foundation
Antutu measures overall system performance, combining CPU, GPU, memory, and UX.
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iPad Pro M5: 3,612,448
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iPad Pro M4: 3,088,914
That’s a 16.95% improvement.
Not revolutionary—but undeniably real. The M5 feels quicker, more responsive, and more confident under load. For everyday users, this means smoother multitasking. For professionals, it means fewer delays when ideas are flowing.
In other words: the M5 doesn’t shout—it moves efficiently.
And efficiency is power.
Then Comes Precision: Geekbench Reveals the Real Difference
However, raw power alone doesn’t tell the full story. What matters is how a device performs when tasks stack up, when apps run side by side, when time matters.
This is where Geekbench speaks clearly.
Geekbench CPU Scores
Single-Core Performance
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M4: 3,722
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M5: 4,141 (+11.26%)
Multi-Core Performance
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M4: 13,907
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M5: 16,793 (+20.75%)
This jump in multi-core performance is crucial.
For video editors, developers, designers, and multitaskers, this means:
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Faster exports
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Smoother editing timelines
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Better performance in parallel workloads
So, while the M4 is capable, the M5 is prepared.
Prepared for heavier projects.
Prepared for longer sessions.
Prepared for professional demands.
Meanwhile, Graphics Tell a More Subtle Story
Apple introduced a third-generation ray-tracing engine in the M5. On paper, it promises more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections—especially for visually demanding apps and games.
But benchmarks sometimes whisper instead of scream.
3DMark – Steel Nomad Light Results
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iPad Pro M4: 3,811
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iPad Pro M5: 3,906
That’s only a 2.49% increase.
At first glance, it seems modest. Yet this doesn’t mean the GPU upgrade is meaningless. It simply means that current benchmarks don’t fully exploit the new ray-tracing capabilities.
In real-world terms:
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Future games will benefit more
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Advanced 3D apps will scale better
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Visual realism will improve over time
The M5 GPU isn’t about today’s limits—it’s about tomorrow’s possibilities.
Where the M5 Truly Shines: AI Performance and Creativity
Now, this is where the story changes completely.
Apple claims the iPad Pro M5 delivers up to 3.5x faster AI performance thanks to a Neural Accelerator in every GPU core. While benchmarks don’t fully reach that number, real-world tests tell a powerful story.
Geekbench AI Results
M5 Scores
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Single Precision: 5,285
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Half Precision: 8,598
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Quantized: 6,796
M4 Scores
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Single Precision: 4,966
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Half Precision: 8,074
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Quantized: 6,431
Average improvement: ~6%
Not dramatic—but consistent. AI tasks feel smoother, more responsive, more reliable.
But benchmarks are still just numbers.
The real proof comes from creation.
DrawThings Test: When Time Becomes the Deciding Factor
Using the DrawThings app with the same AI image generation prompt:
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iPad Pro M5: finished in 17 minutes
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iPad Pro M4: needed 31 minutes
That’s a 1.82x speed improvement.
For AI artists, designers, and content creators, this is not a small difference. This is the difference between:
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Waiting… and working
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Delays… and momentum
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Frustration… and flow
This is where the M5 justifies its existence.
Finally, Real Work: 4K Video Rendering in CapCut
To close the test, both devices rendered a 2-minute 40-second 4K video in CapCut.
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iPad Pro M5: 1 minute 6 seconds
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iPad Pro M4: 1 minute 22 seconds
That makes the M5 1.24x faster.
For professionals who render daily, this saves hours over weeks, days over months.
Time saved is value earned.
So, Which Is Faster—and Which Should You Buy?
Let’s be honest.
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If you already own an iPad Pro M4 and only browse, stream, or take notes—upgrading is optional.
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But if you are a creator, AI user, editor, or professional—the iPad Pro M5 is the smarter investment.
It is not just faster.
It is more future-proof.
It is built for AI, creativity, and sustained performance.
And sometimes, the best purchase isn’t about speed alone—but about removing limits.
If your work matters, your time matters, and your ideas deserve room to grow—then yes, the iPad Pro M5 is worth it.
Because technology, like life, should never slow you down when you’re ready to move forward.