The next-generation iPad Pro is on the horizon. Its OLED screen is reportedly already in production, and the launch is rumored for this autumn with a new Apple M5 processor on board.
The upcoming iPadOS 26 might do more to spur sales of the tablet than a faster processor or gorgeous screen, though.
M5 iPad Pro coming in late 2025
The 2024 iPad Pro pushed the computer to new heights. It beat the Mac to be the first with the M4 processor and an OLED display. But it’s been out for more than a year, and a successor is in the pipeline.
“Apple is set to release new iPad Pro models in the latter half of 2025,” Digitimes reported Wednesday, citing ZDNet Korea as the source. It also said both Samsung Display and LG Display are already producing OLED panels for the upcoming tablet.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that a new generation of Apple’s premier tablet is on the way. The product line usually gets refreshed roughly every 18 months, and with the last coming in spring 2024, a fresh iteration is due in autumn 2025. Also not surprising is the mention of an OLED display, considering the current model boasts this beautiful type of screen.
An Apple M5 processor is virtually certain. Previous unconfirmed reports indicate that Apple was testing M5-equipped iPad Pro prototypes months ago. The M5 has yet to be announced, but it’s supposedly already in production, and the upcoming chip will emphasize on-device AI performance.
Considering the 2025 iPad Pro is expected to be a chip-it-and-ship-it model, with the new processor the major hardware change, a price increase is unlikely. If so, the 11-inch version will start at $999 and the 13-inch version at $1,299. Of course, President Donald Trump’s tariffs could change that.
iPadOS 26 could spur iPad sales
The M5 iPad Pro should launch at about the same time as iPadOS 26, a version of the operating system currently in beta. It ushers in a lengthy list of new features sure to please the type of people willing to pay hefty sums for a top-of-the-line iPad. Many of these make the tablet more Mac-like, without losing the general iPad look and feel.
Most notably, there’s a new application windowing system similar to the one in macOS. There are also considerable updates to the Files app. Plus, the Mac’s Preview app made the jump to iPadOS.
Those who’ve been holding off on buying an iPad because it wasn’t enough like a Mac should reconsider this autumn. And if enough people do, there could be a spike in Apple tablet sales.
