iPad Pros M5 iPad Pro with Riley Hill (iPad Pros - 0235)
Oct 23, 2025
Join technology writer Riley Hill from SlatePad.org as he shares his hands-on experience with the M5 iPad Pro. He discusses purchasing decisions, real-world battery life, and the improvements from slide over in iPadOS 26.1. Riley critiques the iPad Pro’s pricing and RAM options while revealing his two-iPad workflow. Key features like Adaptive Sync, fast charging, and new cellular modem efficiencies are explored. The conversation also touches on the frustrations of Stage Manager and the M5's hardware limitations, all while maintaining a focus on tablet usability.
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Premium Features Locked To High Tiers
- Apple ties premium features (nanotexture, RAM) to higher storage tiers, forcing costly upgrades.
- That pricing design nudges buyers toward expensive configurations even if they only want a single premium option.
Use Cloud Models For Faster AI Art
- Try local offline models like Draw Things to test on-device AI, but expect long generation times.
- Use the app's cloud option if you need faster results and avoid prolonged device slowdowns.
Hardware Outpaces Software Initially
- Software frameworks lag behind new silicon, so early M5 gains may not be fully realized yet.
- Real-world app support must catch up before M5 AI hardware shows clear advantages.