I have not bought an iPad for almost 5 years - which was just an iPad Mini 5 (2020) - which unfortunately didn't fare that well with the latest iOS26, now giving off an underwhelming experince, being sluggish. You can of course use it for all essential, normal tasks - but as soon you do something more... well, it ain't fun.

Damn !

Before that, I had bought the iPad Pro 13" (first generation) back in year 2015 - which is still going strong - but of course not updated to the latest iPadOS (which often is not a good idea anyway) Let's face it, there is a time when devices get sluggish and... surprise... Apple wants you to buy a new one. That's how business goes.

It is better to stay away of the last two OS. Once you update, and the previous software isn't signed by Apple anymore - you can never go back (unless you saved a backup copy of your device - which i had not with the iPad Mini 5).

Now the iPad Pro 13" being 10 years old, is a really, really good testament. Perhaps it goes like this; don't buy too weak tools when you buy new - so that you have leeway later on ! Don't update to the very latest iOS / iPadOS, because it might break the camels horse, becoming sluggish. It's better to keep it smooth with the previous OS version instead - so you can still enjoy it for years to come.

This is now my thinking

Choosing on the very latest iPad Pro 11" (M5) - with that a literally crazy powerful M5 processor. In fact it is so powerful that the single core result is something like 70% faster than a single core in my MacStudio M1 Max. In the multi-core the new M5 processor beat the powerful M1 Max processor by a hair ! [If i understood it correctly the M1 Max is a binned dual M1 processor arrangement). There was also an M1 Ultra, which were 4x M1 processor binned together in one MacStudio model.

How the new M5 processor performs - where impressive is an understatement. Image that as a M5 Max, or M5 Ultra arrangement in a future MacStudio... woof. However my MacStudio i bought 3-4 years ago, is absolutely wonderful and it has life for many years to come, still.

Very serious Horse power

Now since the iPad Pro it is an iPad, you will not feel that horse power really, due to the iPadOS. (unless you are a heavy coder, do studio production with video etc). The sheer numbers in GeekBench 6 are astonishing, to say the least. Well, several years have passed since I bought the MacStudio M1 Max... i think 3.5 years ago.

Like with the original iPad Pro 13" from 2015, i believe this new iPad Pro 11" will last for very many years to come, due to the strong headroom the processor has. I don't need to be worried like with the iPad Mini 4 just recently, to become sluggish because of a new iPadOS.

Curiously, the iPad Pro 13" first gen, is definitely behind my iPad Mini 5 from 2020... I am a bit surprised. But likely shouldn't. Still, the old one still goes strong. Well yes, the iPad Mini 5 of course works too. But none of them has a genuine fluidness...

Acting like a "Stand alone unit" for me

Since I am not truly a super fan of iPad's in real life - because i use them far too little. My iPad Mini was in essence just lying around without use... So, instead, I added the luxury of the sinful expensive Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (M5). Simply because i do enjoy the experience of a laptop at the same time i enjoy the protection it gives to the iPad device. And it can still be used as an iPad !

So, the new iPad Pro will function like a separate unite - like a MacBook. (Not really tied to my MacStudio home computer - or at least not in the same way - because the iPad Pro doesn't need to "duplicate the apps and functions" of my home computer).

Acting instead more of independent iPad & MacBook. I can move it, take it with me, and all that stuff associated with iPads. And it will not go sluggish in the first place, not even after 4 years, like what happened with my back then new iPad Mini 4.

So. There is that.

Wi-Fi model

Oh by the way - I chose the Wi-Fi model over the 5G model. A bit cheaper plus i don't need an extra internet contract. I let internet go through my iPhone when needed. Works like a charm and I've got plenty of Gigabites left over for using it on the iPad Pro.

Nevertheless, I still have to wait 2-3 weeks until I get the iPad Pro + Magic keyboard for iPad Pro.