Honestly, walking into an Apple Store lately feels a bit like entering a high-end jewelry boutique. You see these impossibly thin slabs of glass and aluminum, and you just know your wallet is about to take a hit. If you're asking how much new iPad Pro models cost in 2026, you're likely looking at the M5-powered beasts that dropped late last year.
The sticker shock is real.
We aren't just talking about a tablet anymore. We’re talking about a device that, in its top-tier configuration, costs more than a decent used car or a very high-end MacBook Pro. Apple has effectively split the lineup into "expensive" and "you've got to be kidding me."
Breaking Down the Base Price
If you want the absolute entry point for the "Pro" experience, you're looking at the 11-inch model. It's the one most people grab because it actually feels like a tablet. It's portable. You can hold it in one hand without getting a wrist cramp after ten minutes.
The 11-inch M5 iPad Pro starts at $999.
For that grand, you get 256GB of storage. In 2026, with 4K video files and massive AI-driven apps, 256GB feels a little tight, doesn't it? But that’s the "budget" Pro. If you want the big screen—the 13-inch monster that basically acts as a portable cinema—the starting price jumps immediately to $1,299.
That $300 gap is purely for the screen real estate and a slightly larger battery. Internally, they’re identical at the base level.
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The Storage Trap (and the RAM Secret)
Here is where Apple gets sneaky. You might think you’re just paying for more room for your photos, but with the M5 generation, storage is tied to performance.
If you stick with the 256GB or 512GB models, you get 12GB of RAM and a binned version of the M5 chip (usually a 9-core CPU). It’s fast. Ridiculously fast. But it’s not the full M5.
To unlock the "real" power—the 10-core CPU and a massive 16GB of RAM—you have to jump to the 1TB or 2TB storage tiers. This is a massive price hike.
- The 11-inch 1TB model costs $1,599.
- The 13-inch 1TB model hits $1,899.
And if you’re a professional video editor or someone who just refuses to use the cloud, the 2TB 13-inch model with 5G cellular will set you back $2,499. That is before you even touch an accessory.
The Nano-Texture Tax
Wait, there's more. If you work outside or under bright studio lights, you’ll probably want the nano-texture glass. It’s that matte finish that kills reflections without making the screen look like a muddy mess.
Apple only offers this on the 1TB and 2TB models. It adds another $100 to the price. So, a fully kitted 13-inch iPad Pro with the "pro" glass is now hovering around $2,600.
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Don't Forget the "Required" Extras
Nobody buys an iPad Pro to just poke it with their finger. To actually use the M5's power, you're basically forced into the accessory ecosystem.
The Apple Pencil Pro is $129. It's great, sure. The haptic feedback and the "squeeze" gesture are game-changers for artists. But it's another hundred-plus dollars on the pile.
Then there's the Magic Keyboard. If you want the 13-inch version, it’s $349. The 11-inch version is $299.
Let's do some quick math for a "standard" professional setup:
- 13-inch M5 iPad Pro (512GB): $1,499
- Magic Keyboard: $349
- Apple Pencil Pro: $129
- Total: $1,977 (plus tax)
Basically, you’re spending two thousand dollars. At that point, you really have to ask yourself if you’d be better off with a MacBook Air or even a MacBook Pro, which often retails for less than this "tablet" combo.
Why the Price is Actually Trending Up
A lot of people hoped that by 2026, OLED technology would get cheaper. It hasn't. The "Tandem OLED" display Apple uses is still the most expensive component in the box.
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Plus, the M5 chip isn't just a minor refresh. According to recent benchmarks from sites like MacRumors and technical deep-dives on YouTube, the M5's NPU (Neural Processing Unit) is significantly beefier than the M4's. It's built specifically to handle Apple Intelligence 2.0 and local LLMs (Large Language Models).
Apple justifies the cost by saying this is a "workstation," not a media player. Whether or not iPadOS 26 actually lets you work like a pro is still a heated debate in the tech community. Some folks like Mark Ellis argue that the hardware is lightyears ahead of the software, making the high price tag a bit of a "power tax" for performance you can't always use.
Is there a way to pay less?
Yes, but you have to be smart about where you look. Apple is famously stingy with discounts on their own site, though they still offer the Education Store pricing. If you're a student or teacher, you can usually knock $100 off the iPad and $20-$50 off the accessories.
Third-party retailers are where the real action is. Amazon and Best Buy have been aggressive with the M5 models recently.
Just last week, we saw the base 11-inch M5 dip to $899 on Amazon. That’s a $100 saving that basically pays for half of your Apple Pencil. The M4 models (the previous generation) are also seeing massive clearance sales, sometimes up to $400 off. Honestly, for 90% of people, an M4 iPad Pro at a discount is a much better value than the M5 at full price.
Actionable Steps for Your Purchase
If you're staring at your bank account wondering if you should pull the trigger, here is how to handle the "how much new iPad Pro" dilemma:
- Check your RAM needs first: If you aren't doing heavy 3D rendering or 8K video editing, stay away from the 1TB/2TB models. You don't need the 16GB of RAM, and you'll save over $600.
- The 11-inch is the sweet spot: Unless you are a professional illustrator, the 11-inch provides the exact same chip performance for $300 less.
- Avoid the Apple Store for accessories: Brands like Logitech make the "Combo Touch" keyboard which is often $100 cheaper than Apple's Magic Keyboard and offers better drop protection.
- Wait for the "Holiday" or "Back to School" windows: Apple typically runs promos where they throw in a $100-$150 gift card. If you're buying at full MSRP in the middle of March, you're doing it wrong.
The iPad Pro M5 is a terrifyingly powerful machine, but it’s priced like a luxury item. Make sure you actually need that OLED screen and M-series power before you drop two months' rent on a tablet.