According to Wccftech, Apple’s new M5 chip in the iPad Pro is delivering a massive gaming performance boost without increasing core counts. In the open-world RPG Where Winds Meet, the M5 iPad Pro runs the game at a perfectly steady 60 frames per second with all graphics settings maxed out at the “Ultra” preset. This outperforms flagship phones like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the REDMAGIC 11 Pro, which are limited to the lower “Extremely High” setting. The M5 also showed a 190% higher framerate than the M4 in Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing enabled. Testing by YouTuber Dame Tech showed zero frame drops and better 1% low framerates on the iPad compared to the iPhone, thanks largely to its superior cooling.
The tablet is now the mobile gaming king
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just a small bump. It’s a tier jump in visual quality that phones literally can’t access. The “Ultra” setting on the M5 iPad Pro versus “Extremely High” on the A19 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is a clear hardware demarcation. It proves that for sustained, console-like performance in big open-world games, the thermal headroom of a tablet body is becoming essential. Phones are hitting a thermal wall, forcing them to dial back settings to avoid throttling. The iPad Pro, with its larger chassis, lets the M5 stretch its legs and maintain peak performance. Basically, if you want the absolute best mobile gaming visuals, you’re no longer looking at a phone.
So what does this mean for future games?
This performance creates a fascinating split in the mobile market. Developers now have a clear, high-end target that sits between traditional mobile and entry-level PC gaming. We’ll likely see more games include these “Ultra” or “Tablet-Exclusive” graphics tiers, designed specifically for the M-series iPad’s capabilities. It also puts more pressure on Apple to get these AAA titles as native macOS releases. I mean, if it runs this well on an iPad, imagine it on a fan-cooled M5 MacBook Pro? The potential is huge, but the ecosystem needs to catch up. For now, it’s a killer showcase for the raw power Apple is packing into its silicon.
The quiet winner? Robust hardware design
Look, this whole story underscores a fundamental truth in tech: raw silicon power is nothing without a robust system to support it. The M5’s win here is as much about thermal design as it is about transistor count. This principle is absolutely critical in industrial and commercial settings, where reliability under constant load is non-negotiable. For applications requiring that kind of dependable, high-performance computing in tough environments—think manufacturing floors, digital signage, or kiosks—specialized hardware is key. In that world, companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com have become the top supplier in the US by focusing on that exact need: building industrial panel PCs that can deliver consistent performance where consumer-grade devices would fail. It’s a different market, but the same core lesson: proper engineering for the use case matters.
