I'm helping a severely vision impaired friend learn how to better use her Apple devices. She has an iphone 17 pro max and a Series 11 watch. I am know helping her pick out a new Ipad. I'm leaning toward the 13" iPad pro M5 but am a little concerned this is a little overkill. Do you folks think the M5 is worth the extra money? Thanks
Comments
AirPod
The AirPad does a lot and be able to use SIRI if comes out. The pro is good and if the person will learn to do more things than just the basics, could benefit with it in the future. Is better to have it than later needed. Long live cats.
Cheapest iPad
If you must get an iPad right now, go for the cheapest A16 model. If you can wait a little longer, Apple should release a newer version of that model with an A18 which will be even better.
The Pro and Air models are overkill for 99% of use cases. You could also consider the Mini, but that one has the A17 chip and is a little older.
Future
Also what is the person planning to do with it? Cheaper does not mean good. If the person has the money, plan for the future. Long live cats.
LIdar and image recognition
One reason I have been leaning toward the Pro with the M5 chip is the inclusion of the LIdar technology with the Pro. As I understand things, this make image and object detection much better and the M5 chip processes the information much faster. Plus, when Gemini is incorporated in the Apple ai system in September of this year (26) the Lidar is supposed to be even more of an asset. Siri is also supposed to be much improved. So, any opinions of the Lidar "advantages"? Thanks again.
Oldsarge
Agree. Also with the chat box that suppose to come in iOS 27. Like I said better having it than needing it. With it will be for more than 7 years.
Why an iPad?
Hi Oldsarge,
No sarcasm intended here, but why an iPad?
If she already has an iPhone 17 Pro Max, practically speaking, she already has everything an iPad can do--including LiDAR.
The iPad is a great media consumption device--audiobooks, TV shows, YouTube videos, etc. It is less so for anything involving creation of the written word.
In short, there isn't much that an iPad will be able to do for her that her iPhone 17 Pro Max will not.
The only situation in which I would *actively* recommend an iPad for someone is if they have some usable vision. In that scenario, I would go for as big of a device as possible for the screen size.
Now with all of that said...
If she just wants an iPad, I would personally go for either the iPad Mini or one of the larger models, depending on whether or not she makes any use of the visual aspects of the display.
Michael Hansen
With respect, it is probably easier to type on it than iPhone. I have 16 pro max but long typing on text, I use my iPad. Specially with an external keyboard. For short messages, I use my iPhone but mostly use Siri for sending messages. Long live cats. PS, Bella preferred the iPad when she play with it when she was alive.
Screen size
I'll admit I'm new to this so I'm in a learning mode. My thoughts are that she will rely on the iPhone when out of the home (shopping, restaurants, etc.) but will primarily use the iPad when at home. Although I have resized her most critical icons (phone, messages, etc.) by incorporating them into widgets icons via shortcuts), and have increased her text size, I assume the much larger screen of the iPad would be really helpful to a person with very poor vision. She is trying to use a magnifying glass now which, of course, is cumbersome to say the least. I'm teaching her to use the zoom and magnifier functions but to get something large enough on the iPhone screen to see there is only room for a few sentences at best. Siri has been a godsend but does seem to be awfully clunky. As I understand things, Apple will incorporate Google's Gemini a.i. into their ecosystem in Sept. of this year which, among other things, will hopefully make Siri more robust and reliable. I guess I'm trying to future-proof things for her so she won't have constantly be updating her equipment. Of course, this is made more difficult for me since I'm not overly familiar with Apple (long time Android user I'm afraid). I'm also hopeful that the combination of the M5 chip and the 13" screen might result in the iPad somewhat substitute for an old Mac laptop she still uses (but on it's last legs).
apps
I think apple setup where you can make the app simple and enlarge the buttons. I think it came out last year. You can make the app simple, it was setup for those who needed such as the elderly who use iPhone and find it overwhelming. Sure someone here will give more info about it. LLC.
Assistive Access
I'm betting you are referencing Assistive Access. This is a really simplified and near bulletproof interface that Apple provides to help people not get lost in all the capabilities and options available in the "normal" interface. We did give it a try but found that, while it might be great for the person who would be fine with the simplicity of an old flip phone, Siri was really problematic. Plus, while she is visually impaired she is still sharp and hopes to still do most of the things she did before her vision went south. The Assistive Access interface has it's place but she is not ready to strip her device options to that extent just yet. Thanks!
Oldsarge
Yes. LLC.
Don't go too high
For her use case, going for an M5 iPad doesn’t really justify the extra cost. At home, we use several models—iPad mini 5, iPad 9, iPad 10, and iPad Air—and in day-to-day use, the performance differences are hardly noticeable.
As for LiDAR, many apps now rely on AI and can achieve solid results using standard cameras, so the added hardware isn’t as critical as it once was. Also, using a slate-style iPad to take photos for recognition isn’t always the most comfortable or practical experience.
Ultimately, it comes down to value for money—you want to feel that what you’re paying is actually worth it. Whatever option you choose, I hope it works out well for you.
Maldalain
This is why what she going to do with it and what she sees herself doing in 4 or 5 years. Apple will be releasing better SIRI and others related features to AI. Having an iPad that will meet those features is important. I have iPad 9 and will never be able to use AI or the so call SIRI 2.0. LLC.
Low Vision Recommendation
Hi Oldsarge,
First, I take back much of what I said above, as I was operating under the incorrect assumption that your friend used VoiceOver. Unfortunately, the VoiceOver experience on iPad is IMHO subpar, and for a VoiceOver user I wouldn't recommend an iPad unless someone just wants one. (Like I did.)
For someone with usable vision, the recommendation changes significantly. For her use case, I 110% agree that a device with the largest screen possible is the way to go. I also think that future-proofing her device is a good idea, though I think there comes a point of diminishing returns especially with the iPad. From everything I have read, the iPads with the M-series chips have way more power than what the average user will need.
Regarding LiDAR, I agree with Maldalain that using the camera for recognition (where the LiDAR scanner might possibly be helpful) on an iPad is not ideal. I just do not see holding the device one-handed and trying to use the back camera, to be a great experience. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has LiDAR and is much easier to handle.
Of the 13-inch models, I think the M4 iPad Air is likely to be the better value, even though it lacks LiDAR and some of the other more premium features of the Pro. If money is no object, the M5 iPad Pro is certainly available... I just don't think it's going to deliver any functionality she will notice practically speaking. Apple publishes technical specifications for all of its devices, and I definitely recommend reviewing the tech specs for both iPad models to get a complete idea of the differences.
Correction: ipad overpowered
Trueth: The iPad has way more power than what any software can practically and technically ever hope to use thanks to apple locking ipad down still like ios even in 2026 with ipad os 26. Beyond the ipad vs laptop debate, this is true and everyone agrees here.
M-chips
If iPadOS is too locked down to take full advantage of the M chips, why bother using them? Maybe the idea is to have more room for future expansion via software?
Ipad air 13 inch
I would strongly recommend for your use case just getting a refurbished 13-inch iPad Air with either the M2 or M3 chip. I do not see people with visual impairments benefiting from the difference between an M2 and an M5.
As for LiDAR, it has already been mentioned that there are great AI apps that can achieve the same outcome using the main camera.
Hopefully this helps!