The new Apple M5-powered iPad Pro comes with something unexpected – support for the Thread smart home protocol. It’s the first iPad to list Thread as an official feature, joining Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 as part of Apple’s new N1 wireless networking chip. Together, the three standards form the foundation of Matter, the cross-platform smart home system designed to help devices work together more easily.
While some earlier Apple devices reportedly contained Thread radios, it was not mentioned in the official specifications. That makes the new Apple M5-powered iPad Pro the first model to fully acknowledge the tech – and it could signal Apple’s renewed interest in making the iPad a part of a smart home setup.
A subtle but meaningful change
The addition of Thread doesn’t dramatically change how people use the iPad Pro. Apple hasn’t explained what it plans to do with the feature, just as it didn’t at first when it introduced Thread on the iPhone 15 Pro. The most likely explanation is practical: users may eventually be able to connect Thread-based devices – like smart lights, locks, or plugs – directly through the iPad, even if they don’t own a Thread border router.
That means setting up a new device could become easier, since users wouldn’t need to buy another piece of hardware just to make it work. However, full functionality might still depend on having a proper border router as part of a home or small office setup.
The iPad itself can’t serve as a border router because those devices must stay constantly connected. But having a Thread radio built into a mobile device allows for quicker and more stable communication with Thread gadgets. In some cases, it might even help when power goes out – for instance, by allowing an iPad to talk directly to battery-powered Thread locks until the main hub comes back online.
Building on Apple’s smart home efforts
Apple has supported Thread since 2020, when it introduced the HomePod Mini. The technology offers several benefits for connected homes: it reduces lag, uses less power, and relies on local control rather than cloud services. The number of compatible products is still limited, but it’s steadily growing as more manufacturers adopt the Matter standard.
With the new iPad Pro, Apple seems to be laying the groundwork for future smart home roles. One possibility is a return to using iPads as Home hubs – something the company phased out a few years ago.
Could the iPad be a hub again?
For a long time, any iPad could function as a Home hub, running automations and allowing remote control when users were away. That changed in 2022 when Apple introduced its updated Home Architecture as part of its transition to Matter. After that, only the Apple TV or HomePod Mini could handle advanced features like automation and secure remote access.
Users can still control devices and create routines through the Home app on an iPad, but the tablet no longer serves as the system’s central brain. If Apple were to restore that capability, especially with Thread support built in, it would make the iPad more useful in connected homes once more.
Yet using the new Apple M5 iPad Pro – which starts at around US$1,000 – as a home hub might not be the most practical choice. The feature would make more sense on less expensive models such as the iPad Mini, which could fill the role at lower cost.
What comes next?
The debut of the N1 chip inside the iPad Pro hints at what may be coming to other Apple products. The same technology could appear in the next Apple TV or the rumoured HomePod Mini 2. Alongside faster processors, adding the N1 chip would help these devices communicate more efficiently, improving how they manage and control smart home accessories.
While Apple hasn’t shared specific plans, the inclusion of Thread in the iPad Pro suggests that the company is quietly expanding its smart home strategy. Whether or not the iPad officially becomes a hub again, the move brings Apple one step closer to a more connected – and more capable – smart home ecosystem.
