Tata leak: iPhone 18 Pro data on the dark web

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The data leak at Apple supplier Tata Electronics has reached a new level. Photos of drop tests of the still-unannounced iPhone 18 Pro have surfaced on the dark web, accompanied by a detailed list of the components used and their suppliers. This is particularly serious for Apple because the model is not scheduled for official unveiling until early September.

Last week, it was revealed that hundreds of gigabytes of files had leaked from Apple's Indian manufacturing partner, Tata Electronics, and ended up on the dark web. After Apple and Tata had already responded to the incident, further analysis now shows how deeply the documents delve into Apple's upcoming product generation. According to a Reuters report, one discovery in particular is currently causing the company concern: among the documents are reportedly drop test photos of the iPhone 18 Pro – the model Apple plans to unveil in early September.

Drop test photos show a familiar case

Reuters describes the leaked images as showing a conventionally flat, gray device with three rear cameras and the Apple logo, undergoing quality assurance drop tests. Such tests are part of the production readiness process for every iPhone, but the corresponding images are strictly confidential and never intended for public release.

Visually, the surprises are minimal. The images fit the expected design, which largely adopts the iPhone 17 Pro's look and, most notably, features a new color palette with Dark Cherry as the standout color. The real surprise here isn't so much the casing itself, but rather the fact that internal test photos have leaked at all.

Parts list reveals chips, camera and battery

Beyond the photos, the leak reportedly includes a detailed list of all iPhone 18 Pro components, along with their respective suppliers. According to the report, this includes information on the chips on the mainboard, the camera, and the battery. This would expose a significant portion of the supply chain for an unreleased Apple device – information that is normally among the most closely guarded secrets surrounding a new iPhone generation.

The content could not be independently verified so far: Neither we nor the reporting media had any independent access to the material.

Circuit diagrams for A20 Pro and C2 modem in the data

Technical documents are likely to be even more sensitive. According to the leak, it also includes circuit diagrams for the upcoming A20 Pro chip and the C2 modem. The A20 Pro marks Apple's switch to TSMC's 2-nanometer process; this chip family, along with the regular A20, is expected to be used in the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e. The C2 modem, in turn, is Apple's second in-house cellular technology and is intended to further replace Qualcomm components.

Circuit diagrams of this kind provide clues about a device's internal architecture long before Apple itself reveals any details. They are therefore significantly more sensitive than a case photograph, which is already largely known through dummy models and previous leaks.

Sensitive product data before the September launch

Unlike the usual dummy images and color rumors, the latest findings come directly from within the supply chain – including test photos, supplier lists, and chip documentation. It's impossible to definitively assess the authenticity and completeness of the material from the outside. What is clear, however, is that this incident comes at an inopportune time for Apple, just weeks before the official unveiling of the iPhone 18 Pro. (Image: Shutterstock / Jess Rodriguez)