Barely surfaced, they're gone again: Videos allegedly showing the iPhone 18 Pro in a drop test spread rapidly on Google X on Monday – and were removed shortly afterward, along with the account responsible. Much suggests that Apple itself is behind the swift cleanup.
The clips are related to the cyberattack on Indian Apple manufacturer Tata Electronics, in which confidential Apple documents ended up on the dark web. According to a Reuters report, the stolen material includes documents watermarked with Apple, component details, supplier information, code names, and footage of the iPhone 18 Pro during drop tests. Videos of precisely these kinds circulated on X at the beginning of the week before disappearing shortly afterward - an unusually swift process.
What can be seen in the videos
The short clips, according to the descriptions, show a silver-gray iPhone 18 Pro being dropped in a laboratory setting. A more uniformly designed back is noticeable, a departure from the two-tone appearance of the current iPhone 17 Pro. The expected triple-camera setup is present, with the lenses reportedly protruding more from the camera module than before. The Apple logo on the back also appears more reflective in the footage.
These observations align with the previously anticipated design of the iPhone 18 Pro, which largely follows its predecessor and is expected to distinguish itself primarily through detail changes and a new color palette. Apple itself has not commented on the content, but the videos are likely authentic, as their description matches the information in the Reuters report.
Apple's unusually swift intervention
The footage was initially shared via an account called @EvLeaks and subsequently retweeted by the well-known leaker Ice Universe, who called it the biggest leak in Apple's history. Shortly afterward, Apple removed the posts, citing a violation of its rules, the @EvLeaks account was suspended, and Ice Universe deleted his own repost. 9to5Mac also retracted a report about the drop test videos that morning.
Whether the deletions were initiated by Apple or Tata remains unclear. In China, Ice Universe stated on Weibo that Apple had already blocked the leaked data on the platform. This has not been confirmed, but the speed with which the content disappeared suggests that Apple is acting much more decisively here than with previous leaks – a good two months before the expected unveiling of the iPhone 18 Pro this fall.
A leak of questionable origin
The source of the videos raises further doubts. The name @EvLeaks is closely associated with the renowned leaker Evan Blass, who was known for his accurate predictions over the years. However, Blass deactivated his account under that name in May for health reasons and has not posted about smartphones since. After the alleged drop test video surfaced, he addressed the issue via his personal account, clarifying that he had nothing to do with the new @EvLeaks account or the iPhone leak.
X itself offers an explanation: Paying premium users can take over inactive usernames. The once-trusted name was therefore likely simply passed on to someone else, which partly explains the initial high level of attention the leak received. Regarding the suspension of his former account, Blass remarked wryly that Apple may have achieved what Samsung had never managed to do over all these years.
Unusually tough approach before the market launch
Whether the videos are genuine or not cannot be definitively determined from the outside. However, it remains undisputed that an Apple supplier was attacked and that iPhone 18 Pro documents were among the stolen files. Apple is investigating the incident and is working with Tata on long-term security measures. The swift action taken to combat the spread of the virus demonstrates one thing above all: how crucial it is for the company to maintain control over the appearance of its next flagship model right up to its official launch. (Image: Shutterstock / Jess Rodriguez)
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