Apple Leak Drama Grows After iPhone 18 Pro Videos Disappear

Videos that appeared to show an unreleased iPhone being drop-tested vanished from X almost as quickly as they spread.

The clips, which were tied online to Apple’s rumored iPhone 18 Pro, surfaced days after ransomware attackers published more than 200,000 files allegedly stolen from Tata Electronics, one of Apple’s major manufacturing partners in India. Reuters reported that the leaked data included confidential Apple documents, supplier details, component maps, and photos of devices undergoing drop testing.

Adding to the confusion, per MacRumors, veteran leaker Evan Blass publicly distanced himself from the account, saying he had “nothing to do with the new @EvLeaks account nor the purported iPhone leak posted there.” He also remarked, “Looks like Apple may have done what Samsung never could.”

Ice Universe separately claimed on Weibo that Apple had “already banned the leaked data on Twitter.”

Apple has not commented publicly on the removals, and it remains unclear whether the takedowns resulted from a request by Apple, Tata Electronics, X’s own enforcement policies, or concerns that some of the circulating footage could be fake.

Breach exposed sensitive Apple files

The disappearing videos come days after ransomware attackers published more than 200,000 files stolen from Tata Electronics, one of Apple’s key manufacturing partners in India.

According to Reuters, the leaked data includes confidential Apple documents, supplier information, component maps, internal codenames, and photographs of iPhone 18 Pro devices during drop testing. The news agency said several files carried Apple’s confidential watermarks and showed what a source identified as iPhone 18 Pro models being tested at a Tata facility.

Reuters also reported that Apple is concerned because the documents reveal which suppliers manufacture specific components, including chips, battery parts, and camera modules for unreleased devices. The company is investigating the breach alongside Tata, which has reportedly tightened access to internal systems while conducting a forensic audit.

Authenticity remains an open question

MacRumors noted that the footage seemed consistent with Reuters’ reporting but said it could not determine whether the videos were genuine or had been removed because they originated from an impersonation account or were later deemed fake.

Several publications also cautioned that they had not independently verified the leaked material. Reuters likewise said it could not independently confirm the exact model shown in the images, although a source familiar with the matter identified the devices as iPhone 18 Pro units.

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Why it matters

The incident is significant not only because it may reveal aspects of Apple’s next flagship phone ahead of its expected September launch. It also exposes sensitive information about the company’s manufacturing network.

Supplier relationships are closely guarded within Apple’s supply chain, and the leaked documents reportedly identify hundreds of components and the companies that make them. That information could offer competitors, counterfeiters, and other industry players an unusual look into Apple’s production strategy.

If Apple did request the removals, it may also signal a more aggressive response to leaks that originate from cybersecurity breaches rather than the traditional supply-chain rumors that often surface before new product launches.

The leak may matter more than the phone

The videos themselves are arguably the least important part of this story. The larger issue is the breach that exposed confidential engineering records and supplier data from one of Apple’s fastest-growing manufacturing partners outside China.

For consumers, the clips add little beyond another early glimpse of a device expected to resemble its predecessor. For Apple, however, the leaked supplier maps and internal documents could carry greater long-term business consequences than any short video circulating on social media, particularly as the company expands production in India and works to secure its global supply chain.

Also read: Want a bigger look at what’s next for Apple’s smartphones? Check out our breakdown of the rumored iPhone lineup through 2027, including foldables, redesigned models, and more.