Apple guards its upcoming products with extreme secrecy. However, a major leak in October 2024 saw the Russian YouTuber Wylsacom unboxing the M4 MacBook Pro weeks before its official release.
The same story now unfolds with the upcoming M5 iPad Pro. Wylsacom unboxed and showcased the device a few days ago, again weeks before launch. And another Russian YouTuber did the same the next day. So how do Russian YouTubers manage to grab unreleased Apple products so early?
Such leaks are rare for Apple devices
Android devices are usually the ones unboxed and leaked on camera weeks before launch. Apple products rarely slip into the public eye that early. But last year’s M4 MacBook Pro and the upcoming M5 iPad Pro stand out as exceptions. While the iPhone 17 lineup also leaked heavily this year, no one unboxed it on camera before the official unveiling.
Given Apple’s tight control over its supply chain, last year’s MacBook Pro and the new M5 iPad Pro leak raises some serious questions. Most notably, how did a Russian YouTuber acquire unreleased Apple products so early? Another Russian YouTuber Romancev768 joined the bandwagon yesterday (October 1), publishing an unboxing video of the M5 13-inch iPad Pro.
Adding insult to injury: Apple does not sell its products in Russia through official channels. This makes the leaks even more puzzling.
In two of these cases, the unboxing video originated from the same YouTuber: Wylsacom. With more than 10 million subscribers, he commands a massive following for a Russian creator. That kind of reach gives him credibility and influence, opening doors to gray-market channels and factory sources willing to risk supplying unreleased devices.
Leaked devices trace back to Vietnam
The MacBook Pro and iPad Pro leaks have one thing in common: Both products were made in Vietnam. So, it’s likely that insiders at Luxshare or Foxconn funneled unreleased devices to Russian YouTubers.
It typically takes a few weeks after mass production of a device begins before Apple unveils the product. That gives a leaker enough time to steal a few units from the production line and pass them to Russian YouTubers or anyone else willing to pay the price. YouTubers in the United States and other regions might shun such opportunities, knowing Apple would quickly take legal action against them.
This also explains why the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air did not leak on camera before their debuts. Apple manufactures its iPhones in China and India, not Vietnam. The company likely has a tighter grip over its production line in these countries to avoid such leaks.
