A massive data breach at an Indian manufacturing facility operated by Apple supplier Tata Electronics has yielded what appears to be the earliest and most revealing look yet at next year’s iPhone 18 Pro. Initially reported as a general loss of confidential information, the scope of the stolen material has since widened to include detailed imagery, internal schematics, and video of physical durability testing.
Drop Test Videos Surface Briefly
Two short videos, allegedly sourced from the Tata breach, surfaced on X under the handle @evleaks. They depicted a device consistent with the expected iPhone 18 Pro design in a grey finish, featuring a rear camera layout similar to that of the iPhone 17 Pro. A refined dual-tone finish on the back was visible, appearing less pronounced than on prior models, at least in this colorway. In the footage, the handset survives a short drop—though observers noted the fall appeared to be from a height of only a few centimeters. The videos were removed from the platform shortly after posting, and the account itself was suspended.
The individual behind the well-known @evleaks moniker in past years, Evan Blass, has since stated publicly that the account in question was not operated by him, describing it as either a fan account or an impersonator. He further clarified that he played no part in the Tata leak, though his statement did not weigh on the authenticity of the footage itself.
Internal Components Begin to Surface
Alongside the video clips, still images of internal hardware have begun to circulate. One photo shows what appears to be the mainboard design for an iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max. Additional teardown-style imagery emerged in late June, revealing several hardware revisions compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. Among them are an expanded cooling surface on the vapor chamber and a relocated infrared emitter, now positioned at the upper-left corner of the Face ID array rather than within the primary camera module. That particular shift supports earlier rumors that the Dynamic Island cutout on the Pro models will shrink in 2026, as the dot projector and infrared components can be housed more compactly. X‑ray images have also appeared, offering an unprecedented view of the complete internal layout months ahead of the devices’ expected September introduction.
630 GB of Data and a Phony Packaging Trail
Reuters and Apple Insider report that hackers extracted approximately 630 GB of data in the intrusion. The contents are said to include not only details on the iPhone 18 Pro and the A20 processor but also documentation concerning the new Apple C2 modem—a component expected to replace Qualcomm modems in Pro iPhones for the first time. Apple Insider verified the documents as authentic.
The files also shed light on Apple’s countermeasures against previous design leaks. One disclosed tactic involved creating iPhone packaging printed with fake M4 iPad Pro camera designs ahead of the iPhone 17 Pro launch, a deliberate effort to mislead supply-chain snooping. Despite the breach’s scale, the reporting suggests the fallout for Apple may be limited. Some of the records circulating on dark-web forums appear deliberately redacted and pertain primarily to older iPhone generations. For now, no images have yet emerged of the anticipated iPhone Ultra or the 20th-anniversary iPhone models reportedly planned for 2027.
Sources: www.reuters.com, appleinsider.com, www.notebookcheck.com, x.com, x.com, x.com