The M5 iPad Pro has appeared in full unboxing and review videos weeks ahead of its official launch. According to reports, the devices were likely stolen from Apple’s own supply chain in Europe and sold to YouTubers in Russia.
How did an M5 iPad Pro end up on YouTube already?
We’re used to leaks in the tech world, but seeing a major unreleased Apple product get a full hands-on review is on another level entirely. Yet, for the second year in a row, that’s exactly what’s happened. Following a similar incident with the M4 MacBook Pro last year, the upcoming M5 iPad Pro has been unboxed, benchmarked, and detailed on Russian YouTube channels.So, how did this happen? According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple pre-stocks warehouses around the globe with new products to ensure a smooth launch day. It seems some of these M5 iPad Pro units were stolen from a European depot and found their way into the hands of these content creators.
The videos themselves confirm what many expected: this is a pretty modest update. The main change is the jump from the M4 to the M5 chip. Interestingly, one rumored feature—a second front-facing camera—is nowhere to be seen in these leaked units, though Gurman is certain it was present on internal test models. This could point to a strange, last-minute decision by Apple to pull the feature.
So, what does this leak actually tell us?
For Apple, a company famous for its secrecy, a supply chain breach like this is a bit of a disaster. It completely undermines the “wow” factor of their launch events. While Apple’s hardware is still top-tier, these leaks give competitors like Samsung a chance to get ahead of the narrative. The Galaxy Tab S series is a beast, and if the M5 iPad Pro is seen as just an incremental bump, it might push some buyers toward Samsung’s camp.The leak essentially confirms that if you have a recent iPad Pro, you probably don’t need to worry about upgrading. It tells potential buyers that waiting for the M5 might not be worth it if they can find a good deal on an M4 model. For a company that thrives on hype, having the biggest reveals happen in a YouTube video instead of on a keynote stage is a major problem.
My two cents on this whole iPad leak mess
Honestly, this situation is just wild. It’s a fascinating look behind the curtain at the massive, complex logistics of a global product launch and how, even for a giant like Apple, things can go wrong. This isn’t just a leak; it’s a full-blown security failure, and it makes you wonder what’s going on with their supply chain management.Based on what we’ve seen, I wouldn’t be rushing to buy the M5 iPad Pro. As someone who loves new tech, the story behind the leak is far more interesting than the device itself appears to be. The performance jump to M5 will be nice, but it doesn’t seem to be a game-changer. For anyone with an M2 or M4 iPad Pro, this feels like an easy pass. This new model seems squarely aimed at people with much older iPads or those just entering the pro-tablet space.
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