M4 MacBook Pro Leaks: Apple’s Worst Security Breach Since the iPhone 4
- Apple’s worst-kept secret? The M4 MacBook Pro is out in the wild weeks before its official reveal.
- Leaked unboxing videos show off the M4 MacBook Pro in stunning detail.
- Is this Apple’s biggest security slip since the iPhone 4 prototype fiasco? You decide.
Russian YouTubers Leak Apple’s Upcoming M4 MacBook Pro
In a stunning twist for a company renowned for its secrecy, Apple’s upcoming M4 MacBook Pro has been heavily leaked, weeks before its official announcement. Russian YouTuber Romancev768 has uploaded videos purportedly showcasing what looks like a real M4 MacBook Pro, offering what seems to be a comprehensive look at the laptop’s design and specs.
For Apple, a company famous for guarding its product releases with utmost care, this is a massive security breach—the likes of which we haven’t seen since the infamous iPhone 4 incident when a prototype was left in a bar. But for tech enthusiasts, the leaks are a treasure trove of information, shedding light on the highly anticipated device.
Photo via YouTube // Multiple Russian tech YouTubers have now published unboxings of Apple's unreleased M4 MacBook Pro. The question is: is any of this real?
A String of Leaks
The leak saga began in late September when ShrimpApplePro posted what appeared to be the packaging of the M4 MacBook Pro. Things escalated quickly from there. Soon after, two separate Russian YouTubers, Romancev768 and Wylsacom, claimed to have secured units of the M4 MacBook Pro, releasing detailed unboxing videos.
But it didn’t stop there. Rumors swirled that these units were being sold privately on Russian classifieds sites and Facebook, with an estimated 200 units available. Such a wide-scale leak is unheard of in Apple’s recent history, especially so close to a product launch.
Photo via YouTube // While this seems like an unprecented leak, we will have to wait until Apple's official unveiling in a few weeks to know for certain.
What the Leaks Reveal
M4 Specs and Upgrades
If the leaked units are legitimate, they reveal much about Apple’s forthcoming M4 MacBook Pro:
- Processor: The M4 chip promises significant improvements over its predecessor, with leaked Geekbench results showing a 27% increase in single-core performance and a 31% boost in multi-core tasks. Meanwhile, benchmarks for Apple’s Metal API suggest a 20% improvement in GPU performance over the M3.
- Memory and Storage: The leaked M4 MacBook Pro units reportedly come with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. This is notable because the current base model M3 MacBook Pro comes with 8GB of memory. If true, this could mean Apple is doubling the entry-level RAM for the new M4 series—something insiders like Mark Gurman have hinted at for a while.
- Color and Ports: The leaked units sport a Space Black finish—a color previously reserved for the more expensive M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBooks. The devices also appear to feature three Thunderbolt 4 ports, a welcome upgrade from the two Thunderbolt 3 ports on the base-level M3 MacBook Pro.
"Could this be a hint that the entry-level M4 MacBook Pro will get double the RAM of its M3 equivalent?" one might wonder. It's a tantalizing thought.
Photo via Mashable // Could the M4 MacBook Pro come with 16GB of memory as the base model? Leaked specs suggest so.
A Shaky Apple Supply Chain?
The sheer volume and detail of these leaks suggest a major failure within Apple’s supply chain. If the leaked units are indeed genuine, this represents one of the most serious breaches in Apple’s recent history. Apple is infamous for cracking down on leakers, with some even facing fines or jail time. Yet, despite these measures, it seems that someone has slipped through the cracks in a big way.
Is Apple's security slipping? For a company so notorious for its iron-clad control over pre-release information, this incident raises uncomfortable questions.
Should We Trust These Leaks?
On the surface, the leaks seem convincing. Multiple individuals claim to have access to unreleased MacBook Pro models, complete with functioning M4 chips and unreleased features. However, it's worth noting that some of these MacBook details could be faked. Geekbench results, for instance, can be spoofed, and it’s possible that what we’re seeing could simply be M3 Pro models disguised as M4 units.
"There’s nothing that conclusively proves that these laptops are something different from what’s come before," cautions Romancev768, even as he unboxes what he claims is an M4 MacBook Pro. The murkiness surrounding the authenticity of these leaks only deepens as more videos and benchmarks surface.
Looking Ahead: October Event
The only thing that will truly settle the debate is Apple’s official reveal, rumored to take place at an event later this month. If the M4 MacBook Pro shown at the event matches what’s been leaked online, it will confirm a monumental breach in Apple’s security. Until then, we’re left in suspense.
Photo via NotebookCheck // Apple’s infamous secrecy seems to have failed this time—leaks are everywhere for the unreleased M4 MacBook Pro.
Performance Compared: M4 vs. Competitors
If the leaked benchmarks are accurate, the M4 chip looks poised to dominate. Here's a quick look at how it stacks up:
| Chipset | Single-core (Geekbench) | Multi-core (Geekbench) |
|---|---|---|
| M4 (rumored) | 3,864 | 15,288 |
| Dell XPS 13 (Snapdragon X Elite) | 2,797 | 14,635 |
| Asus Zenbook S 16 (Ryzen AI 9) | 2,765 | 13,282 |
| Asus Zenbook S 14 (Intel Core i7) | 2,751 | 11,157 |
| M3 (current) | 3,163 | 11,968 |
With a reported 22% boost in single-core performance and 28% improvement in multi-core, the M4 chip is shaping up to be a serious contender against its closest rivals from AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm.
Final Thoughts
The M4 MacBook Pro leaks have sparked a firestorm of speculation, but for now, it’s all guesswork. Apple’s official event can’t come soon enough to put the rumors to rest. If the leaks are true, Apple’s fans are in for a treat. But if not, it will go down as one of the most elaborate—and effective—fake-outs in tech history.
Stay tuned for Apple’s likely October event to see if these leaks hold any truth. Until then, the mystery lingers.
Recommended by the editors:
Thank you for visiting Apple Scoop! As a dedicated independent news organization, we strive to deliver the latest updates and in-depth journalism on everything Apple. Have insights or thoughts to share? Drop a comment below—our team actively engages with and responds to our community. Return to the home page.Published to Apple Scoop on 12th October, 2024.
No password required
A confirmation request will be delivered to the email address you provide. Once confirmed, your comment will be published. It's as simple as two clicks.
Your email address will not be published publicly. Additionally, we will not send you marketing emails unless you opt-in.