M4 MacBook Pro retail units out in the open as Apple's leak strategy flounders
Apple's products leaking out before their launch is hardly a matter of surprise. However, retail units of Apple's M4-equipped MacBook Pro showing up in not one, but two Russian YouTubers' hands almost an entire month before the estimated launch? Now that, for sure, is a plot twist no one saw coming. If Cupertino has a mole problem, this is no small fry - this is the stuff of supply chain nightmares.
However, that is exactly what seems to be happening. Just hours ago, we covered a story surrounding a YouTube video by a popular Russian YouTuber who unboxed an alleged M4 MacBook Pro, and ran Geekbench on it. Of course, the scores are impressive - but that is a surprise to no one, considering that the chip has already made its appearance in the OLED iPad Pro almost four months ago.
Speaking of the video, it all seemed a bit off - the same old M3-era wallpaper being printed on the box, the 'system details' of the MacBook being cleverly hidden from sight, as well as the extra Thunderbolt port that was previously exclusive to the M3 Pro and M3 Max variants. However, merely a few hours ago, YouTuber Romancev768, who also got his hands on an 'M4 MacBook Pro', left no stone unturned, and openly flaunted the 'About the Mac' window on his 14-inch MacBook Pro, showcasing the M4 SoC in all its glory, paired with 16 GB of memory.
But here's the question that is likely brewing in all of our minds - how in the world, are retail units of unreleased MacBook Pro models reaching Russian YouTubers nearly a month before launch? The answer to that question is well beyond my understanding, and it honestly feels best to leave it that way. Regardless, Apple's got a serious supply chain snafu on its hands, one that is certain to make the company's top brass sweat. Is it the iPhone 4 debacle all over again? Hard to say.
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