Stolen iPad Pro M5 Units Surface in Russia After Apple Warehouse Breach

Unreleased iPad Pro M5 tablets that appeared in videos by Russian tech bloggers were reportedly stolen from Apple’s European warehouses before their official launch, Bloomberg reported on October 6.

The leak follows a similar incident last year involving MacBook Pro M4 devices, suggesting repeated breaches in Apple’s supply chain security.

According to Bloomberg, the tablets — featuring Apple’s new M5 processor—reached Russia through unofficial channels and were showcased on YouTube before the company’s official announcement.

Footage published by the blogger Wylsacom revealed the device’s packaging and performance benchmarks, confirming that the units were fully functional retail products.

Benchmark data cited by Bloomberg show a 12–15% CPU performance gain and up to 35% faster graphics processing compared to the previous M4 model. The tablet was running iPadOS 26, with system data indicating an August 2025 manufacturing date.

Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that Apple is investigating the security lapse. The company suspects that the devices were diverted from distribution centers in Europe before reaching retail networks. The packaging and serial data correspond to products intended for EU markets.

While the design remains nearly identical to the previous generation, Apple appears to have removed the “iPad Pro” label from the chassis — a change consistent with recent branding updates on the iPhone line.

The video posted by Russian bloggers shows the tablet activating in Chinese language by default, suggesting that the batch may have originated from Asian logistics hubs. The devices were able to connect to Apple’s servers and install region-specific Russian applications, confirming they were not prototype units.

Earlier, a Financial Times investigation revealed that Russian smugglers have been bypassing EU sanctions by routing luxury cars through countries like Turkey, Georgia, and South Korea. The report identified several Russian importers reselling vehicles from European dealerships at inflated prices, despite restrictions under the EU’s luxury goods ban.

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