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Beau10

macrumors 65816
Apr 6, 2008
1,390
723
US based digital nomad
I'm sure apple has sent them out for review a couple of weeks ago. Reviewers are on an embargo, that is they cannot say much if anything until a certain time, which is next week

They actually get review units before official announcements? Surprised Apple would expose themself to leaks like that. It's one thing to say something directly, it's another to be one out of dozens of anonymous sources with incontrovertible proof of a product's existence.
 
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maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,735
They actually get review units before official announcements?
Yes, that's a common occurrence. It takes time to craft a review, i.e., spending time with the product, running tests, benchmarks, writing the script, filming, editing. Companies typically send out review units weeks in advance.

Most [reputable] reviewers don't leak anything because the consequences are so high. Do you risk losing out on ever getting another apple, nividia, dell, etc product if you leak something early - could be devestating for the reviewers business model.
 

Beau10

macrumors 65816
Apr 6, 2008
1,390
723
US based digital nomad
Yes, that's a common occurrence. It takes time to craft a review, i.e., spending time with the product, running tests, benchmarks, writing the script, filming, editing. Companies typically send out review units weeks in advance.

Most [reputable] reviewers don't leak anything because the consequences are so high. Do you risk losing out on ever getting another apple, nividia, dell, etc product if you leak something early - could be devestating for the reviewers business model.

Any source/proof that Apple actually does this though? It seems full reviews tend to come a week or two after the embargo is lifted. Usually they're more like first impressions with things that are easy to measure.

Again, it would be virtually impossible to know if there are literally dozens of folks with the products in hand w/ physical proof. You don't need to provide photos, just have a quick video chat w/ Gruber for a few minutes and boom, 100% confirmed a product w/ no way for Apple to ID the leaker.

I can imagine they have UPS/Fedex hold them until the morning of the announcement, which gives them ~week which should be enough time for their teams to craft a 10 minute first impressions video.
 
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maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,682
43,735
It seems full reviews tend to come a week or two after the embargo is lifted. Usually they're more like first impressions with things that are easy to measure.
The sites I visit seem to release reviews the day of the embargo is lifted.
Any source/proof that Apple actually does this though?
Nope, just my opinion, after using logic. The embargo lifts and then I see a 30 minute video drop that very morning.
 

Beau10

macrumors 65816
Apr 6, 2008
1,390
723
US based digital nomad
The sites I visit seem to release reviews the day of the embargo is lifted.

Nope, just my opinion, after using logic. The embargo lifts and then I see a 30 minute video drop that very morning.

Which ones, examples? I've only seen initial shorter first impressions on embargo (both youtubers and tech blogs) and then a later follow up that is a proper review.

My opinion after using logic is this is extremely unlikely given Apple's history. I can see it for other companies though.
 

Beau10

macrumors 65816
Apr 6, 2008
1,390
723
US based digital nomad
This article shows the embargo dropping on 09/21 and the verge, cnet, iJustine, etc all posting reviews before you could buy one (09/24/2021).
iPhone 13 review round-up: a meta review of Apple's latest iPhone 13 lineup

"While we’re working to get our hands on a review unit, we wanted to share a round-up of hands-on videos and brief reviews"

The Verge one highlighted as being more extensive (and updated weeks later with longer term Max testing): "Now look, I've only had these phones for a week or so"
 
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UltimateSyn

macrumors 601
Mar 3, 2008
4,925
9,097
Massachusetts
They actually get review units before official announcements? Surprised Apple would expose themself to leaks like that. It's one thing to say something directly, it's another to be one out of dozens of anonymous sources with incontrovertible proof of a product's existence.
Yes, that's a common occurrence.
No, they don't. Not for Apple. The press is briefed and provided with their review units shortly after the public announcement.
 
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