October 16, 2026 — Videos allegedly showing people collecting iPhone 18 smartphones and luxury perfumes from the waters of the Persian Gulf have gone viral following the sinking of a container ship near the Strait of Hormuz. But are the remarkable scenes real?
The story began after the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride caught fire and sank near the Strait of Hormuz on October 13.
All 21 crew members were safely evacuated, with no injuries reported.
Following the incident, photographs and videos circulated on social media showing floating containers and what appeared to be valuable merchandise scattered across the water.
Some posts claimed that local fishermen and residents were collecting boxes of iPhone 18 smartphones and expensive perfumes from the sea.
From Maritime Incident to Internet Sensation
The claims quickly sparked humorous reactions online.
Social media users joked about wanting to be among the lucky people collecting expensive smartphones for free.
Others suggested that fishing in the Persian Gulf had suddenly become more profitable than ever.
One viral joke suggested that even the fish in the Gulf now had the latest iPhones.
Are the iPhone Videos Real?
Although the sinking of GFS Pride is confirmed, the claims about thousands of iPhones floating in the water remain unverified.
Fact-checking organization Factnameh examined several widely circulated images and videos and found evidence that many were generated using artificial intelligence.
The manipulated footage included unusually perfect smartphone boxes, unnatural movements, and visual inconsistencies.
Other footage appears to show people collecting floating cargo, but there is no independent confirmation that the recovered items were iPhones or that they came from GFS Pride.
The ship’s complete cargo manifest has not been publicly released.
A Serious Incident Behind the Viral Humor
While the internet has turned the supposed discovery of floating smartphones into a source of entertainment, the original incident remains serious.
The sinking highlights growing dangers facing commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.
Floating containers can also create navigational hazards and pose environmental risks.
For now, the story of free iPhone 18 smartphones remains a viral internet sensation rather than a verified discovery.
The shipwreck was real. The floating iPhone treasure story has not been confirmed.
Sources: Al Jazeera · Factnameh — Fact Check · The National · Reuters
By NJ RADAR Team