The iPhone 12 lineup may launch in South Korea earlier than usual, reports The Korea Herald. The publication says South Korean telecom firms have told them the iPhone 12 lineup will launch ahead of its usual schedule.
The South Korean launch of iPhones traditionally comes around one month after the North American launch. Last year, the iPhone debuted in South Korea on October 25, more than a month after the September 20 U.S. launch.
As pointed out by MacRumors, South Korea was the first country to commercialize 5G telecommunications back in April 2019. As of July 2020, the country counted nearly eight million 5G users. The country is expected to be a key market for the iPhone 12, as the iPhone 12 lineup will offer the first 5G-capable iPhones.
Apple currently holds only a small slice of the South Korean smartphone market, with a 19% share. (Samsung holds the lion’s share of the South Korean smartphone market, with 67%.) An earlier launch could help Apple gain a larger share of the market in the country.
Most rumors point to the U.S. debut of the iPhone 12 happening on Tuesday, October 13, with devices actually hitting shelves on October 23. Stay tuned.