iPhone 12 Release Date Rumors: Apple May Launch Devices Earlier Than Usual In South Korea

Apple might be releasing its upcoming iPhone 12 lineup earlier than it usually launches iPhones in South Korea, a report claims.

The Korea Herald, citing unnamed sources, said Apple will release the upcoming iPhone 12 series “earlier than its usual schedule” in South Korea. Officials at local telecom operators told the publication the devices may be sold starting late October or early November.

Apple hasn't provided the actual iPhone 12 series release date at the moment, but various reports indicate that it might be announced on Oct. 13 and will be sold in select markets starting Oct. 23.

Previously, the Cupertino tech giant released iPhones in South Korea a month after releasing the same devices in the U.S. The iPhone 11 models, for example, were released in the U.S. on Sept. 20. The devices were then released in South Korea more than a month later on Oct. 25.

The change in the iPhone maker's release schedule could be due to the number of 5G users in South Korea, the report said. The Asian country was the first to commercialize 5G telecommunications more than a year ago in April 2019.

Official data from the country's Ministry of Science and ICT revealed that as of July, South Korea already has nearly 8 million 5G users, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Apple is looking to attract those 5G users in South Korea, the report said. All four iPhones that are included in the upcoming lineup are believed to offer support for 5G connectivity. The 5.4-inch iPhone 12 Mini, lower-end 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro are expected to offer support for Sub-6Ghz 5G.

The highest-end model, the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max, on the other hand, is expected to offer support for the mmWave 5G variant, which uses a huge 28GHz band for faster network connections.

If the report from The Korea Herald is accurate, the iPhone 12 Pro Max will be the first handset in South Korea to support such a high-frequency signal, giving 5G adopters a better, faster option. This is due to the fact that other smartphone makers such as Samsung and LG currently do not have handsets capable of supporting mmWave 5G.

Nevertheless, South Korean iPhone 12 Pro Max buyers will not be able to enjoy 28GHz speeds since local carriers still need to establish the equipment needed for it.