iPhone 16’s Surprise Move: South Korea Joins First-Wave Launch

Recently, it was reported that in the first quarter of 2024, Samsung once again claimed the top spot in global smartphone shipments, while Apple experienced a double-digit decline in shipment volume, dropping to second place. According to ETNews, in response to Samsung’s competitive pressure, Apple may designate South Korea as one of the first launch regions for the iPhone 16. If this information is accurate, it will be the first time South Korea becomes one of the initial launch countries for the iPhone series.

The report states that industry sources have revealed Apple has informed mobile operators in South Korea that the region is included in the iPhone 16 launch list. Currently, these operators are preparing marketing efforts for this model. However, when ETNews journalists interviewed South Korean industry officials, they did not receive a definitive answer. Instead, the officials mentioned that even internally, they are cautious about the release timing of the iPhone 16.

Since the introduction of the iPhone series, South Korea has consistently been in the second or third batch of regions for Apple’s release plans. This is reportedly due to the necessity for the iPhone to obtain certification from South Korea’s “Broadcast and Communication Equipment, etc. Conformity Assessment” before it can be launched, which often leads to product information leaks during the certification process. Consequently, although the iPhone 15 series was launched in September last year, it was not officially available for sale in South Korea until October 13.

However, some analysts are not optimistic about the market performance of the iPhone 16 series, claiming that the model lacks significant upgrades and has minimal differences from the iPhone 15. Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that Apple’s shipment volume might decrease by 15% this year.