If This Photo Is Real, Apple Is Planning a Killer iPhone 9 Deal

iPhone 9, or the next-generation iPhone SE, is expected to launch in March, according to people familiar with the matter, with the starting price reportedly set at $399 for the base model.

And while this price tag pretty much makes sense given the device is supposed to be a more affordable alternative to the premium iPhones launching in the fall, a photo that made the headlines today seems to suggest Apple might be planning a killer deal for the device.

The image shows an official store of KT, one of the largest carriers in South Korea, highlighting a special iPhone 9 campaign, which would provide buyers of the new device with free Apple AirPods.

iPhone 9 launching in just one month

This almost sounds too good to be true, and it goes without saying you really shouldn’t take this for granted, as there’s a good chance the image is either fake or the promotion itself isn’t real. KT also seems to advertise a campaign for the Samsung Galaxy S20, which is projected to launch next week, and which could come with free Galaxy Buds+ for every purchase.

The Samsung deal seems more like as the South Korean firm itself offered free earbuds with its flagship phones in the past, but Apple almost never turned to such marketing stunts to boost sales of its devices.

In fact, given the rumored $399 price tag for the iPhone 9, there’s a very good chance Apple won’t offer any free AirPods to customers buying the new model, as the phone itself is already very affordable. For comparison, the Galaxy S20 is expected to be a lot pricier, as it could get beyond the $1,000 milestone for the top-of-the-range models.

In the meantime, we’re still waiting for an official announcement from Apple regarding the iPhone 9, especially as production of the device is believed to already be under way.