iPhone 9 pre-orders may come with free AirPods

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Apple's ultimate value bundle?

(Image credit: @OnLeaks/iGeeksBlog)

The iPhone 9 (aka iPhone SE 2) should be Apple's first smartphone for 2020 at a very aggressive price. And it may come with a bundle deal that's too good to be true.

According to MySmartPrice, a Korean Telecom retail store has posted pre-order posters for the iPhone 9 that suggest that the phone could come with Apple's very popular AirPods.

This would be a very aggressive deal, but it's not clear whether the free AirPods with preorders would be specific to this Korean carrier or something Apple would also offer itself or approve for U.S. carriers.

The AirPods are among the best wireless earbuds you can buy, thanks to their easy pairing, good audio quality and solid battery life. Right now they cost $139 for the regular charging case and $169 with wireless charging case. My guess is that this promo would include the former.

It's not mentioned in this new report, but another recent leak points to a possible iPhone 9 Plus/iPhone SE 2 Plus model that would have a slightly larger 5.4-inch display and a fingerprint sensor built into the power button. So you wouldn't need a power button. 

Apple is rumored to be releasing the iPhone 9 as early as March, but it's not clear what impact the coronavirus may have on that release window. One analyst says that the epidemic could decrease iPhone production by as much as 10%. 

If you're looking for Apple bundles or other low-cost ways to join the AirPods fad, check out our roundup of the best fake AirPods.

Mark Spoonauer
Mark Spoonauer

Mark Spoonauer is the global editor in chief of Tom's Guide and has covered technology for over 20 years. In addition to overseeing the direction of Tom's Guide, Mark specializes in covering all things mobile, having reviewed dozens of smartphones and other gadgets. He has spoken at key industry events and appears regularly on TV to discuss the latest trends, including Cheddar, Fox Business and other outlets. Mark was previously editor in chief of Laptop Mag, and his work has appeared in Wired, Popular Science and Inc. Follow him on Twitter at @mspoonauer.