Recently, during the elementary school enrollment season, the most popular products have been identified as kids' phone models. This appears to be due to an increase in child-related crimes and dual-income households, leading to higher demand for child care.
The three major mobile carriers have expanded their offerings by releasing various kids' phones since the end of last year, resulting in a higher purchase share. Currently, there are five types of kids' phones on the market: SK Kids Phone Cookiez Mini, LG X2 ZEM, LG Kids Phone Kakao Little Friends Phone 3, KT Kids Phone Aki Phone, and Moomin Kids Phone models.
Among these, the models with the highest sales are LG U+’s Kakao Little Friends Phone 3 and SKT’s LG X2 ZEM, manufactured by Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics respectively. Both are popular as regular smartphone types rather than watch-type devices.
The LG U+ Kakao Little Friends Phone 3 is priced at 239,000 KRW. It is based on Samsung Electronics’ low-cost smartphone model Galaxy A10E, equipped with child-friendly software, and features a 5.8-inch Infinity-V display. The Kakao Little Friends Phone 3 includes the Kiwi Play app, which allows real-time location tracking and helps cultivate proper smartphone usage habits. It also supports educational features such as U+ Kids Live Library, Essence Korean Dictionary, and YBM English Dictionary to aid learning ability improvement.
SKT’s LG X2 ZEM model is based on LG Electronics’ LG X2 smartphone and supports the ZEM app for location tracking and smartphone usage control. It also comes preloaded with the Qanda Math 5-Second Solution search app and a video editing application. The retail price is 219,000 KRW.
The three major carriers are offering various benefits such as increased official subsidies and reduced fees to attract new subscribers for the growing demand in kids' phone models. Meanwhile, the smartphone group purchase discount cafe 'Moms Phone' is selling all kids' phone models from each carrier?including LG X2 ZEM, Kakao Little Friends Phone 3, Moomin Kids Phone, Aki Kids Phone, and Cookiez Mini?at a 100% discount, effectively making the cash price 0 KRW. Additional gifts include a 50% discount on fees, three months of fee support, and a 100,000 KRW department store gift certificate as part of a free kids' phone promotion.
Additionally, a half-price pre-order event for the Galaxy S20 is underway. Customers who pre-order the Galaxy S20 receive a 50% discount on the device and extra high-value gifts such as a Nintendo Switch, 27-inch Roomen TV, LG PuriCare Air Purifier, department store gift certificates, and PlayStation 4, enhancing the benefits.
To clear existing device inventory, discounts on 5G and LTE smartphones have been significantly increased. Models such as the LG V50S ThinQ, Galaxy S10 5G, Galaxy Note 10, and Galaxy Note 10 Plus are discounted to less than half price. The Galaxy A90 5G, Galaxy S9, Galaxy A50, iPhone 7, and LG G8 ThinQ models are sold at a cash price of 0 KRW with no installment payments. The iPhone X and Galaxy S10 Plus are sold in the 100,000 KRW range, with additional gifts including Belkin fast wireless chargers and department store gift certificates worth up to 200,000 KRW.
Furthermore, to support purchases of the iPhone 11 series, which has fewer carrier discounts, gift benefits have been enhanced. Buyers receive genuine AirPods Pro, a 200,000 KRW device discount, Apple Watch 3, 27-inch Roomen TV, LG PuriCare Air Purifier, and department store gift certificates, increasing customer satisfaction.
A representative from 'Moms Phone' stated, "Kids' phones, which have become the most favored gifts among lower-grade elementary students, are being sold at 0 KRW with enhanced benefits, leading to a significant increase in orders and high satisfaction among parents. Since the Galaxy S20 pre-order schedule was announced, the number of customers applying for pre-orders to receive half-price discounts has been rising sharply every day."
Detailed information on the kids' phone promotion and Galaxy S20 pre-order event can be found at the smartphone group purchase discount cafe ‘Moms Phone’.
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