iPhone 12 Mini, Second Most Popular Model in Korea with Concentrated Subsidies
US Shows Lowest Sales for iPhone 12 Mini... iPhone 12 Preferred More
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The 5.4-inch 'iPhone 12 Mini,' which is selling popularly in Korea, is ironically being treated coldly in the United States.
According to industry sources on the 14th, among the iPhone 12 series, the relatively affordable Mini model has ranked second in sales following the iPhone 12 Pro since early this month, the second week after its domestic release. In mid-November, shortly after its launch, it was only in third place behind the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12, but sales surged at the end of last month when the three major Korean telecom companies simultaneously raised the official subsidies for the Mini model.
On the other hand, the Mini model has not been able to avoid sluggishness in the U.S. According to U.S. market research firm Wave7 Research, the iPhone 12 Mini recorded the lowest sales in its first month of release. It accounted for only about 4-5% of the major U.S. carriers' sales. This contrasts sharply with the iPhone 12 model, which became a bestseller with sales around 30%.
On the 30th, when Apple's first 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12 series, was officially released in Korea, customers were examining the products at the Apple Store on Garosugil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
The reason why the iPhone 12 Mini is particularly popular in Korea is largely due to its price. Korean carriers raised the official subsidies for the iPhone 12 Mini, priced in the 950,000 won range, from a maximum of 240,000 won to 430,000 won within just a week of its release. Considering that iPhone series subsidies are usually relatively low and have never been raised immediately after launch, this is very unusual. Targeted subsidies focused on the iPhone 12 Mini, which has the lowest retail price, aiming at the college entrance exam season, led to a rapid increase in sales. It is evaluated that the iPhone 12 Mini was seen as a more attractive alternative than the second-generation iPhone SE among Korean consumers who prefer flagship models.
However, in the U.S., where there was no subsidy competition, consumers preferred the relatively higher-spec iPhone 12 over the iPhone 12 Mini. The iPhone 12 is $100 more expensive than the Mini model but has a screen size 0.7 inches larger and a bigger battery capacity. Additionally, in the prepaid phone market, the second-generation iPhone SE, which is $300 cheaper than the iPhone 12 Mini, was more preferred.
Flurry Analytics explained, "This means consumers do not consider the size of a device that fits in their pocket to be important," adding, "The second-generation iPhone SE could cannibalize the market of the iPhone 12 Mini."
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