The three mobile carriers announced that they will begin pre-orders for the iPhone 15 series, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 starting from the 6th. They have launched marketing competitions featuring special benefits tailored for the 10-20 age group, who have a high preference for iPhones, along with abundant prizes such as luxury bags.
The iPhone 15 series will start pre-orders on the 6th, with activation available from the 13th. A key feature is the first-ever adoption of a USB-C charging port. The standard and Plus models have replaced the notch with a 'Dynamic Island.' This is a pill-shaped punch-hole display that only cuts through the camera module area, improving usability. The Pro and Pro Max models feature titanium cases to reduce weight and enhance grip feel.
The main camera is 48 megapixels. The standard and Plus models offer 2x optical zoom, the Pro offers 3x, and the Pro Max offers 5x optical zoom. The smartphone’s brain, the application processor (AP), is the A16 Bionic chip for the standard and Plus models, and the A17 Pro chip for the Pro and Pro Max models.
The standard and Plus models come in five colors: Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Black. Storage options are 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. The Pro and Pro Max come in four colors: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium. Storage capacities for the Pro are 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB; for the Pro Max, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Prices start at ▲Standard 1,250,000 KRW ▲Plus 1,350,000 KRW ▲Pro 1,550,000 KRW ▲Pro Max 1,900,000 KRW.
An SKT promotional model introducing 'SKT's exclusive iPhone 15 benefits' at the SKT flagship store T Factory. [Photo by SKT]
SKT Partners with Musinsa and Olive Young... Targeting 20s '0 Youth'
SKT is holding a ‘0 Youth Special Exhibition’ in collaboration with ‘Musinsa,’ running promotions for customers who activate SKT iPhone 15 through Musinsa. Customers who activate will receive discount coupons with a 100% winning chance, and through a lottery, 1st prize winners will receive three best items from the Musinsa special exhibition, with a total of 2,500 people receiving various benefits. In partnership with ‘Olive Young,’ SKT is running the ‘Olive Young x 0 Youth’ promotion. New and existing subscribers of the ‘0 Youth Plan’ will receive a 10,000 KRW discount on their first purchase at Olive Young (for purchases over 10,000 KRW). New subscribers to the ‘0 Youth Plan’ will also receive an additional 5,000 KRW discount (for purchases over 50,000 KRW).
Through an exclusive partnership with Apple, SKT is launching the ‘T iPhone Damage Light’ insurance product. This insurance specializes in front screen damage coverage and costs 6,800 KRW per month. Customers on plans 99 or higher will receive a 50% discount on their monthly fee for 12 months as part of a promotion.
SKT offers a total discount of 600,000 KRW over 24 months through affiliated card discounts of 25,000 KRW per month and interest-free installment benefits. The T Safe Compensation program provides up to 720,000 KRW for used phone trade-ins, and SKT official certified stores offer additional benefits ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 KRW depending on the model when returning used iPhones. Customers who activate the iPhone 15 and subscribe to the ‘0 Youth Plan’ will receive an additional 10,000 KRW T Safe Compensation benefit.
Special experience zones will also be operated. The flagship store T Factory will run the ‘2023 World Championship Victory Wish T1 Pop-up Store’ from the 10th to November 19th. On the second floor, a special iPhone 15 experience zone will be set up where customers can experience the performance of the iPhone 15 through the ‘A.Dot Game’ and ‘LOL Mobile Game.’
At SKT’s official online mall T Direct Shop, a promotion will be held where 5,000 customers who pre-order the iPhone 15 will be selected by lottery to receive a Starbucks ‘T Bearista Card’ and up to 10 drinks worth 120 stars. Additionally, for the first 20,000 customers on a first-come, first-served basis, specialized delivery services such as same-day delivery, guaranteed 2-hour early morning delivery, and 8 AM morning pick-up at nearby stores will be provided.
Kim Ji-hyung, head of SKT’s integrated marketing strategy, stated, “We have prepared a variety of unique benefits, including collaboration events with popular brands favored by young customers and exclusive insurance products only available through SKT, in line with the launch of the iPhone 15.”
KT’s Special Event for 'iPhone Mania'
KT offers 5G Y Dum customers aged 29 or younger (using Basic plans or higher) who activate an iPhone up to two lines of smart device fee discounts, allowing free use of Apple Watch and iPad lines. If they join the Y Wireless Bundle by the month following activation, they can receive up to 11,000 KRW monthly discount per person for 24 months depending on the plan. Additionally, by entering an event on the Y Box app, 3,000 people will be selected by lottery to receive 1 year of 200GB iCloud storage benefits.
KT will provide tickets to the ‘National Soccer Team A Match’ through a lottery for customers who pre-order the iPhone 15 series. Among customers who pre-order and apply on the purchase benefits integrated event page, a total of 400 people (200 per match, 2 tickets per person) will receive tickets to the friendly matches against Tunisia on the 13th and Vietnam on the 17th.
KT has also prepared benefits for ‘iPhone Mania’ customers who have purchased iPhones four or more times. The first 500 iPhone Mania customers will receive an official Apple MagSafe Battery Pack. Customers who purchase together with family or friends will receive even richer benefits. When family or friends who are combined with iPhone 15 series purchasers activate together, four movie tickets will be given on a first-come, first-served basis, and through a lottery, an iPad Pro 11-inch and AirPods Max will also be provided.
Early morning delivery is also available. For the first 3,000 customers in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and six major metropolitan cities who purchase through KT’s official online mall KT Shop, delivery will start at midnight on the release day. Other customers can choose delivery methods such as store pickup or courier service according to their situation.
Customers purchasing from KT Shop can receive up to 100,000 KRW additional compensation above market price for used phone trade-ins. Additionally, a non-face-to-face return service that includes data cleansing and doorstep collection is provided to enhance customer convenience. Furthermore, customers can save on installment interest with 24-month interest-free installments regardless of the card company when using card installment payments.
LGU+ Offers Luxury Bags and Sneakers to iPhone Customers
LG Uplus is giving away luxury bags, premium sneakers, AirPods Max, and other generous prizes to customers who pre-order the iPhone 15 series. Among customers who apply for pre-orders on the official online store ‘Uplus.com,’ prizes will be awarded by lottery, including one Miu Miu bag, 14 Nike x PeaceMinusOne Air Force 1 sneakers, 21 AirPods Max, 49 iApp sweatshirts, 70 COS mini bags, and 1,000 KakaoPay 10,000 KRW coupons.
Among customers who activate through Uplus.com, a total of 5,790 people will receive one of the following on a first-come, first-served basis: 3,000 Nike reusable bags, 890 Crow Canyon mugs, or 1,900 popular keyrings from brands like Matang Kim and Cozy Moji. Additionally, 10,000 customers will receive a 20,000 KRW discount when purchasing a smartphone upon activation.
LG Uplus is also running an event on the iPhone 15 series pre-order exclusive site where customers who apply and spend 10,000 KRW or more on Apple App Store, subscription services, or in-app purchases using ‘U+ Mobile Payment’ will receive a 10,000 KRW bill discount.
Special benefits are also prepared exclusively for 20s ‘Youth’ customers. Among 20s pre-order customers, the first 20,000 will receive 3,000 Naver Pay points as ‘Youth Support Funds.’ An ‘IMAX Movie Night’ event screening three movies consecutively in the evening will invite 1,200 Youth customers. The 20s exclusive benefits can be applied for on the Youth website. All pre-order customers will receive bill discounts and exclusive affiliated card promotions.
For Uplus.com activation customers eager to use their new smartphones quickly, a ‘Night Delivery’ service will start sequentially from midnight on the activation start date, the 13th.
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