Major Carriers Begin Sales of iPhone 18 Series, from Exclusive Sales to Discounts and Trade-In Deals

South Korea's three major mobile carriers are taking preorders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The official launch date is the 18th. The carriers are entering sales with a range of benefits and promotions.

SKT will exclusively sell the 2TB model. For preorder customers, SKT has prepared special membership benefits under the "Club iPhone 18 Pro" program.

SKT is also running a lucky roulette event on T Direct Shop, offering trade-in rewards for used phones, and providing coupons through the T Direct Shop KakaoTalk channel.

Preorder applicants will receive a free coupon for two iced Americanos at Mega MGC Coffee. The coupon can be obtained through the T Membership app.

For a drawing among customers who complete activation after preordering, SKT has prepared fall camping support, up to KRW 50,000 off Kakao Pay, and up to KRW 50,000 off at Lotte Cinema. All customers who activate after preordering will receive a 2-month subscription to Kakao Emoticon Plus and a free coupon for Outback baby back ribs.

Benefits vary depending on when activation is completed. Customers who complete activation by October 18 will receive a 2-month subscription to T Universe Google AI Plus (400GB) and a 4-month subscription to Tving Ad Standard. Customers who complete activation by October 31 can enter a limited-edition prize drawing. Prizes in the drawing include signed baseball packages and keepsake packages for 210 people, invitations for 100 people to the Garmin Run event to be held at Goyang Sports Complex on November 15, and iPhone 18 Pro phone cases with T1 players' signatures for 500 people.

T Direct Shop is also running additional events. A lucky roulette event will run until September 18, with prizes including vouchers for purchasing the new iPhone. Buyers of the 256GB and 512GB models can receive vouchers worth up to KRW 200,000, and buyers of the 1TB and 2TB models can receive vouchers worth up to KRW 300,000. Vouchers can be used until September 30.

A trade-in reward promotion for existing devices is also being offered. Customers who buy a new iPhone and then return their old device will receive compensation.

For an iPhone 17 Pro 256GB in A-grade condition, compensation of up to KRW 1.22 million will be provided. Additional compensation is available through "MINTIT ALL compensation" and "extra compensation for your old phone," and the two additional compensation programs combined can provide up to KRW 150,000 separately.

Buyers using Hyundai Card, which supports Apple Pay, will be eligible for 36-month interest-free installments. Buyers who purchase through installment plans with partner Hyundai Card will receive monthly discounts and a coupon pack, and discount coupons through the KakaoTalk channel will also be provided.

SKT plans to exclusively sell the iPhone 18 Pro 2TB model on T Direct Shop. SKT also plans to exclusively sell the iPhone 18 Pro Max 2TB model on T Direct Shop.

LG Uplus is offering AI calling features and prize drawings, among other benefits. LG Uplus has also prepared a variety of discounted purchase benefits and purchase events. In addition, it will provide discount coupons worth up to KRW 200,000 that can be used when activating through the U+ official online store.

Customers who pay with Samsung Card or Hyundai Card after preordering can receive up to 36 months of interest-free installments. When paying with Samsung Card, cash back of up to KRW 100,000 will also be offered depending on conditions.

The promotion consists of an existing phone trade-in promotion, purchase events, and review events. Customers who trade in an existing phone and then buy the iPhone 18 Pro series will receive additional compensation of up to KRW 180,000 on top of the existing used-phone trade-in value.

Purchase events will also be held. Prizes in the drawing for preorder and purchase customers include the LG Stand By Me 2 Max, Roborock S10 MaxV Ultra, AirPods Max 2, and Dior Saddle card wallet. A purchase review event will also be held, and prizes for participants in the drawing include the AirPods 4 Active Noise Canceling model and a Nike reusable bag.

In addition, LG Uplus is offering everyday services to buyers of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The AI calling app ixi-O supports call recording and summarization, the overseas voice calling service "Roaming Call," real-time voice phishing risk detection called "Voice Phishing Financial Safety," and the "AI call answering" function that applies the actual voices of BOYNEXTDOOR members. The period during which users can select a BOYNEXTDOOR member's voice in "AI call answering" runs from the end of September to December 31.

For subscribers to plans of "Plus Plan 115" or higher, LG Uplus will cover the full 24 months of service fees when using iCloud 200GB through "U+ Mobile Payment."

LG Uplus will additionally provide Naver Pay worth KRW 30,000 to subscribers of the Phone Change Pass. It will also use AI hosts on the live commerce show "U+ LIVE" to explain the iPhone 18 Pro series' main features, model-specific characteristics, and preorder benefits.

LG Uplus will provide an Apple accessory coupon worth KRW 50,000 to customers who preorder through the live broadcast and then complete activation in line with the guidance.

KT is preparing customer benefits such as limited-edition goods and partner cards, and is holding an event to mark the 10th anniversary of its 20s brand, "Y." It will then hold a drawing for Y-dam customers who buy a new iPhone and enter through KT Direct Shop.

Y-dam customers are integrated or 5G plan subscribers aged 19 to 34. The drawing will include 2,000 winners, and those selected will receive a limited-edition "Y birthday gift" package. The package includes special goods such as a Monami 153 Signature pen commemorating Y's 10th anniversary, a Y artist collaboration cake towel, memo pads, a MagSafe Grip Tok, and stickers.

If customers use a partner card, they can receive monthly device and service discounts, as well as card-specific cash back, for 24 months depending on their monthly spending conditions. The double-discount offers apply to the "KT Installment Plus KB Kookmin Card" and the "KT Family Satisfaction Installment Shinhan Card," with discounts based on monthly card spending of KRW 700,000. However, the previous-month spending requirements differ by card. Through this, customers can receive up to about KRW 1.29 million in service and device discounts over 24 months, while cash back totals KRW 150,000, with up to KRW 100,000 for the KT Installment Plus KB Kookmin Card and KRW 50,000 for the KT Family Satisfaction Installment Shinhan Card.

Separately, on KT's official online mall, KT Direct Shop, customers can receive up to a 32% service discount by combining a 25% rate discount with an additional exclusive 7% discount. It also offers 24-month interest-free installments or a 10% cash-back benefit up to KRW 100,000 for customers paying with individual-name Hyundai, Samsung, BC, or Hana cards.

It is also running an event for customers who switch carriers. The first 1,000 welcome customers will receive a KRW 50,000 Casetify gift certificate, and customers who use a referral code when buying products at KT Direct Shop will receive Naver Pay points worth up to KRW 20,000.

Source: TECHWORLD · Kim Hye-jin
Original: https://www.epnc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=406847

References

• https://www.epnc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=406847