Where to Spend Chuseok Allowance: Finding the Right New Device

Chuseok is a good time to consider replacing a smartphone or IT device. Some students plan to buy a new device with pocket money and savings, while some children may be thinking about replacing their parents' old smartphones after seeing them for the first time in a while. A number of recently released products also came out ahead of Chuseok.

Samsung Electronics has launched the Galaxy S26 FE, while Apple has released the iPhone 18 Pro and AirPods 5 in Korea. In August, the Galaxy Z Flip8 was released, and in June, the Galaxy A37 5G was released. Product prices vary, with earbuds priced around KRW 200,000 and smartphones approaching KRW 2 million.

However, the newest and most expensive products are not necessarily the best choice for everyone. The criteria for buying a device with holiday money differ from those for choosing a smartphone that will be used for years at nearly KRW 2 million. For a gift for parents, a large screen, battery life, and long-term usability may matter more than top performance. This Chuseok, it is necessary to choose based on price, features, and intended use.

Apple's AirPods 5, launched in Korea on the 18th, is being mentioned as one of the electronic device upgrades that feel accessible within the range of pocket money or family support. The photo shows an image of Apple's AirPods 5 in use.

AirPods 5 is priced at KRW 199,000. For those who often listen to music or watch videos while commuting or traveling to school or work, replacing earphones may deliver a more noticeable change at a lower cost than replacing a smartphone.

AirPods 5 supports active noise canceling (ANC). Apple says AirPods 5 reduces external noise by up to 50% more than the AirPods 4 ANC model.

However, for Android smartphone users, there is less need to switch to AirPods 5. If there is no inconvenience with existing wireless earphones, there is also little reason to replace them simply because a new model has been released.

For students and people in their 20s looking to replace their smartphone itself, one of the latest options is the Galaxy S26 FE. The Galaxy S26 FE was released in September, and the launch price of the 256GB model is KRW 1.045 million.

Samsung.com is offering instant discounts and card payment benefits through the end of September. However, the actual purchase price of the Galaxy S26 FE varies depending on the payment method and applicable conditions.

This product is priced above KRW 1 million, so it is difficult to categorize it as a value phone or low-cost smartphone. That said, it offers key S series features including Galaxy AI, so it can be seen as aimed at users looking to reduce the burden of buying a higher-end flagship.

Rather than being something to buy on impulse with holiday money alone, this product is more suited to replacing an older midrange smartphone. It is also presented as a good option for situations where family members contribute part of the cost.

Selection criteria vary depending on the purpose of the purchase. If price is the top priority, choosing an A series model is recommended. If top specifications and a camera are needed, it is worth comparing with the higher-end S series.

The photo shows the Galaxy Z Flip8 product image, and the source of the image is Samsung Electronics. The Galaxy Z Flip8 is a product aimed at users who value design and portability, and it will be released in August.

The Galaxy Z Flip8 costs KRW 1.683 million for the 256GB model and KRW 1.936 million for the 512GB model. It comes in graphite, cream, pink, and mint. Samsung Electronics is offering purchase benefits, including Galaxy product discount coupons, to customers who buy and activate the Flip8 by the 30th.

Foldable smartphones are praised for their unique form factor and usability, which differ from conventional bar-type smartphones. With the outer screen, users can check notifications or use some functions without unfolding the device, and in a half-folded state, it can be set upright for taking photos. These points are presented as advantages of a usage style distinct from bar-type smartphones. However, the fact that the price difference from the S26 FE is more than KRW 600,000 affects the choice.

In the end, the choice depends not only on performance and price, but also on whether the user is willing to pay extra for a foldable form factor, design, and portability. Conversely, if durability and price are the priority for long-term use, the need to choose a foldable model becomes lower.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro is also being mentioned as a model drawing interest from office workers considering a smartphone replacement around the holiday. The iPhone 18 Pro is being cited as an alternative in less than a week after its release.

The starting price of the iPhone 18 Pro is KRW 1.99 million. Its main camera has 48 megapixels. A new variable aperture has been applied, and the feature is used to adjust the amount of light and depth of field depending on the shooting situation.

For users who take a lot of photos and videos and continue to use Apple's ecosystem, there is reason to choose the latest Pro model. However, the latest Pro model may be burdened by its starting price. If the main uses are KakaoTalk, watching videos, and web browsing, it is necessary to review the value relative to the price difference.

For users waiting for the first foldable iPhone, there is also the option of holding off on a purchase during this holiday. The iPhone Duo starts at KRW 3.29 million, and preorders begin on October 16. Users who want to decide after comparing it with the first foldable iPhone can also postpone their purchase by about a month.

If a parent's smartphone is old, there is no need to prioritize the latest flagship first. An image of the Galaxy A37 5G is provided, and the image source is Samsung Electronics.

The Galaxy A37 5G was released in June. It is priced at KRW 598,400. It has a 6.7-inch (170.1 mm) Super AMOLED display and supports a maximum 120Hz screen refresh rate.

On the back, it features a triple camera system, including a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens. It also offers a feature called 'text conversion,' which turns recorded speech into text.

The key factor to check when choosing a smartphone for parents is whether it can be used for a long time. In selecting a device, the point is made that future usability is more important than whether it is the 'latest' model. In particular, for users who keep their smartphones for more than 2 to 3 years, the importance of long-term support is significant.

Under this criterion, Samsung Electronics' A37 supports up to 6 OS upgrades and up to 6 years of security updates. For users who plan to keep a device for a long time, such long-term software support becomes a meaningful condition.

However, if the main uses are phone calls, KakaoTalk, YouTube, and taking photos, an expensive flagship is not necessarily required. Conversely, if parents use mobile games, a midrange model is not always appropriate. Also, if parents place more importance on camera performance or processing speed, choosing a midrange model based only on age may be inappropriate.

For this reason, rather than setting a separate 'filial piety phone,' the priority is to first check what is inconvenient about the current smartphone. Inconveniences may include a small screen, fast battery drain, or disappointing camera quality. The device needed varies depending on those inconveniences.

Ahead of the Chuseok season, device purchase options range widely from earphones around KRW 200,000 to midrange smartphones in the KRW 600,000 range and flagship models costing more than KRW 1 million. However, the functions needed differ by price range, and the criteria also vary from person to person.

For that reason, when choosing a device, it is better to first check the inconveniences of the device currently in use rather than simply compare prices. Applying that standard to the inconveniences can narrow the options. In the end, whether a device was a good purchase can be judged not by the price tag itself, but by how worthwhile it is to pay for the features that will be used often over the next few years.

Source: IT DAILY · Kim Byeong-ju
Original: https://www.itdaily.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=241835

References

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