Apple’s inaugural foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, is making waves in South Korea, with pre-order stocks completely depleted across the country’s three major telecom providers. Despite its premium pricing – starting at 3.29 million KRW (approximately 2,483 USD) for the base model and soaring beyond 5 million KRW (about 3,773 USD) for the top-tier version – the allotted pre-order inventory vanished within a mere 60 seconds.
Industry sources revealed on Friday that SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus exhausted their entire iPhone Duo pre-sale stock during the week-long reservation period that kicked off on October 16.
At SK Telecom’s online platform, T Direct Shop, the initial pre-order phase guaranteeing launch day delivery concluded in just one minute.
The 256GB and 512GB models proved equally popular, collectively accounting for 60% of all pre-orders. Demand followed the sequence: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. The Star White finish outpaced Night Sky in customer preference.
The demographic breakdown showed consumers in their 30s leading the charge at 36%, followed closely by those in their 40s at 35%, and 20-somethings at 13.9%. Remarkably, individuals in their 30s and 40s constituted 71% of all pre-order customers.
KT’s online store, KT.com, reported a similar frenzy, with 256GB and 512GB models selling out in 60 seconds across both initial pre-order phases. Star White emerged as the clear favorite, chosen by 7 out of 10 buyers.
LG Uplus also confirmed a complete sell-out of its iPhone Duo pre-order inventory on the first day.
Industry analysts attribute this surge to the iPhone Duo’s status as Apple’s first foldable device and widespread consumer curiosity about its novel form factor.
An industry insider commented that the iPhone Duo, Apple’s pioneering foldable iPhone, has generated tremendous buzz since the pre-order phase began. It’s committed to offering unique perks and services to ensure customers can fully appreciate the value of this groundbreaking design.
For those still considering a purchase, the iPhone Duo’s official pricing stands at 3.29 million KRW (about 2,483 USD) for 256GB, 3.59 million KRW (about 2,709 USD) for 512GB, 4.19 million KRW (about 3,162 USD) for 1TB, and 5.09 million KRW (about 3,841 USD) for the 2TB model. Prospective buyers should note that prices and incentives vary by carrier, making it advisable to shop around before committing.