[Digital Today reporter Jin-ho Lee] South Korea's three mobile carriers on Thursday began taking preorders for Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo.

The iPhone Duo is Apple's first foldable smartphone, with a 7.6-inch internal display when unfolded and a 5.4-inch external display when folded. It comes in two colours, Star White and Night Sky, and is offered in four storage options from 256GB to 2TB. The official release date is Oct. 23.

◆ SKT offers up to 2.21 million won in benefits with trade-in compensation and partner card

SK Telecom is running a lucky roulette event on its official online store, T Direct Shop, offering preorder customers up to 300,000 won in device purchase vouchers.

Customers can receive up to 2.21 million won in benefits by combining a trade-in and partner card discounts. Under its 'T Safe Compensation with Mintit' programme, customers can receive up to 1.17 million won in compensation by returning their existing phone. The first 1,000 customers will receive additional compensation of up to 200,000 won. Customers who buy on instalments with Samsung Card T Premium can receive discounts of up to 840,000 won over two years, depending on their spending.

Preorder customers will receive an iPhone Duo hinge protection package and a brand gift voucher worth 30,000 won. First-round customers who preorder by noon on Oct. 20 will be supported with special delivery that arrives on the first day of release.

The carrier also prepared subscription service benefits. All customers who activate service by Nov. 30 will receive vouchers for two months of Google AI Plus and six months of Tving Ad-supported Standard. Preorder customers will also receive coffee coupons, while customers who activate service will also be given Outback coupons and Baemin Club vouchers.

◆ KT strengthens subscription and device benefits with Choice Double plans

KT is offering AI and content subscriptions and device discount benefits centred on its Choice Double plans. Customers can choose combinations of various services and device discount benefits, including YouTube Premium Lite, Netflix, Google AI Plus and Disney+. Those who sign up for Choice Double Device by Oct. 31 and choose AirPods Pro 3 can use them at a customer benefit price of 0 won on a 24-month instalment plan. Instalment fees of 5.9 percent are charged separately.

Using partner cards, customers can receive discounts and cashback benefits of up to about 1.44 million won. By applying Double Discount benefits from KB Kookmin Card and Shinhan Card, customers can receive additional cashback on top of up to about 1.29 million won in plan and device discounts over 24 months, depending on their spending.

It also strengthened device management services. Under its '365 Phone Care' service, it provides coverage for loss and damage. Customers who subscribe to 'Phone Change_iDuo' for 6,500 won a month will be guaranteed up to 50 percent of the launch price at the time of subscription when returning their existing device after two years.

KT Direct Shop is offering purchase benefits worth up to about 1.34 million won. It guarantees delivery on release day for first-round preorder customers, and delivery within three days of the release date for second-round customers.

◆ LG Uplus offers compensation of up to 70 percent of the launch price even with return after six months

LG Uplus is introducing an early-return '70% Compensation Pass' to coincide with the iPhone Duo launch. Under the programme, customers can return their existing device from the sixth month after activation and switch to a new iPhone, receiving compensation of up to 70 percent of the launch price at the time of purchase.

The monthly fee is 18,000 won. The compensation is provided as points that can be used to pay handset instalments and mobile bills. It is also running a '50% Compensation Pass' costing 5,000 won a month, which provides compensation of up to 50 percent of the launch price after 24 months of use.

It also prepared benefits worth up to about 1,132,000 won for online buyers. The total combines up to 300,000 won in number-porting device discount coupons, up to 100,000 won in Samsung Card cashback, up to 180,000 won in additional compensation for used phones, and up to 552,000 won in discounts on AI smart glasses. All benefit conditions must be met and overlapping application must be possible.

For customers on the online-only Nugget plan, it will discount monthly fees for a second device such as a tablet by up to 33,000 won. It will also place iPhone Duo demo devices in 18 stores in major commercial areas such as Gangnam and Hongdae, and run an experience programme at the complex cultural space 'Everyday, Not Everyday Gap.'