KT announced that pre-orders for the iPhone 16 series, including the Apple Watch 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, will begin at 9 PM on the 13th at all KT stores and on KT.com. The official sale date is September 20.
The newly launched iPhone 16 series consists of the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, designed to capture the attention of consumers with new features and designs.
The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max boast a robust yet lightweight aerospace-grade titanium design, a new customizable action button, and a 48MP main camera system featuring seven professional-grade lenses. Notably, the iPhone Pro Max offers the longest 5x optical zoom in iPhone history, delivering stunning photo quality. Additionally, it is powered by the high-performance A17 Pro chipset and features a USB-C port that supports USB 3 standards, allowing data transfer speeds of up to 20 times faster than before. Available colors include Black, White, Blue, and Natural Titanium.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus come with a 48MP main camera and a camera system supporting 2x optical zoom, powered by the A16 Bionic chipset, Dynamic Island technology, and a color-infused glass back and aluminum exterior. These models are available in a total of five colors: Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Pink.
KT offers a ‘KT365 Phone Care’ service, allowing customers to use the iPhone 16 series and their second devices with peace of mind. The service covers damage and loss compensation for the iPhone 16 series, supports film replacement costs for your screen up to two times in case of damage, and provides compensation for damage to secondary devices such as watches or tablets.
Specifically, KT has added differentiated benefits where customers can exchange their old phone for a new one after 36 months. Customers purchasing the iPhone 16 series can use the service for a monthly fee of 9,500 KRW. Using the ‘Phone Care Choice Special’ service adds membership discounts, allowing for free phone care services.
KT will also provide a free spam call notification service called ‘WhoWho Spam Notification’ for iPhone customers. This service offers spam call alerts based on a daily updated database of 5 million entries, without requiring any additional app installation.
From September 13, KT will provide a three-month free subscription to Disney+ Standard for the first 20,000 customers. This benefit is available to anyone who is an Y-Dumb customer, regardless of whether they purchase the iPhone 16. However, customers already using Disney+ through KT’s wired or wireless plans or KT OTT subscriptions are excluded from this offer. After the three-month benefit period, customers can switch to a paid subscription at a discounted monthly price of 10,000 KRW. They will receive a notification message seven, three, and one day before the payment change, allowing them to choose whether to continue using the service.
Y-Dumb customers who purchase the iPhone 16 will have the chance to win Starbucks rewards through a draw. Five thousand winners will receive a Starbucks e-card preloaded with 5,000 KRW and a double points earning scheme (up to five per month) for six months. Additionally, seven people will win a ‘Starbucks One-Year Pass,’ allowing them to receive a free Americano every day for one year.
The Disney+ three-month free offer and Starbucks benefits can be applied for and entered through the YBox app.
To ease the purchase burden of the iPhone 16, KT offers benefits through affiliate cards. Using KT Installment Plus KB Kookmin Card and KT Family Satisfaction Installment Shinhan Card allows users to apply double discounts, potentially receiving up to 960,000 KRW in fare discounts over 24 months. Moreover, customers of each card company with zero usage for the previous six months can receive 70,000 KRW cashback with KT Installment Plus KB Kookmin Card and 50,000 KRW with KT Family Satisfaction Installment Shinhan Card, with an additional potential cashback of 120,000 KRW. Customers wanting interest-free installments can use BC Baro SUPER/SUPER+ cards to receive a fare discount of up to 600,000 KRW over 24 months and benefit from interest-free installments for 2 to 12 months.
By subscribing to the 5G Choice Special plan and utilizing KT’s Premium Single Package, customers can receive up to 50% fare discounts by combining a 25% selection agreement discount with another 25% premium single package discount, allowing for utilization at around 50,000 KRW monthly. Customers will enjoy unlimited data, as well as additional benefits worth up to 57,000 KRW per month, including VVIP membership (150,000 annual points), choice benefits (device insurance and device discounts), plus benefits (Geeni, Millie’s Library, etc.), one free smart device line (based on 5G tablet-specific plans priced at 19,800 KRW), and device insurance discounts (4,500 KRW discount via membership).
KT’s official online store KT.com is offering a variety of benefits and events for customers who pre-order the iPhone 16. The first 1,500 customers living in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon can receive their iPhones quickly through ‘Good Morning Quick Delivery’ starting at 8 AM on the launch day. Customers not opting for quick delivery can still receive their products via regular shipping on the launch day.
Additionally, an event on the 20th at the Andaz Hotel in Seoul will provide 200 pre-order customers with their pre-ordered iPhones on-site, and all participants will receive generous prizes, including Apple MagSafe, films, luxury catering services, and an Andaz accommodation voucher.
KT.com is also providing special single benefits, including a 7% discount on 5G plans, up to 50,000 KRW membership point discount, interest-free installments for up to 24 months, or a 7% cashback on device installment fees. Customers can receive up to an additional 200,000 KRW compensation through the used phone compensation service.
Customers who have activated an iPhone through KT four times or more will be honored as ‘iPhone Maniac’ premium customers and will receive Apple genuine Duo chargers for the first 500 customers. Y-Dumb customers can also receive a low-low nano trunk for the first 2,000 customers.
All customers purchasing from KT.com will receive a transparent case and film with their order, along with a data deletion solution and a 30,000 KRW accessory coupon. Additionally, various prizes, including access to the Martina Gold Lounge and overseas travel vouchers, will be available.
Customers who pre-order the iPhone 16 along with the Apple Watch 10 or Ultra 2 will receive an additional Apple Watch strap for the first 300 customers. Those who open both internet and TV services with KT.com will receive an additional 200,000 KRW worth of Naver Pay, amounting to benefits worth up to 650,000 KRW.
KT Device Headquarters Director Kim Byung-kyun stated, “It has been 15 years since KT quickly introduced the iPhone to Korea in 2009. Now we are a first-release country to quickly provide products to our customers,” adding, “We are very pleased to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the iPhone’s debut in Korea as a first-release country, and we will continue to strive to deliver devices that our customers desire quickly.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr