[Edaily Reporter Yun Junghoon ]SKTelecom(017670)Apple will officially launch its first foldable smartphone, the “iPhone Duo,” on the 23rd and begin full-scale activation for customers who pre-ordered the device.

People in their 30s and 40s Driving Sales… Clear Preference for High Storage Capacity and White Models

According to the results of the one-week pre-order period SKT conducted starting on the 16th, the first batch of pre-orders on its official online store, “T Direct Shop,” sold out within one minute of opening, demonstrating the market’s high interest in the first foldable iPhone.

An analysis of pre-order customers revealed that the 256GB and 512GB models accounted for 60% of all pre-orders, showing the highest preference. By storage capacity, popularity ranked in the following order: △256GB △512GB △1TB △2TB, while “Starlight White” was more popular than “Night Sky.”

By age group, those in their 30s accounted for the largest share at 36%, followed by those in their 40s (35%) and those in their 20s (13.9%). Analysis suggests that the 30- and 40-somethings, who possess strong purchasing power, drove over 70% of total pre-orders and led the initial surge in popularity.

SKT is offering all customers who activate the iPhone Duo a free two-month subscription to “T Universe Google AI Plus (400GB)” and a free six-month subscription to the ad-supported Standard plan of “TVING.”

In addition, a raffle will be held for a total of 1,210 participants, offering limited-edition prizes such as △ a package of memorabilia from professional baseball players (210 winners) △ retro cases inspired by the “Speed011” and “TTL” brands (500 winners) △ T1 Special Edition cases (500 winners).

"Foldable-Specific Coverage"... Compensation for Cover Layer Damage and 50GB of iCloud Storage

The company is also introducing dedicated care plans tailored to the device’s characteristics. SKT, in partnership with Apple, has launched “T iPhone Care” (17,000 won per month), which offers enhanced coverage for the cover layer—a component particularly prone to damage on foldable devices. SKT subscribers receive an exclusive free “iCloud 50GB” benefit, along with unlimited battery replacements, a warranty extension of up to three years, and 24-hour technical support.

In addition, customers subscribed to major rate plans such as “Best 109” or higher will receive a monthly installment discount of 12,000 to 24,000 won for 24 or 36 months when purchasing the latest smart devices, including AirPods, Apple Watches, and iPads.

Koo Hyun-cheol, Head of SKT’s Sales & Marketing Division, said, “We’ve prepared a variety of benefits to ensure SKT customers choosing the first foldable iPhone experience the highest level of satisfaction,” adding, “We will continue to introduce differentiated value that can only be experienced with SKT.”