Apple has launched its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, in South Korea, generating significant interest despite its price exceeding 3 million won. The device emphasizes a large screen for video viewing, multitasking, and photography. However, the high retail price and repair costs, which can exceed 1.6 million won for screen replacements, may pose challenges for consumers.
On the morning of the launch, customers who had pre-ordered the iPhone Duo gathered at the Apple Store in Myeongdong, Seoul. Approximately 100 people formed a line before the store opened at 8 a.m. Within the first hour of opening, around 200 customers had picked up their devices. Inside the store, visitors explored the new features by folding and unfolding the device and running multiple apps simultaneously.
The iPhone Duo features a 5.4-inch display when folded and a 7.6-inch screen when opened, offering about 50% more internal display area than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Users can carry it like a regular smartphone and unfold it for video viewing or document work.
Apple highlights multitasking capabilities, allowing users to watch videos while sending messages or taking notes. Additionally, users can save combinations of two apps for simultaneous access later. The device can also be propped up like a laptop for video viewing.
Major South Korean applications have adapted their layouts for the iPhone Duo. KakaoTalk displays chat lists and conversation windows side by side when the screen is unfolded, while Naver Band shows post lists and details simultaneously. Naver Series and KakaoPage offer a dual-page view resembling an open book. The video editing app VLLO separates the preview and editing screens, and games like 'Luck-Based Zone' and 'Mabinogi Mobile' have enhanced their interfaces for the larger display.
The audio experience has also been improved, with speakers positioned diagonally to automatically adjust sound direction based on the device's orientation. During demonstrations, the spatial audio direction changed seamlessly when switching from landscape to portrait mode.
The camera incorporates the foldable design, allowing subjects to see themselves on the external screen when using the 'Duo Preview' feature. This enables selfies with the 48-megapixel main camera. The device also includes an animation feature to attract children's attention and a 'smart capture' function that automatically takes photos when a pose is detected without a timer.
Another notable feature is the ability to use the device as a stand by partially folding the screen, switching to standby mode to display photos or widgets without needing a separate stand.
Initial demand has been overwhelming. The first batch of pre-orders from the three major mobile carriers sold out within a minute of the launch. Among SK Telecom pre-order customers, 36% were in their 30s and 35% were in their 40s. As of 8:30 a.m. on launch day, the Apple official website indicated that new orders would have a shipping date of January 22, 2027.
However, the price and repair costs are significant concerns. The retail price starts at 3.29 million won for the 256GB model and goes up to 5.09 million won for the 2TB version. The estimated cost for replacing the internal screen is 1.649 million won, while the external screen replacement is 559,000 won. The cost for a two-year AppleCare+ subscription is 549,000 won, and even with the subscription, a fee of 120,000 won applies for each internal screen repair. Apple recommends purchasing AppleCare+ to mitigate the high repair costs.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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