South Korea’s three major mobile carriers, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus, said that they began accepting pre-orders for Apple’s second-generation budget smartphone “iPhone SE” since April 29. E-commerce sites such as Coupang, Frisbee, and 11st also started pre-orders for the low-end handset.
The pre-orders started from April 29, lasting through May 5, a day before the device’s official launch on May 6.
Apple released the iPhone SE in the United States and Canada, with pre-orders beginning a week prior. The new handset is the second-generation of the original 2016 iPhone SE replacing the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.
The affordable version of the iPhone is the U.S.-based company’s first entry-level model after four years.
The new iPhone SE starts at 539,000 won ($443) for the storage option of 64-gigabytes (GB); 605,000 won ($492) for the 128 GB storage, and 748,000 ($611) for the 256 GB option.
iPhone SE Features
Apple equipped the iPhone SE with an “A13 Bionic Processor,” the same chip used by the iPhone 11 series. The device comes with a 7-megapixel (mp) front camera, and a 12-megapixel rear camera. The handset also comes with a camera sensor, much like the one installed on the iPhone XR.
The new handset’s high-speed wireless charging fills up to 50 percent battery capacity in just 30 minutes. Users could safely unlock their iPhones with Touch ID, access Apple Pay, and approve Apple Store purchases.
Apple’s iPhone SE features a 4.7-inch LCD screen and the return of the home button.
Buyers could pre-order the iPhone SE at SK Telecom’s “T Direct Shop” and “11th Street” online malls; at KT’s official online mall “KT Shop”; and LG Uplus official online mall “U+Shop.”
Pre-booking for the iPhone SE at KT Shop gives the option for buyers to subscribe to a dedicated insurance product that allows subscribers to use the device for a lower price. Meanwhile, pre-ordering at U+Shop Mall, consumers could participate in events such as one-year telecom fee support and free device purchase benefits at the online mall.
Unlike Samsung Electronics’ low-cost Galaxy A51 which supports 5G, Apple’s iPhone SE only connects with 4G LTE.
