‘iPhone Duo’ Costs More Than a Refrigerator; Its Protection-Plan Fee Is KRW 550,000—What About Repairs? [IT Item of the Day]

[Financial News]  Apple's first foldable smartphone, the 'iPhone Duo,' is expected to place a significant financial burden on consumers. Its listed price is well above KRW 3 million, while AppleCare+, its protection service, costs nearly KRW 550,000. Buying the top-spec 2TB (terabyte) model and AppleCare+ brings the total to KRW 5,639,000. If the internal display is damaged, users must pay an additional KRW 120,000 for repairs.
According to industry sources on the 26th, Apple set the two-year AppleCare+ enrollment fee for the iPhone Duo, which will launch in South Korea on the 23rd of next month, at KRW 549,000. The iPhone Duo's listed price in South Korea is KRW 3,290,000 for the 256GB model, KRW 3,590,000 for the 512GB model, KRW 4,190,000 for the 1TB model, and KRW 5,090,000 for the 2TB model. Buying the least expensive model together with AppleCare+ requires KRW 3,839,000.
AppleCare+ extends the product warranty and allows users to receive repair services for accidental damage and other issues with relatively low deductibles.
The price of AppleCare+ for the iPhone Duo stands out even more when compared with other iPhones. For two years, AppleCare+ costs KRW 209,000 for the iPhone 17e and KRW 259,000 for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16. The fee is KRW 359,000 each for the iPhone Air, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
At KRW 549,000, the Duo's fee is KRW 190,000 higher than that of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and KRW 290,000 higher than that of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16. Compared with the iPhone 17e, the difference reaches KRW 340,000. The enrollment fee is about 53% higher even than that of the iPhone 18 Pro series.
The Duo's high AppleCare+ price appears to reflect the structure unique to foldable phones and the device's high price. Unlike conventional bar-style smartphones, foldable phones have more components that may require repairs, including the outer and inner displays and the hinge.
The service fees paid by Duo users enrolled in AppleCare+ also vary depending on the damaged component. Battery service comes at no additional cost, while damage to the front display and rear glass costs KRW 40,000 each. Damage to the internal display and other accidental damage each incur a service fee of KRW 120,000.
In particular, users who have already paid the KRW 549,000 AppleCare+ enrollment fee must pay an additional KRW 120,000 if the internal display is damaged. The enrollment fee and service charge together total KRW 669,000.
Using a simple two-year calculation for comparison with AppleCare+, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold's Loss/Damage Premium Plus costs KRW 477,600, Loss/Damage Premium costs KRW 405,600, and Damage Plus costs KRW 283,200. Compared with the iPhone Duo's AppleCare+ fee of KRW 549,000, the differences are KRW 71,400, KRW 143,400, and KRW 265,800, respectively.
However, commentators say that AppleCare+ and Samsung Care+ differ in coverage, loss protection, deductibles, and the enrollment period, limiting the usefulness of a direct comparison based solely on the fees. Another difference is that Samsung charges customers monthly, while Apple lists a two-year price for its plan.
Because the iPhone Duo itself is the most expensive iPhone and AppleCare+ also costs more than KRW 500,000, consumers are expected to feel a heavier financial burden at the time of purchase. Adding AppleCare+ brings the 256GB model to KRW 3,839,000, the 512GB model to KRW 4,139,000, the 1TB model to KRW 4,739,000, and the 2TB model to KRW 5,639,000.
[email protected] Yoon Hong-jip Reporter