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Apple, Samsung launch special trade-in programs to court LG smartphone users

By Anam Hamid

Updated: May 28, 2021, 2:30 AM

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Apple, Samsung launch special trade-in programs to court LG smartphone users

Apple has come up with a strategy to pick up market share from LG after its impending exit from the market. Per the Yonhap news agency, Apple will offer a special trade-in program to LG users in South Korea.

Apple wants to prevent LG smartphone users from going to Samsung

As of October last year, South Korea's 5G market was dominated by domestic players Samsung and LG. Apple launched the iPhone 12 series in Korea earlier than usual to scoop up market share. The Cupertino giant also opened its second Apple Store in Seoul earlier this year. Now that LG is out of the picture, Apple has every reason to compete more fiercely.

Apple has apparently teamed up with local mobile carriers to run a special program that would give LG owners an additional 150,000 won (~$134) on top of the trade-in value of a smartphone. This is separate from the existing trade-in programs run by local carriers.

It has a good chance of attracting consumer attention, given that you reportedly can't get much for a used LG phone.

Consumers who have used a 4G or 5G LG phone for more than a month will be eligible for the promotion that will allegedly run through September 25. They will be able to get an iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 mini in place of their LG device.

The program, which is first of a kind by Apple, is currently exclusive to South Korea. Apparently, LG users are more likely to choose Samsung over Apple because of the same Android operating system. According to one report, nearly 80 percent of LG V50 ThinQ users have switched to a Samsung Galaxy device.

Not to be outdone, Samsung allegedly also plans to run a similar trade-in promotion to win over LG customers. Its program will run through June 30 and will offer recent flagships like the Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Flip 5G, and Galaxy Note 20 in exchange for LG phones.

According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung leads its home market with 65 percent of the pie. Apple has a market share of 21 percent in South Korea, and LG is third with 13 percent.

It remains to be seen if Apple and Samsung will extend their trade-in programs elsewhere.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.