iPhone 12 pre-orders start in UAE for as low as Dh145 a month

The new iPhone 12 line-up also comes with a fresh colour option, Pacific blue.

Apple began pre-orders for its newest flagship smartphone line-up in the UAE on Friday, as it begins its quest to cap off a very fruitful year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The company on Tuesday introduced the iPhone 12 series - 12, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, the successors to last year's iPhone 11 line-up, plus a new and smaller 12 mini - at a virtual event.
It was widely speculated that the company, in the lead-up to the reveal, may delay pre-orders and sales of the iPhones because of the disruption caused by the Covid-19. Apple, however, remained in line with its usual schedule - pre-orders starting a week after the iPhones are unveiled - but only for half of the line-up: Tim Cook and Co split the roll-outs of the devices, putting out the 12 and 12 Pro first.
The 128GB, 256GB and 512GB models for the iPhone 12 Pro are priced at Dh4,199, Dh4,619 and Dh5,469, respectively. On the other hand, the iPhone 12's prices - for 64GB, 128GB and 256GB - are at Dh3,399, Dh3,609 and Dh4,029 respectively.

The UAE's telecom operators are at the forefront of pre-orders, with attractive rates for 24-month payment plans. Etisalat is offering the 6.1-inch, dual-camera iPhone 12 for as low as Dh169.01 per month for the 64GB entry model, VAT included. This goes up at Dh179 and Dh200 for the 128GB and 256GB options, respectively.
The premium iPhone 12 Pro - also with a 6.1-inch screen but with a triple-camera setup - at etisalat is priced at Dh209, Dh267 and 384.01 for its 128GB, 256GB and 512GB models, respectively.
Meanwhile, du is offering the iPhone 12 for Dh145, Dh155 and Dh170 for those respective storage capacities, while the 12 Pro goes for Dh175, Dh195 and Dh235. However, as at Press time, only the graphite colour of the iPhone 12 Pro is available on du, with the gold, silver and new Pacific blue variants already out of stock.
Other major UAE electronics retailers are also offering pre-orders for the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, including Sharaf DG, Emax, Jumbo Electronics and Jacky's Electronics.
And apparently stocks are running out fast, with certain models already out of stock across these sites.
It is also unclear whether Apple or local authorities will allow customers to wait in line at Apple Stores next Friday - the first day of new iPhone sales and when traditionally long queues build up as there are customers who want to be among the first to own the new iPhone - owing to regulations in place to control the spread of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, pre-orders for the iPhone 12 Pro Max and mini will start on November 6, with sales kicking off on November 13.
- alvin@khaleejtimes.com