Etisalat offers free iPhone X upgrade for some subscribers.
'iPhone for Life' subscribers can also opt to upgrade to iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 plus.
Dubai: Can't afford to blow a little over Dh4,000 or nearly Dh10,000 to get your hands on the new iPhone X ?
Some mobile users don't even have to worry about the tab - because they can get it for free.
Etisalat announced on Monday that some subscribers can now get a free upgrade to the new iPhone X. And starting Friday, November 3, all customers can secure the new generation mobile phone through the company’s website or stores across the country.
What the iPhone X will give you for $999
In a statement, the telecom firm said that “iPhone for Life” subscribers who have iPhone 7 and 7 Plus now have the “exclusive opportunity to enjoy a free upgrade to the new iPhone X” upon completion of 12 months into their contract. They can also opt to upgrade to iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 plus.
Etisalat started offering the “iPhone for Life” programme last year, providing Apple fans the opportunity to bag the latest smartphones in the market.
About 500 people, including pre-ordered and walk-in customers, queued outside Apple store at Dubai Mall on Friday to be among the first to buy the most expensive smartphone, the iPhone X.
The newly launched phone can come with a hefty price tag, however. In the UAE, some dealers are selling the most expensive unit for Dh8,000 to Dh9,400 a piece, although Apple’s official website said users can get it for Dh4,099 for the 65GB or Dh4,729 for the 256 GB model.
iPhone X, along with 8 Plus and 8, were recently unveiled during an Apple launch event in, California.
Etisalat said it was the first operator in the UAE to bring Apple’s “iPhone for Life” programme to UAE subscribers last year. At the launch of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus, Etisalat customers had the chance to upgrade from an iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.
“The objective of this program is to enable our customers to enjoy the journey of every new Apple smartphone and the technology benchmark every new device brings into the global industry,” said Khaled El Khouly, chief consumer officer, Etisalat.
“We have seen the excitement and the anticipation of our large Apple fan base in the country, therefore this program is apt in meeting their need to buy the latest Apple smartphone at the same time as their global counterparts.”
The new generation smartphone has a lot of features not found in other gadgets, such as face identification, portrait lighting or animoji. Learn more on the official video shared by Apple.
Etisalat said that customers buying a new iPhone on the smartpay offer of 18 or 24 months can upgrade to a new Apple smartphone free after completing 12 months into their contract. For subscribers who have completed less than 12 months of their plan, they can still opt to upgrade to the latest iPhone by paying an early upgrade fee for the remaining months of the contract.
