It’s raining deals and discounts for UAE smartphone customers, and it’s probably the best time to be in the market for a handset.
For, not only older variants but brand new iterations of leading smartphone brands are being offered at discounted prices by both the UAE telecom operators.
Etisalat is offering a limited period ‘smartphone sale’, which runs from today (Match 18) until the end of this month (March 31). As part of what it terms as a “mega promotion” for Wasel prepaid mobile customers, the telecom operator is giving up to 50 per cent discount on latest smartphone devices and up to Dh50 bonus credit every month.
As part of Etisalat’s offer, consumers can get the latest iPhone 6 starting Dh2,149, a discount of Dh450 compared to the price at which Apple is retailing the device at its online UAE store, and a discount of Dh600 from the price (Dh2,749) that Etisalat was retailing it for prior to the promotion.
The iPhone 6 Plus is now available (from both Etisalat and Du) for Dh2,549 (UAE Apple Store: Dh2,999; pre-promotion telecom player price: Dh3,149).
“Customers buying standalone devices priced at Dh2,000 or more during the promotion receive Dh50 free credit every month, for a year. For device purchases of lower than Dh2,000, customers receive Dh25 per month for 12 months,” the operator said in a media statement.
“Brands available for customers to choose from include Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, Huawei, Sony, BlackBerry and Yotaphone,” Etisalat noted.
On the other hand, the other telecom operator Du too has undertaken a similar campaign, called ‘smartphone festival’.
As part of the offering, consumers can get the latest iPhone 6 starting Dh2,149, a discount of Dh450 compared to the price at which Apple is retailing the device at its online UAE store, and a discount of Dh600 from what Du was retailing it prior to the ‘festival’.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 can be now had for Dh2,199 (pre-festival price: Dh2,799) and the Galaxy Note Edge can be yours for Dh2,899 (pre-festival price: Dh3,499)
Du says that in addition to the “instant discount” of Dh600 on checkout, consumers also get 10 GB data for 12 months when they buy latest smartphones above Dh1,500.
Besides the up to Dh50 bonus credit every month, among the benefits that Etisalat lists for its smartphone customers are the option of protecting their handsets, both locally and internationally, from theft and accidental damage by subscribing to Etisalat’s smartphone protection plan.
“Our new smartphone sale is a great opportunity for our mobile customers to go out with the old and in with the new. We are offering up to 50 per cent discounts and free talk time amounting up to Dh600 for the year. There couldn’t really be a better purchase time than now for those seeking an upgrade or change to a new handset to enjoy nationwide connectivity on Etisalat’s high-speed, high-quality networks,” said Khaled ElKhouly, Etisalat’s Chief Marketing Officer.
“The bonus credit can be used for local and international calls and SMS. It is automatically credited to the customer’s prepaid account upon first recharge of minimum Dh25 each month,” Etisalat added.
Du’s promotion includes, among others, the iPhone 5c is now available for Dh1,299 (earlier Dh1,899), iPhone 5s for Dh1,699 (earlier Dh2,299), Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo for Dh1,399 (earlier Dh1,999), Nokia Lumia 930 for Dh1,199 (earlier Dh1,799), Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8 for Dh1,499 each (earlier Dh2,099 each), Sony Xperia Z1 for Dh1,949 (earlier
Dh2,549), Xperia Z2 for Dh1,999 (earlier Dh2,599), Xperia Z3 for Dh2,099 (earlier Dh2,699), and BlackBerry Passport for Dh2,099 (earlier Dh2,699).