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iPhone 5 Lines Lengthening as First Launches Approach

Thursday September 20, 2012 1:17 pm PDT by Eric Slivka
Less than two hours before the first Australian Apple retail stores open to begin selling the iPhone 5, lines at stores around the world are lengthening in anticipation of the event. With Apple's pre-orders for the device having sold it out in just about an hour and current shipping estimates registering at 3-4 weeks, it seems that in-store purchases will be popular with those still looking to get their hands on an iPhone 5 as quickly as possible.

A representative from iFixit is currently in Australia waiting to purchase an iPhone 5 for teardown purposes, and he has posted a photo showing the line outside the Telstra retail store where he is currently sixth in line.


Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has also checked in at the Chermside Apple retail store outside of Brisbane where he is waiting for one of the first iPhone 5 units to hit the streets.

But even in the United States where customers have close to 16 hours to go at a minimum before sales begin, lines are beginning to grow, as shown in this video from @pdparticle at the Palo Alto store near Apple's headquarters.


The iPhone 5 launches at 8:00 AM local time Friday in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The device will launch in 22 more countries a week later on September 28.

[ 169 comments ]


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Caliber26
90 months ago
Somewhere, the CEO of Samsung is looking like:

Rating: 33 Votes
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janderson0719
90 months ago
Feels nice to have mine being delivered to me tomorrow. :apple:
Rating: 20 Votes
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Yvan256
90 months ago
Employee: Sir, can I have today and tomorrow morning off so I can go wait in line for a cellphone?
Boss: Are you out of your mind? Get back to work!
Rating: 19 Votes
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janderson0719
90 months ago

Awwwww look at the nice iSheep. Baaaahh Baaaaaahhhh


You're sheep for being the billionth person to say that.
Rating: 18 Votes
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Castiel
90 months ago
But I thought the "next big thing is already here"?
Rating: 16 Votes
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nick_elt
90 months ago
so the samsung ads worked...
Rating: 15 Votes
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Therefore
90 months ago

wonder if ifixit is in Australia to get there hands on a 5 this year


Did you even read the article... :confused:
Rating: 14 Votes
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Caliber26
90 months ago

Now that there are pre-order options, I don't understand why so many would choose to literally camp outside a store...


I preordered only because I can't take off from work tomorrow. Otherwise, I would have gladly camped out at my local Apple Store. I have done it on two occasions and it's been fun, actually!! I've always gone with a couple of friends and we always bring our own 'refreshments'. ;)

The overall atmosphere is lots of fun and you get to meet some really interesting people.

I guess you could say the same about pro sports. Why go to a stadium and deal with chaotic parking and unruly crowds, when you can watch from the comfort of your couch. The experience is very different when you're there.
Rating: 11 Votes
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applesith
90 months ago
Copy THAT Samsung!
Rating: 10 Votes
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Caliber26
90 months ago

Spoken like a TRUE iSheep.


I sometimes wonder why people like you even bother coming on here. Is this where you come for some action when the Samsung forums have nothing new or relevant to discuss? I don't get it...
Rating: 9 Votes

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