Apple sold out of pre-orders for the iPhone 5 in record time, which helped drive enthusiasm for those to arrive early for the official launch of the iPhone 5. With strong demand for the iPhone 5, it’s expected that Apple retail stores will at some point sell out of the new device. There have been several reports, including first-hand, of the 16GB Sprint iPhone 5 in black not being available at all.
Shown here is the Apple Store in Garden City, New York. Having been to several launches, including the first iPhone, these lines were no where near past releases. Part of this is due to the availability of pre-orders and the new iPhone 5 being available at all three major wireless carriers, Radio Shack, Walmart and Best Buy.
As with previous launches, Apple Store staff greeted those waiting with snacks and bottled water. In previous years, you could count on hot coffee, which would have been advantageous given the chilly early morning New York temperatures in September.
Did you wait in line for your iPhone 5 today? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments or in our iPhone 5 forums.
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