14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has just announced a new record-sales weekend for the iPhone, following the physical launch of the company’s two new smartphone models, the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c.
The new iPhones have sold a record breaking nine million units just three days after launch, according to the Cupertino giant, but that likely includes pre-orders of the 5c (which kicked off much earlier).
Both iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c are currently available for purchase in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and the UK.
Apple claims, “Demand for iPhone 5s has exceeded the initial supply, and many online orders are scheduled to be shipped in the coming weeks.”
Commenting on the milestone, CEO Tim Cook says, “This is our best iPhone launch yet―more than nine million new iPhones sold―a new record for first weekend sales.
“The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we’ve sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5s, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone’s patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone.”
Apple had already tapped manufacturers to speed up production as early as last week, following reports that customers had scooped up almost every Yellow iPhone 5c and Gold iPhone 5s.
The iPhone 5c is essentially just a repackaged iPhone 5 with colorful polycarbonate enclosures and accessories to match.
The phone sells for $99/€99 on contract and $549/€599 off-contract, which is cheaper than the usual pricing scheme for a brand new iPhone, but still not as cheap as some Wall Street analysts had predicted.
The iPhone 5s is the flagship new iPhone, which comes with a cool fingerprint sensor, a better camera, a faster processor, and an all-new Gold color which has made a splash with the Apple fan base.