PHOTOS: iPhone lines at Apple stores around the world
Move over, Black Friday: iFriday is quickly becoming quite the retail phenomenon in its own right, and globally at that.
Twice a year, Apple stores worldwide incite large lines of consumers who are hoping to be among the first to get their hands on the newest iDevice. Apple typically chooses a Friday in the Spring to release the next iteration of its iPad, but Fall is iPhone season, and this Friday customers withstood long lines, some for days, just to get a crack at buying the iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c.
One analyst, in fact, claims that Apple's flagship store in Manhattan saw its longest lines ever, with almost twice as many people waiting this year compared to last year. Notably, a fight broke out outside the Pasadena Apple store, where a businessman apparently offered to pay dozens of homeless men and women to wait in line for the phones.
Part of this, of course, is because Apple did not take online pre-orders for its iPhone, meaning that if you wanted the latest iPhone on day one, you had to get one in person. That meant sleeping bags, tents, lawn chairs and comfy sweatsuits in front of a lot of Apple stores this time around.
Take a look below at some of this Friday’s great Apple store camp-out pictures from around the world.
Hong Kong, China
The line at the Apple Store in Brossard, QC, Canada pic.twitter.com/SPEcJdhXPA
— usrbingeek (@usrbingeek) September 20, 2013
@karantacker standing in line for 5S..Sucha a long line..keep tweeting and entertainin pic.twitter.com/IhJ6ywCKpP
— meepha (@meepha1) September 20, 2013
The line at the Apple Store in Brossard, QC, Canada pic.twitter.com/SPEcJdhXPA
— usrbingeek (@usrbingeek) September 20, 2013
Sydney Apple Store is open. #iPhone5S pic.twitter.com/xDqU4eK9RH
— Seamus Byrne (@seamus) September 19, 2013
Chicago, Ill.
New iPhone time in #Paris...what a line! pic.twitter.com/TFwhfbQiBe
— Bryan Pirolli (@WhereIsBryanP) September 19, 2013
London, England
Apple store Bondi. Line is heading down Oxford Street.End of it is at the Eastern #now #applestore #iphone 5s #launch pic.twitter.com/MvZXBH6BfU
— Joey (@ozjoey) September 19, 2013
The real iPhone queue is around the corner. pic.twitter.com/wg2WQwIsfw
— Ben Kersey (@ben_kersey) September 19, 2013
Los Angeles, Calif.
Germany
Over 1000 people in queue for the iPhone 5 #oberhausen #apple pic.twitter.com/JbrSxc3HGw
— Patrick Cohen (@patrickcohen) September 19, 2013
Line outside #hamburg #istore people camping to grab their #iphone #iPhone5S pic.twitter.com/Oa9M1LYXqy
— Salman, SAYYID (@salmansayyid) September 19, 2013
First people in line in front of Sydney's Apple store ready to spend the night out for the iPhone 5! #apple #fanboys pic.twitter.com/yU0EN8ZN7C
— Ali (@AliHoussein) September 19, 2013
The line for the new iPhone starts on York St, wraps around King St and then George St #sydney #iPhone5S pic.twitter.com/0F5OWhpAZ5
— DeborahClay (@DeborahClay) September 19, 2013
Palm Springs, Calif.
Customers wait for their turn to enter the Apple Store for the new #iPhone5S in Palm Desert. @MyDesert pic.twitter.com/JPLynCE7SB
— Marilyn Chung (@mchungphoto) September 20, 2013
New Orleans, La.
Are you surprised people STILL wait in long lines for the new iPhone? #iPhone #iPhone5s #iPhone5c @wdsu #NOLA pic.twitter.com/09oTyvTAHO
— Andy Cunningham (@CunninghamWDSU) September 20, 2013
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Line of iPhone 5S hopefuls waiting at the Apple Store in Scottsdale. No pre-ordering this year. #fox10 #iPhone5S pic.twitter.com/L3p3TTg2c5
— Mike Robison (@mrobisonfox10) September 20, 2013
Palo Alto, Calif.
About 100 people in line in front of Downtown Palo Alto #Apple store waiting for new #iPhone5S & #iPhone5C. pic.twitter.com/hApeJ3pacc
— Matt Keller (@MattKellerABC7) September 20, 2013
Spokane, Wash.
People are here with air mattresses, blankets, coolers and lawn chairs. #Apple #iPhone5C #iPhone5S pic.twitter.com/QhZauynuz8
— Chelsie Hadden (@ChelsieHadden) September 20, 2013
New York, N.Y.
Here’s a look at the line at an #Apple store in Manhattan for the #iPhone5S. Email your pics to ureport@kgo-tv.com. pic.twitter.com/87Usv3nTbe
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsBayArea) September 20, 2013
Almost 300 people are already lining up at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store in #NYC for the new #iPhone5S and #iPhone5C pic.twitter.com/NFhGjkDHkb
— NYC Shopping Guide (@NYCShopGuide) September 20, 2013
Boston, Mass.
The line at the @LegacyPlace #Applestore for the #iphone5s / #iphone5c pic.twitter.com/DusuRQEiL3
— Doug Perry (@Fox25Doug) September 20, 2013
Houston, Texas
People waiting for the #iPhone5S are getting soaked at the Highland Village location. @KPRCLocal2 pic.twitter.com/PmSYCcPZ1S
— Mark Boyle (@KPRCmboyle) September 20, 2013
Hawaii
@Macworld the iphone5s/5c launch at @AlaMoanaCenter. People lined up as early as 4am. Line is already near Macy's. pic.twitter.com/ebjmUZ5Ufx
— Jermel-Lynn Q. (@jermel_lynn) September 20, 2013