Huge iPhone Sales, Short Lines at Stores

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are more conventional devices than the X.

"I can't justify spending that much money on the iPhone X", said student Heather Ratliff.

As in previous years, the faithful began assembling in Sydney well before doors at Apple's flagship store opened at 8 a.m. AEST.

The iPhone X loomed over this entire launch - and, in a way, the store itself.

A local newspaper quoted owners of two different shops in the plaza as saying that they believe the iPhone 8 is not warmly welcomed by customers because it is not substantially different from the iPhone 7, but they expect the sales of the iPhone X will be better. Because the loudest iPhone fans are the ones who are holding out for the iPhone X. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are great phones, of course, but the iPhone X is completely redesigned.

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus can be pre-ordered from September 15 and will launch on September 22, while pre-orders for the iPhone X begin on October 27 ahead of its launch on November 3.

The iPhone 8 costs SG$1,148 for the 64GB model or SG$1,388 for 256GB, while the iPhone 8 Plus costs SG$1,308 for 64GB and SG$1,548 for 256GB from Apple, and are both available in silver, gold, and space grey.

They add wireless charging, new camera sensors and the same faster A11 processor as the X, but for the most part look the same as the iPhone 7. The bezels are razor thin, and the home button has been done away with.

He said he flew in from India specially to buy an iPhone 8 Plus for his daughter as a wedding gift. He plans to return when the iPhone X is available.

The celebration of the iPhone, which first went on sale in 2007, has changed over the last decade.

This is a far cry from years past when there would be literally hundreds of people in line to purchase Apple's latest smartphone. Now, queues to get the latest Apple handset are more modest affairs. It's easier to pre-order online and get it handed to you by a friendly delivery person. And this year, fans were torn between Friday's holiday and its return in a month and a half. Right? Wait a minute... where are all the people!? "Ten years later it's only fitting to reveal a product that will set the stage for the next decade", Cook said during the launch.