Long queues outside Apple stores ahead of iPhone X launch

People in Japan were seen seated in chairs while they were waiting for the product

In a blast from the past, there are long lines already forming in cities around the world for tomorrow’s iPhone X launch.

After the iPhone 8’s muted rollout in late September, the lines of people willing to wait overnight suggest massive demand for the iPhone X – despite its US $1,000-plus price tag.

In Singapore, there are “hundreds” waiting for the iPhone X outside Apple’s freshly-opened store.

By late afternoon, there were already overwhelming numbers, reports Channel News Asia. “You need breathing space. This will take a while. There is no point in pushing,” Apple store staffers were heard saying.

After nightfall, one onlooker described the crowd size as “insane.”

In Sydney, Australia, there were already around 50 people in line earlier on Thursday, said News.com.au.

One Sydney teenager caused outrage by snagging two spots with the aid of an extra chair. Lee Cselko, 16, then advertised the spot – 25th in the queue – on a whiteboard.

He sold it after heated bidding among Apple fanatics for US$500, according to the Daily Mail.

Brisbane has plenty of overnighters too.

Over in Japan, the Tokyo queuers in Shibuya were also well prepared as they were seen sitting in chairs while waiting for the launch.

Not too far away, the queue is long outside the Ginza store.

There are lot of people already on the queue for #iPhoneX at Apple Store #Ginza #銀座 #アップルストア pic.twitter.com/T9o8jNilm5

— Angel (@masterplucas) 2 November 2017

Russians have joined in the action too.

Even punters in more distant timezones have started to assemble – like these outside London’s Regent Street Apple store.

The lines point to a lot of people being unable to snag the iPhone X when pre-orders opened last week. Apple boss Tim Cook said recently that “we’ll be working as hard as possible to make as many as possible” in response to questions about whether there are enough iPhone X units to go around at launch. “We’ll see what happens,” added Cook.

This is an edited excerpt from Tech In Asia. You can read the original article here