Skip to main content

iPhone 5S madness sees online stock levels plummet, as the queues grow ever longer

iphone 5s shipping times slip to 10 days vertical lineup
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Check out our review of the Apple iPhone 5S smartphone.

The iPhone 5S is now available in several countries around the world, and online through Apple.com. As expected, the lack of a pre-order option means there is plenty of demand. In fact, demand for the gold iPhone 5S has been so great, it took just 30 minutes for the delivery time to slip until October at the earliest for those ordering online. It’s not just the gold phone that’s struggling to keep up either, as unlocked iPhone 5S models are already all listed with a 7-10 day shipping time from Apple.com. However, if you don’t mind signing up to a new contract, then they’re still on to ship in one to three business days, just don’t expect it to last.

How about the brave fans who’ve ventured out into the world to try and find an iPhone 5S in a store? In the UK, where the phone has been available for a few hours now, the queues have been formidable. Pocket-Lint described the scene outside the flagship Regent Street Apple Store in London as, “impressive,” and according to Om Malik of GigaOm.com, there were at least 600 people waiting in line, and another 500 over at another London Apple Store in Covent Garden. On Malik’s personal blog are pictures of the queues at the Stratford Apple Store, some 20 minutes outside London, which were long enough to put him and a friend off waiting, even at 6am. Back at Covent Garden, tech journalist Stuart Dredge posted this Instagram video of the hoards outside the store.

iPhone 5S Queue
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A report by the BBC indicates an Apple Store is the best place to try and buy an iPhone 5S, as UK networks said stock levels were, “Severely limited.” The O2 network is in the unfortunate position of not having any iPhone 5S devices to sell through its stores at all, as thanks to low availability, it has put everything it has online. If you want an iPhone 5C though, there shouldn’t be a problem at all.

In the U.S. the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C will be available to buy in-store from 8am local time. How’s it looking outside a few hours before the doors open? It’s a similar story to the UK, as you can see from the picture above, which shows the scene outside the Partridge Creek Apple Store in Sterling Heights, Michigan at around 6am, where at least 125 people are queuing for the new iPhone. A further 13 are outside the local Verizon store.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
I’m a lifelong iPhone user. Here’s what I think about the Samsung Galaxy S24
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and S Pen stylus on its screen.

Samsung and Apple typically release new smartphones at different times of the year. Samsung usually does it early in the year, while Apple waits until the fall ahead of the holiday shopping season. As always, Apple tends to release new iPhones that outdo the ones Samsung released earlier, and then when the calendar changes, Samsung comes back with something to better compete with Apple, and so forth.

Samsung has recently announced its Galaxy S24 series, which has sparked the curiosity of iPhone owners like myself. Many of us are currently exploring the features of these phones and seeing which ones aren't available on our iPhones, myself included. Some are entirely new, while others have been introduced on previous Samsung Galaxy S models. Although many seem promising, some may not be as appealing to iPhone users. Here are a few of the Galaxy S24 features I like — and a few I don't.
Circle to Search looks impressive
Circle to Search Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Read more
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs. iPhone 15: don’t buy the wrong one
Renders of the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 next to each other.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is the newest flagship phone on the market, joining its stablemates, the Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra in Samsung's latest range. While not obvious from the outside, the Galaxy S24 has had some hefty upgrades — including a new, more powerful processor, an improved and larger display, and Samsung's all-new Galaxy AI. With prices starting at $800, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is a strong choice if you're looking for a great flagship smartphone that doesn't cost four figures.

But it's not alone in this space. Apple's iPhone 15 also starts from $800 and has a strong processor, a great camera, battery life, and the polished iOS 17. Both devices have a lot to love, and you may be unsure which of these two suits you better.  That's why we've compared the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Apple iPhone 15, pitting the two head to head, explaining the differences, and letting you know which is better.
Samsung Galaxy S24 vs. iPhone 15: specs

Read more
I want the iPhone 16 to steal these 6 Galaxy S24 features
The back of the yellow Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Samsung’s January Unpacked event revealed the company's next-generation phones, the Galaxy S24 lineup. This includes the base model S24, the larger S24 Plus, and the top-of-the-line S24 Ultra.

The S24 lineup is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and has a smattering of new AI features. Samsung also seems to have copied Apple by giving the S24 and S24 Plus a flat frame instead of the rounded one used previously, as well as a matte look. And, of course, the S24 Ultra getting a titanium frame just months after the iPhone 15 Pro isn't lost on anyone.

Read more