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Queues form across Singapore as iPhone 6s and 6s Plus launch today

By James Lu & Liu Hongzuo - on 25 Sep 2015, 3:23pm

Queues form across Singapore as iPhone 6s and 6s Plus launch today

There's nothing quite like an iPhone launch. All across Singapore, determined customers braved the haze and queued up for hours (and in some cases overnight) just to be one of the first to get their hands on Apple's latest smartphones.

Singtel kicked off their three day weekend launch event at Marina Bay Sands Convention Center at 8AM this morning. According to Singtel, more than 40,000 customers registered their interest for the new iPhones and over 12,000 launch appointment slots were fully subscribed, with some models snapped up in less than three minutes.

The first batch of Singtel customers arrive for their 8AM appointments.

Mr. Daryl Lee was the first customer in line, arriving at 4:45am, and walking away with a 128GB Rose Gold iPhone 6s. This is the third time Mr. Lee has queued for an iPhone, but the first time he has been at the head of the queue. Last year he was 15th, and the year before 20th.

Mr Daryl Lee, with Singtel Consumer Singapore, CEO, Mr Yuen Kuan Moon and Singtel Consumer Singapore, Head, Go-to-Market, Mr Anthony Shiner

For being first in line, Mr Lee received a one of a kind t-shirt and a pair of Audio Technica headphones.

M1's launch event kicked off at 8AM today at its flagship store at Paragon.

M1 outlet at Paragon, with an emcee keeping the buyers entertained as they wait for the shop to start business.

Ken, a technician, was the first to in line at M1's outlet at Paragon. It was his first time being at the front of the queue at an iPhone launch, having queued since 6.40am. Ken purchased the 16GB Space Gray iPhone 6s, upgrading from an iPhone 6. After picking up his phone and goodie bag at M1, Ken says he's heading to Singtel's event at Marina Bay Sands to pick up another iPhone!

Ken in the midst of getting his new 16GB Space Gray iPhone 6s.

One of the first M1 customers to opt for the Rose Gold color was Jeff. Jeff was picking up two phones from the same outlet - one Space Gray iPhone 6s and one Rose Gold 6s, both in 128GB. He intends to keep one and resell the other, as he claims that the phones were difficult to pre-order after Apple and the local telcos announced their availability.

“I logged on to my PC when I got home 20 minutes after they released their preorders. It was hard to get in, and in no time there was only 16GB Rose Gold left,” said Jeff. “I use my iPhone more for my daily drive, as the camera and texting functions are very good.”

Jeff getting his two iPhones, one of which is the new Rose Gold version.

Those who arrived early to queue up at M1 were rewarded with a gift hamper consisting of a 4,000mAh powerbank, a transparent phone case, and a set of external Bluetooth speakers.

The gift hamper given to the early-birds at the M1 outlet in Paragon.

Rather than one central location, Starhub's iPhone launch is being held at 38 of its stores nationwide to give its customers flexibility and convenience in where they collect their new phone. At the Vivocity outlet, Mr. Chu Yen Khai was the first in line, arriving at 9:55am, just over an hour before the official launch time of 11am. Mr. Chu bought a 16GB Rose Gold iPhone 6s.

Mr. Chu Yen Khai waiting at the head of the queue at Vivocity Starhub.

As for non-contract iPhones, queues were even longer with people queuing up overnight at Apple retailers to buy their phones.

People were already queuing at 3:45pm on Thursday, 24th September at this Nubox at Causeway Point, Woodlands.

At iStudio at Paragon, right across the corridor from M1, a much longer queue formed earlier this morning. As these phones are not tied to contracts, many of these customers were buying to re-sell overseas.

Queues at Apple retailers were substantially longer than telcos. 

Buyers lining the iStudio service counter in Paragon as they wait for the latest iPhone models.

Over at Epicenter at ION Orchard, we saw a huge queue that apparently formed yesterday morning and has continued to grow since then.

This is just the head of the line at epicentre ION Orchard, which formed yesterday at 6am!

Mr Nguyen Truong Son was the first in line, having arrived at 6am on Thursday, 24th September. He bought the 128GB Rose Gold iPhone 6s Plus. Mr Nguyen flew in from Vietnam specially to get hold of the latest iPhone, and will be flying back in the evening after his purchase.

“I think it’s beautiful,” said Mr Nguyen, when asked why he was prepared to queue for so long.

Mr Nguyen Truong Son was the first person to get the iPhone 6s from Epicenter's ION Orchard outlet.

From what we observed on the ground, it seems like all colors are popular, with the latest Rose Gold option being the highest sought-after color, surprisingly by both men and women. According to our earlier report, it does seem as if 40% of preorders were for the newest iPhone color. Predictions by analysts expect Apple to sell close to 13 million in this weekend alone.

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