Apple has today announced that it has clocked in a record number of pre-orders for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in its first 24-hours of availability. The number of next-generation iPhone units sold as part of the initial pre-order issue has surpassed 4 million, putting the release on track to be the biggest launch in the Cupertino company’s 38-year history. The decision to move to two larger-screen models appears, on the face of things, to be a stroke of genius by Apple as consumers from ten territories ensure initial stock was depleted.
As a comparison, two years ago, Apple notched up over 2 million pre-orders in the first 24-hours for the iPhone 5, which was the first iPhone model to move away from the tried and tested 3.5-inch display across to a 4-inch offering. Twelve months ago, when the Cupertino company offered a two model choice with the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, Apple managed to shift just over 9 million units during the first weekend of actual availability in digital and brick and mortar stores. Today’s announcement of 4 million units sold as part of a pre-order offering puts the company on track to obliterate those numbers.
Judging by initial stock level updates when pre-orders went live, it appears that the jumbo-sized iPhone 6 Plus model is proving to be the most popular. This is potentially down to a large number of Android users deciding to jump ship to take advantage of the power of iOS 8 on a larger screen device; a potential theory that is backed up by announcements from buyback services relating to a huge increase in Samsung devices being traded in after the Apple announcement.
To coincide with the initial success of the iPhone 6 it’s being reported that Apple has instructed a number of manufacturing partners to ramp up production by 30-40% on last year’s initial run of the two available iPhone models. The company has also announced via an official press release that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available in an additional 20 countries on Friday, September 26. Tim Cook has described the iPhone 6 models as “better in every way” and that he is “thrilled customers love them as much as we do“. It seems well over 4 million people love them, Tim. Best get that supply chain ramped up.
The full press release from Apple is as follows:
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