Apple sells record 13 mn iPhones in weekend launch

Industry analysts expect Apple to sell 12 million to 13 million new iPhones over the September 25 weekend. The current sales figures far surpassed the company’s record a year ago, when 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus units were sold on their first weekend.

Eager buyers – joined by at least one robot – flocked to Apple stores from Sydney to New York and San Francisco, itching to get their hands on new models boasting an improved camera and a screen feature Apple calls “3D Touch”, which performs different functions depending on how hard a user presses. As with every new iPhone, Apple is positioning the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus as the “most advanced ever”.

Queues formed outside Apple Stores around the world as the new phones went on sale on Friday. However, the real reason for this new record can be found in China, now the second largest market for Apple.

Apple sold more than 13 million iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus units last weekend.

Shares of audio chipmaker Cirrus Logic Inc (CRUS.O) jumped 15 percent after iFixit’s tear-down revealed that Apple had used its chips, as it did in previous iPhones.

“If you have an iPhone 6, you won’t be overly jealous of those who get a 6s – maybe just a tad envious of those Live Photos”, Stern said.

“Sales for iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus have been phenomenal, blowing past any previous first weekend sales results in Apple’s history”, said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO in a statement.

Apple did not respond to our request for comment when we tried to confirm whether waterproofing was a feature of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. (iPhone 6s Plus activations were in line with 2014 iPhone 6 Plus activations, according to Spence.) This probably misreads the data, though, because Fiksu measures usage of each model as a percentage of the total iPhone base.

The new iPhones will be available in more than 40 additional countries beginning October. 9 – including Italy, Mexico, Russia, Spain and Taiwan – and available in more than 130 countries by year end.

How well are iPhone 6 sales holding up?

This year marked the first where China was among the initial launch markets for the new iPhones.

What’s new? 3D Touch is perhaps the biggest new addition. Another tip, buy a an iPhone case before you leave the story to protect your new phone.