iPhone 5 Launch In London: Gallery

Max Smolaks,

TechWeekEurope reports from the queues in front of Apple’s flagship store

After the slightly underwhelming iPad launch in spring, many thought that the Apple queuing phenomenon was over. However, last night hundreds of people decided that the iPhone 5 was worth waiting for, and took to the streets.

According to one Apple employee who has been with the company since the launch of the first iPhone, the queue for the flagship store on Regent Street was the longest he has ever seen.

The iPhone festival

The queue was huge. Even at 9:30 AM, it was predicted that those waiting just around the corner from the store on Hanover Street would have to wait another five hours. Some of them had been queuing since midnight.

This time round, Apple decided to take over Hanover Square, with the queue circling it before coming out on Brook Street. The neighbourhood was full of tired-looking Apple staff dressed in blue, ushering people into metal enclosures and giving out gift cards – Apple’s “golden tickets”. The trade in tickets was rife, but getting caught might get you removed from the queue altogether.

Most of the people queuing in the square had spent the night there. Despite waiting for hours, the crowds were excited, and the whole event was reminiscent of a music festival, complete with cold coffee and portaloos.

Hanover Street corner
Near Hanover Square
Hanover Square
Hanover Square
Portable toilets
Jumping on the bandwagon, CoPilot
End of the queue, Brook Street
In front of the store
The portal
Crowds inside the store
Wiew from above
\"Does it come in pink?\"
\"You know you want it\"
The iPhone 5
Carphone Warehouse has been prepared

 

The iPhone 5 has a bigger screen than its predecessor, added 4G LTE support and a brand new eight pin connector dubbed “Lightning”. Inside the smartphone, users will find a new Apple A6 chip that makes it twice as fast as the iPhone 4S, combined with twice as much RAM.

The new eight megapixel camera can capture 1080p high-definition video and take photos at the same time, while the upgraded 720p front facing camera will improve FaceTime conversations.

The new smartphone doesn’t have NFC support, and it has lost its native YouTube and Google Maps applications. Instead, Apple engineers have come up with their own navigation software, which so far has failed to impress.

An unlocked 16 GB version of the iPhone 5 costs £529.00 and the wait time for delivery is currently around four weeks. A 32 GB model will set you back £599.00, while the 64 GB model carries a hefty price tag of £699.00.

If you look for less expensive alternatives, consider Goophone i5. Its Chinese manufacturer has actually threatened to sue Apple, saying that it has already patented this design. Oh, and it runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

How closely have you been following the evolution of the iPhone? Take our quiz!