Queues return to Apple Stores as the iPhone 13 goes on sale

24 September 2021, 10:34

Customers enter Apple shop
Apple product launch. Picture: PA

A new range of the smartphones, plus a new iPad and iPad mini, are now available in the UK.

Apple fans queued outside the technology giant’s Regent Street store in central London to be among the first to get hold of the iPhone 13 as the new smartphone range went on sale in the UK.

Unveiled last week, the four new iPhone 13 handsets all have improved battery life and cameras.

A modest queue began to form outside the store at 7.30am on Friday, with Apple staff applauding the first customers inside when it opened its doors at 8am.

The pandemic and increased options for buying online and reserving pick-up times have seen physical queues outside Apple Stores scaled back in recent years.

Unveiling the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max during a virtual event last week, Apple boss Tim Cook said they are the “best iPhones we have ever created”.

As well as the battery and camera improvements, Apple has reduced the size of the notch at the top of the screen and introduced a 120Hz refresh rate, which means smoother screen scrolling, on the two Pro models.

Apple product launch queue
The queue formed shortly before the Apple Store opened at 8am on Friday (Kirsty O’Connor/PA)

Prices for the new iPhone range start from £679 for the mini, up to £1,549 for the top-of-the-line Pro Max, which has one terabyte of storage – the largest Apple has ever offered on an iPhone.

The improvement in battery life is likely to appeal to many smartphone users, experts have said, with Uswitch.com mobiles expert Ru Bhikha arguing that is “at the top of people’s wish-list for the new handset”.

Alongside the iPhones, a new iPad and iPad mini have also gone on sale on Friday, with the new Apple Watch Series 7 to be released later this year.

By Press Association

More Technology News

See more More Technology News

Sam Thompson using an Echo device to support living with ADHD

Amazon launches campaign to show how Alexa can support those with ADHD

Microsoft introduced the AI assistant button

More funding needed for women-led AI start-ups, report says

Westminster

MPs shown Scottish-made ‘unicorn’ satellite at committee meeting

Facebook staff lay offs

Former Meta HQ in London to become science and tech hub

A Nationwide Building Society sign

Nationwide Building Society launches British Sign Language service

Cyber threat report

UK in ‘better position’ against cyber attacks, but most businesses not resilient

Drone

Flying taxis could take off in two years under Government drones plan

Supermarket technical issues

Tesco and Sainsbury’s hit with technical issues on same day

Apple logo in window of store

Norfolk County Council secures settlement as Apple agrees £384m lawsuit payment

Civil Service roles to relocate

Whitehall lacks the skills to implement AI, says National Audit Office

Laptop under cyber attack

Health board hit by cyber attack with ‘significant quantity’ of data at risk

Children and violent online content

Encountering violent online content starts at primary school – Ofcom

Bitcoin

Australian computer scientist is not Bitcoin founder Satoshi, High Court rules

Google website

Google starts rollout of restrictions on AI as key global election year looms

The gov.uk website

NHS and Government websites should be made free of data charges, ministers told

Schools minister Damian Hinds

Getting a mobile phone ‘a rite of passage’ for children, says schools minister