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iPhone 5s to be constrained at launch as Apple preps app to check availability

Screen Shot 2013-09-17 at 2.26.47 PM

While supply for Apple’s iPhone 5c has been strong enough to deter complete sell-outs from carrier stores and Apple’s own online store, sources say that supplies of the higher-end iPhone 5s will be constrained at launch (as we expected). According to sources at several large Apple Stores across the country, about 70-80% of new iPhones stocked for the launch on Friday, September 20th are the iPhone 5c.

The iPhone 5s will be available in limited quantity, and Apple is expecting the Space Gray model to be most popular, according to our sources. Of the iPhone 5s units scheduled for delivery to Apple Stores for the launch this Friday, about an average of three out of every four units will be a Space Gray model. The white/silver and white/gold options will be hard to come by at launch…

We’re also told to expect supply of AT&T models (in the United States) to be stronger than Verizon Wireless models in the higher-capacity configurations for the 5s. In terms of capacities, in general, we’re hearing that 16GB and 32GB configurations could be easier to find than the higher-end 64GB models. As BGR postulates, perhaps the iPhone 5s constraints are the reason behind the new iPhone pre-orders being exclusive to the iPhone 5c. AllThingsD is separately reporting that carrier stores are also seeing constraints.

Because supplies are expected to be constrained, Apple is said to be preparing an update to its Apple Store app for the iPhone and iPod touch that can allow customers to monitor if certain new iPhone models are available at their local Apple Store. The app is said to arrive by next week, but it, of course, could be pushed back or cancelled at the last minute.

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Comments

  1. Eric Lee - 11 years ago

    Really? Even if I go to wait in the line at Apple store?

  2. Gregory Wright - 11 years ago

    Space gray is fine with me because that is the one I want.

  3. Gregory Wright - 11 years ago

    By the way why is there so much doom and gloom about the new iPhones. All I here is people won’t be buying them. Yet, according to this article, the 5S will be hard to come bye.

  4. felrefordit - 11 years ago

    That’s Apple’s way to make it appear like the reason for the low sales will figures they are excepting would be they unable to supply enough devices, and not the real reasons: people not caring and people not buying new iPhones.

  5. Chris Sanders - 11 years ago

    Space Gray is the ugliest of all the 5s and 5c phones.

    • Gabe Sanchez - 11 years ago

      I thought the same thing at first but the pictures don’t do it justice. I’m sure it will look better in hand. Although my Black 5 is going to be tough to get rid of :/ Just got a new one from applecare..and its hard to part ways.

  6. Randy DeVinney - 11 years ago

    Those people are not waiting in line for a 5c.