By Trent Sharpe
If you saw excited groups of teenagers heading into the city today, it’s likely many were on their way to pick up the new Apple iPhone.
Smartphone users waited up to 12 hours to buy the new iPhone
Apple’s Hay Street and Garden City stores were packed with customers who’d queued from midnight to secure their spot.
The new 4.7 inch iPhone 6 and 5.5 inch iPhone 6 Plus are said to compete with smartphones from makers such as Samsung and Nokia.
Authorities had cordoned off a lane on Hay Street to accommodate those camping out on the footpath.
Hayden Thomas was one of the first in the line. He said the queue stretched from the Apple Store to Capitol nightclub, 350 metres around the corner on Murray Street.
“We’ve been here for about 12 hours now, I think,” said Mr Thomas.
John Neale and his friends spent the night in sleeping bags and hooded jackets while others carried around camping chairs and stretcher beds.
“Last night it was really, really cold,” Mr Neale said. “And now it’s way too hot. We’d like to get out of here soon!”
However, not everyone believes that the new iPhone 6 is as good as Apple claims.
Android user Adam Rowlandson said that Apple was way behind in the market, claiming his HTC One is far better than the new iPhone 6.
“This phone is already been on the market for nearly two years, and it has everything the iPhone has and more,” said Mr Rowlandson.
Apple is charging iPhone 6 users $869 to by the phone outright, and iPhone 6 Plus users are expected to pay $999.
Android consumers were reportedly paying as little as $400 for their smartphones, which already have displays larger than 5 inches.
Samsung plans to release the new Galaxy Note 4 later this year, which has a 5.7 inch screen.
The Note 4’s display is equipped with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, leaving the iPhone 6 Plus trailing with a 1,920 x 1,080 screen.
Apple staff was instructed not to talk to the media.