New iPhones a bust? Massive first-day crowds say different.

Tons of people show up to buy new iPhones and Apple Watches, despite rumors of lackluster preorders.

Remember the days when Apple fans would line up overnight to get their hands on the latest iPhones?

People would camp out a week before launch day. There’d be lines around the block, and reporters from every local TV station, and cops to manage the crowds. Startups would hand out tchotchkes, trying to gain attention, and hawkers picked up new iPhones to sell on eBay. It was a circus.

Those days are long gone, but there are still minor mob scenes at Apple Stores all over the world — although these days, it’s extremely well-managed.

When I arrived for my 10 a.m. appointment at the flagship Union Square store in San Francisco, the line snaked around the block.

But with a nearly one-to-one ratio of Apple staffers to customers, the line moved pretty quickly. I commented to one worker how efficient it all was, and she proudly said the staff had been practicing and had gotten the routine down to a T.

“It was chaotic last year,” she said, “but we fixed it this year.”

It still took about an hour to get out of there with a new iPhone 16 Pro Max and, unbelievably, a new satin black titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2, although not with the highly coveted black titanium Milanese Loop. They were all sold out. I got a fabric band instead.

I can’t wait to try out the new iPhone and Apple Watch. Look for reviews early next week. My colleagues also will be reviewing other models and we’ll have a full lineup of our thoughts and evaluations next week.

If you also got a new iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods or other device, enjoy your purchase and have a great weekend.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

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— Leander Kahney, EIC.

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An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator ... these are not three separate devices! And we are calling it iPhone! Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone. And here it is.

— Steve Jobs, 2008.

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