Apple’s iPhone 16 launches to cheers and applause as hundreds queue outside Orchard Road store

SINGAPORE – “Five, four, three, two, one!”

The crowd outside the Apple Store on Orchard Road counted down, erupting in cheers and applause as the first customers in queue entered the store in an orderly manner at 8am on Sept 20 to get their hands on the latest iPhone.

About 110 people were seen queueing outside the store at about 6.10am. By 8.30am, the queue had grown to nearly 300.

When the doors opened, customers were let into the store in batches of about 20 to prevent overcrowding.

The iPhone 16 line-up is the first Apple smartphone designed around AI features. Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 began on Sept 13, with the phones becoming available at launch only on Sept 20.

On the night of Sept 19, would-be customers who came to the Apple Store to queue were told by staff members to leave and return at 4am the next day.

One of those who were turned away only to return, was Mr Harold Lim, 22. He was the first person in line at the Apple Store on the morning of Sept 20, and told The Straits Times that this was his first time queueing for an iPhone.

“I came at around 10 plus last night actually, because I thought the queue would be crazy,” said Mr Lim.

“(Then) I went to a nearby coffeeshop at Shaw Theatres for a few hours… and made my way here at 3am, because I didn’t want to take public transport or a private hire vehicle back and forth.”