IPhone 12 launch day: people are still lining up for Apple’s...

Friday is iPhone 12 worldwide day, but what does an iPhone launch look like during the coronavirus pandemic? Apple’s launch in Sydney, Australia showed that people are actually still ready to sign up for a new iPhone.

A few dozen people stood in line at the Apple Store in Sydney’s business district, less than last year but perhaps more than expected in the coronavirus era, until 8 a.m. when the store opens. Jun, the first in line, marked his place the night before at 11:30 p.m. He bought an iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and will be back on November 13th when the iPhone 12 Pro max started.

In terms of world cities, Sydney is one of the least affected cities by COVID-19. A total of 4,363 cases and 53 deaths have been recorded in New South Wales, the state whose capital is Sydney. By comparison, there were 260,000 cases in New York, 39,400 in London and 29,350 in Tokyo.

Nevertheless, Apple has taken steps to protect Apple Store employees and customers from coronavirus. A temperature check and mask were required to enter Sydney’s store. On entry, masks were provided for those without. One-on-one conversations with in-store specialists were socially distant, and customers could wait outside and have their phone delivered by an agent if they didn’t want to come into the store.

Jun said he was concerned about the coronavirus but trusted Apple to enforce social distancing in line and in store, gesturing at a customer 1.5 meters behind him.

It remains to be seen whether Apple stores in cities more severely affected by COVID-19 will receive a similar stake. For example, in San Francisco, Apple’s Union Square Store is open, but customer activity is more strictly controlled. Customers cannot freely enter and surf. The company books 15-minute “check-in windows” with customers who want to pick up devices or shop individually with an Apple Store employee. People store a barcode in the Apple Wallet on their phones and check in at barriers outside of stores at their designated time. When customers have access, the guards take their temperature and direct them to a table for help from a shop clerk.

For die-hard Apple fans, standing in line for hours (or days) was a staple every time an iPhone started up. Hundreds of people lined up in New York, London, and several other major cities for the very first iPhone. It didn’t take long for it to become a worldwide phenomenon. September meant new iPhone, and new iPhone meant crowds outside the Apple stores.

Experts have long predicted the death of the iPhone launch ceremony, especially as online delivery has become easier and more efficient. Despite lower numbers – there were certainly more people at the iPhone 11 launch last year, despite the iPhone 12 being a bigger upgrade – Sydney’s launch shows that Apple Diehards are actually still ready to brave a long night to be part of the fun to be.

“The experience here is good,” said Mitch, who came into the store to pick up his new iPhone before work. “Every time I pick up a device here, it’s actually that good. You sit down, everything comes out to you. They guide you through the entire process. ”

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro launching on Friday are two of four models that Apple is bringing out this year. On November 13th the iPhone 12 Mini, the iPhone 12 with a smaller display and the iPhone 12 Pro max, the iPhone 12 Pro with a larger display.

The new iPhones offer a number of improvements, including the display, which is now OLED-enabled in all models and offers improved crack protection, processor and cameras. The biggest leap, however, is the 5G capability that all four phones come with. Due to the low coverage and limited availability, 5G is still an emerging service. However, with dramatically increased speeds and reduced latency, it promises to be the new standard for mobile internet within a year or two.