Dive Brief:
- Apple fans have been lining up outside Apple stores around the world days ahead of Friday's release of two new iPhones.
- Pre-orders of both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have exceeded inventory, which will delay many shipments until October.
- The new iPhones also set a record with pre-sales, with four million being sold in 24 hours, Apple said Monday.
Dive Insight:
Apple stores are accustomed to seeing lines days before the release of a new product. But these crowds, as well as the phones' record-breaking pre-sale numbers, are both good signs among the softening demand for all smartphones.