A disorderly scuffle broke out at a Dubai mall Friday as shoppers rushed to get the iPhone 15, as stores around the world saw massive lines for the new handsets.
Footage on TikTok shows a big crowd scuffling at Mall of the Emirates to be first in line for the new iPhone. Security guards struggle to hold back the rowdy crowd and several people fall. Other videos show the crowd jostling each other as they scramble to be first inside.
Elsewhere around the world, first-day crowds were more orderly as thousands of people lined up to get the new iPhones.
Scuffles as long lines form outside Apple Stores
After hundreds camped overnight at the Dubai mall, the crowd jostled with security guards holding back the crowd. The guards appear to lose control of the surging crowd as some people fall to the ground.
“A massive fight over the new iPhone 15 took place in a queue outside the Dubai Apple Store,” wrote an eyewitness on X.
Such battles for iPhone 15 Pro Max took place in Dubai Mall
Hundreds of people stayed overnight in the malls to be the first to get to an Apple Store and buy a new device.#iPhone15ProMax pic.twitter.com/6e5Gy5AYYZ
— Ross Pravadnikou (rossprav.eth) (@rossprav) September 22, 2023
Shoppers fighting to run through the barriers of Dubai mall to buy the new iPhone 5. Everyone wants a piece. This never happened at any Android shop pic.twitter.com/RCiU4l9uoD
— Kenya West (@KinyanBoy) September 22, 2023
Massive lines formed for the latest iPhone 15 at Dubai's Mall of the Emirates! Crowds of eager customers have been patiently waiting in an enormous line outside the Apple Store since yesterday. pic.twitter.com/zYwDWAPlsG
— HumanDilemma (@HumanDilemma_) September 22, 2023
Elsewhere, big crowds formed outside Apple stores. Demand for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max appear to be exceptionally high this year.
The craze seems exceptionally high in India, especially since Apple opened its first retail stores there earlier this year.
“I have been here since 3pm yesterday,” one shopper told The Indian Express. “I waited in line for 17 hours to get the first iPhone at India’s first Apple store.”
There is a huge line already at Apple BKC!
This is NOT pre-order line, people are here to grab the iPhone ASAP I guess.. (You know for what 😅)
They are letting 5 people go at a time for a line just outside the store.. pic.twitter.com/moj3lVSsZO— Dhananjay_Tech (@Dhananjay_Tech) September 22, 2023
One of the first people to get into Apple Store, BKC in Mumbai to pickup & experience the iPhone 15 Series.
Look at the crazy line outside the store! First time in India at a physical Apple Store that opened in April. #iPhone15 #iPhone15ProMax pic.twitter.com/IzBkB8NIDS
— Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24) September 22, 2023
In New York, Apple CEO Tim Cook and his colleague Greg Joswiak opened the doors at Apple’s Fifth Avenue store, as shoppers streamed inside.
Tim and Joz open the doors to Apple Store 5th Ave and greet the first folks in line #iphone15 pic.twitter.com/TvqfNDJFD5
— Kate Kozuch (@KateKozuch) September 22, 2023
There were also long lines and big crowds in Boston, Milan, Paris, Tokyo and Bangkok. Hundreds of people waited outside Apple Regent Street in London before it opened at 8 a.m.
Astonished that queuing for an iPhone on launch day is still a thing… Over 30 minute wait at the flagship store in London today. Pro models flying out the door. Cost of living crisis?? Wow! pic.twitter.com/rtO8lcE8ZP
— Ben Wood (@benwood) September 22, 2023
Things were relatively calm in Sydney, Australia, where the new iPhones and Apple Watch were the first to go on sale. Apple shared launch-day pictures from its store in the country’s capital, showing happy customers picking up their purchases.
Photo: Apple
New Apple Watch and AirPods with USB-C are now on sale, too
Alongside the iPhone 15 series, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 also launch today. The watches are not in high demand, so you should easily get your desired model if you go to a retail store. Or, if you preordered the watch, expect it to be delivered by the end of the day.
If you want to dump Lightning for good, the second-gen AirPods Pro with USB-C charging case are also available for purchase now, although Apple isn’t the best place to get them. Best Buy has a $50 off deal that drops the price of Apple’s latest earbuds to just $199.
Unfortunately, Apple is not selling the USB-C case separately. So, you can’t do much if you already have the AirPods Pro 2 with Lightning case other than buy a whole new set of earbuds.
If you have yet to decide which iPhone to buy, check out our iPhone 15 Pro versus Pro Max comparison to determine if you should go big this year. We also have a comparison between the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 if you are unsure about buying the Pro model.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
