Singapore still hungry for iPhone, but buzz lacking

Just around 8 a.m., the queue at EpiCentre snaked across three shopfronts in double rows, with most customers being students and teenagers.

Customers entered in batches to collect their iPhone 5 at EpiCentre's 313@Somerset branch, amid an atmosphere that somewhat lacked buzz.

The reseller said stocks were sold out across its chain within two hours.

At its Orchard Road Paragon branch, mobile operator M1 split its queue into different sections. Customers were given orange bags to put their new iPhone 5.

There was also a lion dance at 8 a.m. to celebrate the launch of the new Apple device.

All telcos, such as StarHub, allowed customers to pre-order and book appointment slots to collect the iPhone 5 so the queue was subdued.

Although Apple reseller iStudio only opened its doors at 11 a.m., some customers were already queuing outside at 8 a.m.

On the right is the iPhone 5 which is narrower, longer and lighter than its iPhone 4 sibling.