The iPhone 12 launches in Australia and yes, dozens are pending...

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 couple of dozen people queued 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 pointed to a customer standing 1.5 meters behind him, trusting Apple to enforce social distancing in line and in store.

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 indeed still ready to give the brave a long night of part of the fun 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 so good that they sit you down, everything comes out to you, and leads you through the whole process.”