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iPhone 5 pre-orders top 2 million in 24 hours: Apple

The iPhone 5 has shattered a record previously established by the iPhone 4S. Apple now says it may have trouble fulfilling pre-orders. 

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Reuters
An up-close look at the iPhone 5.
  • By Matthew Shaer

Apple sold more than 2 million iPhone 5 handsets in 24 hours last week – a company record. 

In a press statement released today, Apple said that the figure doubles the previous record, which was set by the iPhone 4S. The company also warned that it may have difficulty meeting pre-order demand – although Sept. 21 is the official launch date for the sleek new iPhone (read about how the device handles here), many pre-orders won't be fulfilled until next month. 

"The customer response to iPhone 5 has been phenomenal," Apple marketing chief Philip Schiller said in the statement. "iPhone 5 is the best iPhone yet, the most beautiful product we’ve ever made, and we hope customers love it as much as we do."

It's worth noting, of course, that Apple labels every iPhone as the best iPhone ever – nothing particularly new there. 

And in the spirit of healthy debate, let us also point you to this list, which is titled "10 ways the Android is better than iPhone 5."

Among the reasons listed by David Gewitz: LTE service isn't exactly as widespread as Apple might have you believe; you'll have to buy all new accessories to fit the larger frame size and "Lightning" dock connector; and old apps may look weird on the new 4-inch screen.

"You may have a sexier iPhone to show off, but the apps running on it will look like they were designed for knock-off phones," Gewitz writes.

We buy the first two complaints – it is true that the LTE networks are very much a work in progress, and it's also true that you'll need to replace your old chargers – but the third complaint, about the apps, seems like something of a non-issue to us. App developers will figure out the new screen size pretty quickly. 

And even if they don't, that's not going to stop the Apple juggernaut. As Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster told USA Today this week, just about everyone is expecting "madhouse" scenes at Apple stores on Sept. 21. Stretched apps and new dock connectors or not. 

Already pre-ordered the iPhone 5? Drop us a line in the comments section. And to receive regular updates on how technology intersects daily life, follow us on Twitter @venturenaut.

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