Two million-plus iPhone sales a day could keep critics away.
That’s how fast the new iPhones are expected to fly off store shelves starting Friday, according to Wall Street analysts.
At that rate — the three-day forecasts range from a total of 5.5 million all the way to 8 million units sold — Apple’s iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S will again set records for gadgets sold on an opening weekend.
Last year, the iPhone 5 hit 5 million units sold in its opening weekend.
This weekend is the first time Apple has two models of the iPhone for consumers — the souped up 5S with a gold-color version in the mix and the colorful plastic 5C.
The iPhone 5S starts out at $200 for the least expensive model with a two-year contract — or $650 unsubsidized. The iPhone 5C starts at $99 with contract — or $550 without.
Apple CEO Tim Cook and design guru Jony Ive have been touting their latest and greatest devices in the days leading up to the launch.
Cook addressed concerns that the iPhone 5C is not cheap enough to attract the masses.
“We’re not in the junk business,” Cook told Bloomberg Businessweek.
Apple analyst Gene Munster, with Piper Jaffray, warned shoppers to expect some supply shortages with the finely crafted iPhone 5S, which could limit opening weekend sales.
Munster’s opening weekend sales estimate is for 5.5 million units.
The iPhone 3 was the first to do 1 million in sales opening weekend; the 3GS sold 1 million; the 4 sold 1.7 million; and the 4S sold 4 million.
Today is the first time that Apple has released the iPhone in China on the same day as in the US, a move to attract buyers there and limit the gray market for the phones.