Apple has struck gold.
The tech giant sold a whopping 9 million of its high-end iPhone 5s and less-expensive iPhone 5c in their opening weekend.
That topped last year’s record, when the iPhone 5 sold 5 million in its first three days on sale.
Analysts predicted Apple would sell up to 8 million iPhones over the weekend, and the surprise surpassing of that number helped send shares surging yesterday almost 5 percent, to $490.64.
It marked the first time Apple released two new iPhones at the same time, and the company didn’t break down the sales figure.
But analysts said the pricier version — juiced by sales of the gold-tone model in particular — outsold the new plastic variety by more than 3 to 1.
Indeed, the company said the gold model is sold out and won’t be available for delivery until October.
The iPhone 5s accounted for about 7 million in sales, while the iPhone 5c accounted for 2 million, according to data from Localytics.
“The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible,” CEO Tim Cook said in a statement.
In an unusual move for the tight-lipped company, Apple also said that revenue and gross margins for the current quarter would be near the top end of its forecast. In July, Apple predicted $34 billion to $37 billion in revenue and margins between 36 and 37 percent.
“We do not recall this type of pre-announcement ever happening, and it seems that it implies a message from management that the company is back on track,” Barclays analysts wrote in a research note to clients yesterday.
Apple released its new iPhones with days left in the quarter to boost sales before it announces earnings next month. Some analysts cautioned that the tactic could come back to hurt the company in the holiday quarter.
The company also released the new devices in China on the same day it opened US sales. In the past, Apple has left China for the following quarter to capitalize on a second bump from an overseas sales rush.
However, Wall Street hopes Apple still has another China sales channel that it could turn on next quarter.
Apple could still announce a deal with China Mobile, the country’s largest carrier with 700 million
potential new customers. That would provide a needed sales lift over the holidays.
“Let’s see what happens when China Mobile hits,” said Colin Gillis, analyst with BGC Partners, referring to the potential lift to Apple shares.