iPhone 5S in gold, silver may be scarce at carrier, retail stores
Chances are, you're better off preordering the device at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.
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The gold and silver versions of the
The odds are slim that consumers waiting in line at an AT&T store for a gold or silver iPhone 5S will actually get one, according to AllThingsD. 9to5 Mac reported that carriers and U.S. retailers will have almost no gold or silver iPhone 5S inventory tomorrow.
One carrier source confirmed as much to CNET, while another carrier said it would be as bad or worse than a year ago.
The iPhone 5S looks like it will be a hot commodity due to reported supply issues, which may leave many customers walking home empty-handed tomorrow. The gold version as well as the silver version are shaping up to be in particular scarce supply.
They recommend customers place an online order at midnight PT as the best way to get the model and color they want.
A Best Buy representative confirmed it would have all colors and models at its Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores, but warned that specific model availability will vary by store.
Stores will open at 8 a.m. local time for customers who want to wait in line.
Anecdotally, at least three stores in Australia, which is already selling the iPhone, have reported selling out of the gold version first.
This year is the first time Apple is offering two different iPhones, the iPhone 5S and the more affordable and colorful
Check back in with CNET tomorrow for coverage of the launch of the iPhone 5S and 5C.
Seamus Byrne contributed to this report.
Correction, 3:06 p.m. PT: The headline and story have been changed to reflect the correct colors of the iPhone 5S models expected to be in short supply. They are the gold and silver versions.
