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iPhone 7 & 7 Plus launch with many models already sold out

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Today, September 16, marks the official launch of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus – but if you didn’t preorder nice and early last week, you could be facing a wait to get your hands on Apple’s latest smartphones.

Whether its due to incredible sales or just a lack of supply is unclear, but all models of the larger iPhone 7 Plus sold out as part of Apple’s week-long preorder window, leaving Apple Stores without any units for walk-in customers on launch day. The new Jet Black version of the regular iPhone 7 is also unavailable in stores, having proved a popular choice amongst the preorder crowd. Other versions of the iPhone 7 have been made available in limited quantities, though exactly what that means will vary between stores.

Even those who managed to order last week aren’t necessarily receiving their iPhones on launch day, with delivery estimates slipping just minutes after preorders opened. In many regions Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus units aren’t shipping until November.

Australia was the first location the new iPhones became available, with some queuing for hours outside the Apple Store in Sydney only to be disappointed by the news that the larger iPhone wasn’t available at all. Some customers have reported being given $100 Apple gift cards as an apology for the lack of stock – though it doesn’t look like this is happening at every store.

Interestingly, this has been the first year that the larger model has proved more popular than its smaller sibling, with 55% of preorder customers choosing the 5.5-inch Plus model. Most likely this is down to the impressive new dual camera setup which is exclusive to the iPhone 7 Plus. A teardown of this model by the guys at iFixit also reveals a slightly bigger battery than last year, as well as optical image stabilization on both lenses.

Elsewhere, it’s not taken long for the new device (specifically, a Black iPhone 7) to undergo some pretty serious stress testing in a YouTube video that puts the phone through the works. Read more about the results of the scratch and bend tests here. Meanwhile the ultra-shiny Jet Black finish is apparently very susceptible to fine scratches, fingerprints and abrasions – so you might want to think twice before grabbing one.

The new iPhone 7 starts at $649 (£599) while the iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769 (£719). They can be ordered via the Apple website, but if the shipping estimates in your area don’t look great it might be worth contacting local third-party resellers to see if they have any stock.

If you’re still not sure whether to upgrade, check out our reviews roundup for the early impressions from the critics!