iPhone X buyers face six-week delays as pre-orders sell out in minutes

iPhone X
The new iPhone X is set to see delivery delays Credit: Apple

Buyers clamouring to get their hands on the iPhone X on pre-order day may have to wait six weeks for Apple's flagship phone to arrive.

Demand for Apple's flagship handset saw estimated delivery times shoot to five to six weeks within minutes of pre-orders opening on Friday morning, meaning some may not see their new phones until December.

Apple's website currently features the longest waits for the new iPhone. Major networks Vodafone, EE and Three all said deliveries should be available on its launch date of November 3, although O2 customers were facing a four week wait.

The highly-anticipated iPhone X comes with an edge-to-edge display, offering a complete redesign on Apple's previous models, with wireless charging and Face ID. 

Demand for the phone had also seen a flurry of listings on the auction site eBay, with models of the iPhone X that will be available from November 3 listed on the site for more than £1,500 within  minutes of the launch.

iPhone 8
Shoppers queue for the iPhone 8 on launch Credit: Telegraph

Apple is still expected to have models of the iPhone X available in its stores for customers on release day, although it has encouraged customers to "arrive early", suggesting that only those who queue in the early hours may get a handset. The iPhone X is already being launched later than more recent models, which have typically arrived in September.

The launch of the iPhone X comes weeks after that of the iPhone 8, released on September 22. Demand for the iPhone 8 has reportedly been muted compared to the X, with the phone seen as an upgrade on Apple's current iPhone line-up, rather than luxury X model.

Apple has also reportedly struggled to ramp up supply of its new phone, which has high-tech features such as an OLED display and a camera designed for facial recognition. 

Apple analysts at KGI Securities had estimated the company will produce around 30 million of its flagship iPhone this year, with supply picking up towards the close of 2017.

Reports of delays in attempting to implement Touch ID into the phone, shortages in supply of OLED screens and issues with its Face ID camera have all been blamed for the late arrival of the phone.

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