Apple Sells Record-Breaking 9 Million New iPhones in First Weekend Apple sold more than nine million new iPhone 5S and 5C models this weekend amid 'incredible' demand, though hackers are already testing the iPhone 5S's fingerprint reading technology.
By Kate Taylor
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Apple sold more than nine million new iPhone 5S and 5C models this weekend due to 'incredible' demand, though hackers are already testing the iPhone 5S's fingerprint reading technology.
Apple announced this morning that it has sold nine million new iPhone 5S and 5C models since the phones became available on Friday.
"This is our best iPhone launch yet -- more than nine million new iPhones sold -- a new record for first weekend sales," said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a press release. Last September, Apple sold more than five million iPhone 5 its first weekend. The simultaneous release of two new phones -- Apple has not released separate numbers for the 5S and 5C models –- has contributed to the increase of sales from last year.
Demand for the iPhone 5S in particular has exceeded the initial supply. The Apple website reports that the 5s will not be available to ship until October. "The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we've sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5s, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly," Cook said. "We appreciate everyone's patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone."
The iPhone 5S is available in silver, space gray and gold, with the golden model gaining substantial press. The camera has been updated to take better pictures in low light, automatically stabilize images and shoot slow motion videos. The iPhone 5S is reported by Apple to run up to 40 times as fast as its predecessor with the addition of a new 64-bit chip.
Related: Apple Upgrades the iPhone With New 5S and 5C Models
The biggest physical difference between the iPhone 5S and other iPhones is the home button, which is equipped with Touch ID fingerprint reading technology. While Apple claims the button will improve iPhone security, Reuters reports that a group of German hackers claim to have already found a way to crack the technology. The group, Chaos Computer Club, posted a video on Sunday of a hacker unlocking the iPhone 5S using a fake finger. The fake finger was reportedly easily created with the photograph of the fingerprint on a glass surface.
In addition to the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C, Apple also released the redesigned iOS 7. More than 200 million iOS devices have already downloaded the software upgrade. Last year, only about100 million devices were updated with iOS 6 the first weekend the operating system was released.
Related: From the Original to the 5S and 5C: iPhone Mania Through the Ages
