Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

Stop Everything: The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus Are Now in Stores The hunt is on. Where to get your hands on Apple's newest smartphones today, maybe even if you didn't pre-order.

By Kim Lachance Shandrow

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Apple
iPhone 6S

The wait is over, but the lines are not. Finally, Apple's newest smartphones -- the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus -- hit store shelves today. The next gen handsets launched in 12 countries this morning at stores slammed with selfie-snapping hordes of early adopters (and robots, too).

Rain or shine, the hunt is on from the U.S. to China, even in Singapore, where Apple fanatics are braving hazardous air conditions to get their fix.

Related: What You Need to Know About the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus

This time around, some 12 to 13 million iPhones are expected to sell, potentially smashing last year's iPhone 6 record of 10 million sold. The handsets, mostly different on the inside, are outfitted with several new features, like 3D Touch and a camera that captures 4K videos, 12-megapixel pictures and Live Photos.

Just as countless devotees faithfully do every year around this time, diehards camped out outside Apple Stores for days, desperate to snag the first new models before they fly off shelves. Today, many are hoping to score a limited rose gold-colored edition, so far the hottest jewel in the four-color collection.

If you preordered your iPhone and had it shipped directly to your address, lucky you. You should receive your flashy new toy some time today, that is unless you live in one of these 17 ZIP Codes and, heaven forbid, got swept up in the papal delay. If you preordered your iPhone for pickup at the Apple Store today, you're in luck, too.

For those who didn't reserve an iPhone in advance, your best bet is to head to your nearest Apple Store and wait, probably long enough to watch paint dry, if you aren't already. Even then, there are no guarantees. Stock will run out fast. Better yet, skip the mad rush, stay in your pajamas and buy online. Or, worse comes to worst, pop over to Craigslist or TaskRabbit and pay a warm body to stand in line for you.

Related: Apple's Tesla Challenger Could Roll Into the Market By 2019

Aside from overcrowded Apple Stores, several smartphone carriers are also selling new iPhones today, including Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint. The inevitable downer is that stock is expected to be in limited supply and, yes, expect more lines, long, evil, infuriating lines. Huh, those pricy stand-ins on Craigslist are looking better by the minute.

Related: The Pope's Visit Could Delay New iPhone Deliveries in New York

Kim Lachance Shandrow

Former West Coast Editor

Kim Lachance Shandrow is the former West Coast editor at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was a commerce columnist at Los Angeles CityBeat, a news producer at MSNBC and KNBC in Los Angeles and a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times. She has also written for Government Technology magazine, LA Yoga magazine, the Lowell Sun newspaper, HealthCentral.com, PsychCentral.com and the former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Coop. Follow her on Twitter at @Lashandrow. You can also follow her on Facebook here

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

'Creators Left So Much Money on the Table': Kickstarter's CEO Reveals the Story Behind the Company's Biggest Changes in 15 Years

In an interview with Entrepreneur, Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor explains the decision-making behind the changes, how he approaches leading Kickstarter, and his advice for future CEOs.

Career

Is Consumer Services a Good Career Path for 2024? Here's the Verdict

Consumer services is a broad field with a variety of benefits and drawbacks. Here's what you should consider before choosing it as a career path.

Business Ideas

87 Service Business Ideas to Start Today

Get started in this growing industry, with options that range from IT consulting to childcare.

Business Models

How to Become an AI-Centric Business (and Why It's Crucial for Long-Term Success)

Learn the essential steps to integrate AI at the core of your operations and stay competitive in an ever-evolving landscape.