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TODAY is the highly anticipated iPhone 12 launch date and queues outside Apple stores have picked up after a slow start.

Usually, Apple sees large amounts of fans huddled outside the store before it opens but this year coronavirus seems to have kept some buyers at home.

There were reportedly more security and Apple staff than people in the queue at the 8am opening at London's flagship store

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There were reportedly more security and Apple staff than people in the queue at the 8am opening at London’s flagship storeCredit: Darren Fletcher – Comissioned by The Sun
The queue outside London's Regent Street store early this morning was basically non-existent compared to previous years

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The queue outside London’s Regent Street store early this morning was basically non-existent compared to previous yearsCredit: Darren Fletcher – Comissioned by The Sun
The scene outside Covent Garden's Apple store this morning

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The scene outside Covent Garden’s Apple store this morningCredit: Darren Fletcher – Comissioned by The Sun
iPhone fans were required to socially distance and wear masks

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iPhone fans were required to socially distance and wear masksCredit: Darren Fletcher – Comissioned by The Sun
The queue at London's Regent Street Apple store looking healthier as it got lighter outside

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The queue at London’s Regent Street Apple store looking healthier as it got lighter outsideCredit: Darren Fletcher – Comissioned by The Sun
Queues were a little bigger in Sydney Australia where fans had to socially distance

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Queues were a little bigger in Sydney Australia where fans had to socially distanceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Covent Garden store remained pretty empty even as the morning grew lighter

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The Covent Garden store remained pretty empty even as the morning grew lighterCredit: Darren Fletcher – Comissioned by The Sun
Anyone Apple fans turning up to Covent Garden wouldn't have much waiting time

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Anyone Apple fans turning up to Covent Garden wouldn’t have much waiting timeCredit: Darren Fletcher – Comissioned by The Sun

The coronavirus pandemic means pre-ordering seemed more appealing than going into the store.

Many retailers sold out of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro minutes after it was avaliable to pre-order.

Apple is enforcing some measures of social distancing for anyone who decides to wait outside the store.

Face masks are essential, and you’ll be required to undergo a temperature check too.

An excited fans throws their arms in the air in Sydney

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An excited fans throws their arms in the air in Sydney Credit: Getty Images – Getty
The Hangzhou store in the Zhejiang Province of China saw larger queues

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The Hangzhou store in the Zhejiang Province of China saw larger queuesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The queue in Beijing

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The queue in Beijing Credit: EPA
A gloved hand holds the new iPhone 12 Pro in Moscow, Russia

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A gloved hand holds the new iPhone 12 Pro in Moscow, RussiaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Scenes inside London's Regent Street store

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Scenes inside London’s Regent Street storeCredit: Darren Fletcher – Comissioned by The Sun
A longer looking Regent Street queue

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A longer looking Regent Street queueCredit: Darren Fletcher – Comissioned by The Sun

You can book one-on-one sessions with a Specialist at an Apple Store to help choose a new product.

New iPhones – What are they?

The iPhone 12 series make up the latest and greatest smartphones from California tech titan Apple, and are the company’s first to come with 5G connectivity.

Apple boss Tim Cook said: “Today is the day of a new era for iPhone. We’re bringing 5G to iPhone.”

He added that 5G “will bring a new level of performance for downloads and uploads.”

A group of Apple employees clap in the Shanghai store in China

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A group of Apple employees clap in the Shanghai store in ChinaCredit: Reuters

In total, Apple announced four new mobiles during its October 13 “Hi, Speed” event, which was streamed live to fans around the world from its Apple Park headquarters.

They’re the 6.1-inch iPhone 12, 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro, 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max and a palm-sized, 5.4-inch iPhone Mini.

A woman talks to an Apple shop assistant in Russia

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A woman talks to an Apple shop assistant in RussiaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Beijing store looking busier

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The Beijing store looking busierCredit: EPA

Apple is staggering this year’s iPhone releases.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro open on October 16, while the two mobiles will go on general sale a week later, on October 23.

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NINTCHDBPICT000615960002Credit: Darren Fletcher – Comissioned by The Sun

The 12 will ship for £799 in the UK and $799 in the US, while the 12 Pro will go for £999 / $999.

Pre-orders for the beefy 12 Pro Max and midget iPhone Mini will come a little later, launching on November 6.

Those two handsets will ship on November 13, starting at £699 / $699 for the Mini and £1,099 / $1,099 for the 12 Pro Max.

We’ve put together a handy guide on which iPhone is best for you here.

Check out the brand-new iPhone 12 Pro, Apple’s most powerful phone yet!

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In other news, check out our iPhone 12 review.

If you’ve got more money to burn, you’ll want to read the iPhone 12 Pro review instead.

Or you could take a gander at the Apple Watch 6 review if you’ve been thinking about upgrading your wrist.

What are your thoughts on the new iPhone? Let us know in the comments…

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]

This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk

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