S’pore new iPhone launch: Man buys at least 33 iPhones, queue started overnight at 11pm - Mothership

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max launched in Singapore on Sep. 18, 2026.

When Mothership arrived at the Apple store in Orchard at about 5:35am, a long queue had already formed.

Those in the queue were issued a wristband a day before on Sep. 17, which allowed them to get in line to purchase the phones.

According to a security staff managing the crowd, the queue started forming in earnest at about 4am.

The Apple store was set to open its doors at about 8am.

Ten seconds before the doors opened, Apple staff started a countdown.

Once the store opened for business, customers were seen inspecting the new phones and making purchases.

The first customer to get his hands on a new iPhone 18 Pro Max was Hector Yong, a 19-year-old student.

His brand new phone came in the “Glacier” colourway.

Yong said he felt “very honoured” to be the “first in Singapore” to try the new phone and was mainly excited about its features.

“I am very particular about its display, to see that the iPhone has cut down the dynamic island, I am quite happy to see,” he said.

Yong added that he had been queuing for the phone since 11pm overnight.

Another customer, Vu Tran, a 30-year-old Vietnamese national who works in construction, was a returning customer.

He had bought the previous year's iPhone and came back to Singapore for this year’s iteration.

Tran added that he flew in to Singapore to also help his “wife and mum” get their hands on the new phones.

When Mothership reached out to him, he declined to comment.

Another man was also seen purchasing the phone in cash.

The phones ran out of stock before 10am.

But the phones were still available next door at Courts Nojima at The Heeren.

They are limited to one set per customer.

The new phones come in four new colourways: Burgundy, Glacier, Silver, and Black.