Elias Bashan, 18, from Norway said he had flown over especially to queue for the gadget.
He said: “It’s a more beautiful design, and its generally faster. The new battery is supposed to last longer too.
Success: first in the queue Sam Sheikh and Jameel Ahmed celebrate with their new toys (Picture: Glenn Copus)
“I know when I get mine I’ll want to go to sleep but I’m sure I’ll test it out first. I’ve flown over from Norway just for this. Last time I went to Paris.
“Last time it was crazy, there was basically a riot. People were screaming, getting pushed into barriers. I’m glad it’s not like that this time.”
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Richard Parks, 19, who is training to be a policeman and lives in Chelmsford, said: “I’ve bought two phones, so I’m going to sell the other one and make a bit of money from it. It’s all about the bigger screen - it’s the key feature.
“It’s the first time they have walked on their two feet since Steve Jobs died. They’re moving out of his shadow.”
Join the queue: the scenes in Kingston this morning (Picture: Scoopshot / Giampiero Leonardi )
Security staff kept people inside huge festival style barriers that stretched the entire length of Covent Garden up to the Royal Opera House entrance. Staff from nearby coffee shops could be seen taking orders for people waiting in line behind the barriers.
Outside the Covent Garden store sleeping bags and camping chairs can be seen littered around the courtyard.
