Does the less than popular iPhone 8 launch prove Apple’s biggest tradition is dead?

THIS picture shows Apple fans waiting to get their hands on the first iPhone 8. But something is not quite right.

DIEHARD Aussie Apple fan Mazen Kourouche camped outside the company’s Sydney George street store for 10 days to be the first person to purchase the iPhone 8.

Technically he wanted the tenth anniversary edition iPhone X, but was let down when he learnt after queuing for more than 48 hours Apple would not start shipping the device until November 3. Still, the self-proclaimed Apple fanatic stuck it out for more than 240 hours.

“[The nights were definitely the worst] because there are a lot of people walking past, a lot of people out of it, the drilling and the construction work, but it’s all part of the experience,” he told news.com.au. “My mum thinks I am crazy, but she supports me through all of it.”

While he admits he will return for the iPhone X when it’s released in November, Mr Kourouche said he was still happy to have a new Apple product in his hands.

“I got the gold and the black iPhone 8 Plus and I am excited to see what they look like.”

Since the very first iPhone was released 10 years ago, the company has become well known for extravagant events on launch days.

Staff line every floor of the Apple Store, all dressed in the same blue T-shirt, screaming and applauding. Hordes of Apple fanboys wait in large queues with literally hundreds of people, helping create a general buzz that could not be matched by rival companies.

When the Apple iPhone 4 — which boasted video chat, high-definition video and sharper screen resolution — went on sale, the crowds were huge. AFP Photo/Carl Court

Even the Apple Store in Adelaide attracted a big crowd back in 2013.

In the early days, it wasn’t uncommon for large groups of people to sleep overnight in front of the store to secure a better position in the line.

The launch of the Apple iPhone 6 in the centre of Sydney CBD caused lines around the block of up to 400 metres from the front door. Pics Bill Hearne

Approximately 140 people were camping a line which stretched around the corner for the launch of the iPhone 5S.

And while this year still saw the same amount of Apple staff wearing blue shirts, screaming and applauding the customers, the vibe was just not the same as it had been years prior.

Sure, there was people who had camped out overnight for the release but that was limited to a handful of keen Apple fans — a far stretch from the large crowds making the effort years earlier.

Then when talking to people in the queue, which only just made it past the corner of the store, most customers said they had only been waiting for less an hour.

To Apple’s credit, it has actively encouraged consumers to pre-order new releases so that may have been a factor in the small turnout.

The Apple queue gets smaller every year, but at least the staff stay enthusiastic pic.twitter.com/hhdt78S1wJ

— matthew dunn (@mattydunn11) September 22, 2017

With the iPhone X slated for release next month it will be interesting to see if the company’s premium device will attract the fanfare from days gone because if it is similar to Friday’s iPhone 8 launch, Apple’s greatest tradition could be all but over.

Would you ever queue for an Apple product? Continue the conversation in the comments below or with Matthew Dunn on Facebook and Twitter.

Originally published as Does the less than popular iPhone 8 launch prove Apple’s biggest tradition is dead?