Apple’s new iPhones are hitting stores today. Both the high-end iPhone 5S and the colorful iPhone 5C will be available through Apple retail stores, authorized Apple resellers and Apple’s online store.
All the major cellular carriers in the United States will carry the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. Retail sales will be available at 8 a.m. local time. Big-box stores like Walmart and Target will have limited supply of both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C as well.
According to reports, the iPhone 5S may be a little difficult to come by on launch day and through the rest of the month. Technology publication The Verge cites sources that the gold version of the iPhone 5S will be in very short supply on launch weekend. Unlike previous iPhones, Apple did not make the iPhone 5S available for pre-order before hitting stores today. The iPhone 5C has been available for pre-order since last Friday.
The scarcity of the iPhone 5S, especially in gold, is expected to continue into October. Apple’s online store lists the gold version of the iPhone as available to ship in October while both the silver and space gray version are listed as shipping in 7 to 10 business days.
For those looking for a deal on new iPhones, Sprint is offering the iPhone 5C for free on a two-year contract to new customers that bring their number over from a different carrier. Sprint will also sell the iPhone 5S for $99 (down from the $199 on other carriers) for new customers on a contract. T-Mobile offers the 16GB iPhone 5C for zero dollars down but a monthly of about $23 for 24 months. The 32GB version of the iPhone 5C is available for $99 down before the installment plan. The 16GB iPhone 5S on T-Mobile will be $99 down before the installment plan.
Verizon and AT&T are expected to sell the 16GB iPhone 5S for the normal $199 on a two-year contract. The iPhone 5C will be $99 with contract on those carriers. Both carriers also have an installment plan similar to T-Mobile. For AT&T, the 16 GB iPhone 5S will be available through its “Next” installment plan for zero down and $27 a month. Verizon will also sell the iPhone 5S on its “Edge” installment plan for zero down and $27.15 a month.