iPhone 8 now on sale but people seem less interested

Two of the three new iPhones that Apple announced a little over a week ago hit the shelves in shops around the UK today.

But the oft-sighted line outside the Apple Store in London's Regent Street was nowhere to be seen, as only a handful of customers showed up to get their hands on a shiny new £700 iPhone 8.

At the front of the queue this year was 24-year-old Salam Bin Mohammed, who had been there since 10pm yesterday in order to secure an iPhone 8 Plus.

Rather than wait for the all-screen iPhone X, he told Mirror Tech he preferred the home button on the 8 Plus. He also revealed he had been at the front of an Apple queue before - two years ago for the iPhone 6s.

"Every year there's a big massive queue and this year there's not that much - I think people are waiting for the iPhone X," he said.

Previous years have seen hundreds of people line up for hours on end to get hold of new Apple products. Some have even camped over several nights in order to secure a space in the queue

Part of the reason for this year's lacklustre turnout may be that only the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are being made available today. This year's flagship release, the iPhone X , won't be released until November 3.

What's more, pre-orders for the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus this year mean there's even less incentive to go and stand outside the store in order to get hold of the gadget. Customers who pre-ordered the devices online could get it delivered, or choose a 30 minute window to pick it up at their local Apple Store.

Once customers did get inside the store for the iPhone 8, they were welcomed by Apple employees who clapped and cheered. Unfortunately, the effect was dulled somewhat, as there were only 13 people walking in when the store opened.

Pictures have emerged from Apple of other customers around the world getting their hands on a new iPhone 8 - and the effect seems to be similarly diminished.

The usual signs of tents and deck chairs has been noticeably absent this year. Although one Apple fan in Sydney began queuing even before Apple announced the iPhone X , wrongly believing he would be able to pick it up today.