Hundreds queue up for iPhone 17 launch in Singapore

By early morning, iPhone fans had already formed long queues, eagerly waiting for the store to open. There were separate lines for pre-order customers and for those hoping to buy a device on the spot, as reported by The Straits Times.

As the clock neared 8 a.m., people outside the store began cheering and counting down the final seconds. As the store opened, a wave of cheers and excitement rolled through the crowd.

People queue outside Apple shop outlet for the newly launch of iPhone 17 series in Singapore on Sept. 19, 2025. Photo by AFP

The first person in Singapore to lay hands on the new iPhone 17 Pro Max was Jonathan Ng, a 47-year-old human resources professional.

He bought two of them despite only joining the line at 6:45 a.m, as he had pre-ordered the phones.

Asked why he bothered standing in line despite already having orders secured, he explained that he wanted to maintain the tradition he has kept up for several years.

Several people who had queued since the previous night said they failed to pre-order, so they arrived early.

The latest iPhone release features four new models. In Singapore, the base 256GB iPhone 17 is priced at S$1,299 (US$1,012), while the 512GB upgrade of the same model goes for S$1,599, according to Mothership.

The new iPhone Air, just 5.6mm thin, is available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB options, with prices ranging from S$1,599 to S$2,199.

The iPhone 17 Pro, with a 6.3-inch display, also comes in these three variations, priced between S$1,749 and S$2,349.

At the top end, the iPhone 17 Pro Max offers a 6.9-inch screen and sells for S$1,899 to S$3,099, with an additional 2TB variant available.

According to Nukeni, a website tracking iPhone prices, Singapore ranks as the 17th cheapest country to buy the base 256GB iPhone 17, and the 10th cheapest for the top-of-the-line 2TB iPhone 17 Pro Max, based on exchange rates on Sept. 19, 2025.