iphone 6 screenshot2You snooze, you lose. That’s the tough lesson fans of the iPhone 6 Plus are learning today, after Apple sold out of launch day pre-orders for the 5.5-inch smartphone just hours after it went on sale.

Right now, people who visit Apple’s online store will see that the company is saying new pre-orders for the iPhone 6 Plus will arrive in 3-4 weeks, rather than September 19, the phone’s launch day. So far, the iPhone 6 is still available for a launch day pre-order in some configurations, though others are pushed out a week as of this writing.

It’s possible that the shortage of pre-orders stems from Apple making the iPhone 6 Plus in smaller quantities. The company also probably expected lower demand for the larger phone, just because of how big it is. (Having seen one in the flesh, they’re really big.)
The road isn’t over for lovers of the 6 Plus’s massive screen: Apple will be selling them at its retail stores on September 19 alongside their smaller counterparts, which means that people who line up early for the launch should be able to get their hands on one of the larger devices. The situation seems similar to the launch of the gold iPhone 5S last year, which was also plagued by low quantities initially before Apple managed to get enough of them made to satisfy the initial demand.

Finally, people who are concerned about not getting an iPhone 6 Plus on launch day should remember that these aren’t limited edition products. Apple will eventually make one for everyone who wants to buy them. It just might take a little while.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.