Months later, consumers are still struggling to buy the console due to a global computer chip shortage, partially due to an increase in demand for electronic devices for work and entertainment amid the pandemic, as well as a drought in Taiwan that affected manufacturing facilities, and a shift towards more powerful chips that take longer to make than previous versions. Sony’s PlayStation 5 games console, which went on sale in November, would have triggered mass overnight queues had the pandemic not meant that UK customers were restricted to online purchases only. This year’s four phones – the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max – all sport improved camera systems and longer battery life and have been met with largely positive reviews, despite containing fewer radical updates than last year’s models.Īpple is among the few brands in the world with enough cachet, and a large enough following, to prompt customers to queue outside its shops for its new products in the age of online shopping. Customers can also choose to collect their pre-ordered devices from an Apple store at the earliest available date, spelling the end of queueing for some would-be buyers The meagre queue outside Apple’s Regent Street shop on Friday morning (Photo: PA)
