Apple stores sell out of iPhone 5S, no stock until Monday

Apple stores sold out of the new iPhone 5S just 30 minutes after the handset went on sale earlier today (September 20).

The flagship iPhone 5S, which comes in a new gold colour, and Apple's lower-priced iPhone 5C handset had some customers queueing a week in advance.

However, a picture tweeted by Ashleigh Allsopp, a writer at Macworld, showed a poster put up in a shop window that read: "Due to the popularity of the iPhone 5S, we've sold out today."

Apple Stores sold out of iPhone 5s within 30 mins today! pic.twitter.com/CkuZZFtmNR

— Ashleigh Allsopp (@AshleighAllsopp) September 20, 2013

The iPhone 5S has faced greater demand than its budget counterpart, the 5C, with stores still having 5C stock left over.

iOS 7, the phone's new operating system, was released earlier in the week and received a warm reception from Apple fans. However, some users have reported problems downloading the software.

Watch Digital Spy's Apple iPhone release day video, as we meet the first customers in the queue to buy the new 5S handset:

iPhone 5S and 5C release day in pictures - photo gallery:iPhone 5S queues and launch