Boston Lines Up—Really, Really Early—for New iPhone 5S

The Apple Store on Boylston Street attracted hundreds to the iPhone 5S release.

The first person in line, David Zuber shows off his claim ticket for the iPhone 5S. Photo by Alex Lau

The owner of the first iPhone 5S in Boston isn’t even from Boston—that title goes to David Zuber, a student from Switzerland who has been in the United States for six weeks. On Tuesday morning, Zuber walked to the Boylston Street Apple Store, sat down, and waited until Friday morning for the release of the new iPhone 5S.

Zuber waited as the first in line for three days without a shower, without shelter, and just with a sleeping bag. His friends and family brought food and held his place when he needed a bathroom break. He says Apple products are synonymous with the United States and wanted to experience the culture firsthand.

“I would never wait in a line like this in Switzerland. It’s just not the same. Apple is my connection to the USA,”  Zuber says. “I don’t really care about sensors or the fingerprint system. My first priority is the feeling. You don’t just sell the product, but the feeling, too.”

Hundreds of people formed a crowd that started thickening early this morning, eventually trailing down Boylston Street and looping around to Newbury Street. Some Apple employees even came out to serve Starbucks to people waiting in line.

If you weren’t able to make it out to the release this morning, here’s a collection of photos from the chaos. If you look closely, you’ll see everyone in the photos seems to have perfected that perfect look of misery and excitement.

Except for David Zuber. He wins everything.

Photo by Alex Lau

People camped out as early as Tuesday morning for Friday’s release of the iPhone 5S and 5C.

Camping chairs and sleeping bags were scattered along Boylston Street in preparation for the release.

Photo by Alex Lau

Camping chairs and sleeping bags were scattered along Boylston Street in preparation for the release.

Photo by Alex Lau

Ben Jackson (left) and Darrel Jones (center) stock up on coffee supplied by Apple.

Photo by Alex Lau

MIT student Devon Jadamski has been using this Motorola flip phone for the past two months. Standing at the back of the line, Jadamski says “it’s gonna be a long morning.”

Photo by Alex Lau

Media outlets camped out in front of the Boylston Street Apple Store for the release.

Photo by Alex Lau

Photo by Alex Lau

A father and son from Venezuela show off their newest iPhone 5S purchase.

Photo by Alex Lau

An Apple customer unboxes the iPhone for media.