iPhone 5s Availability Improving, Shipping in 1-2 Weeks

The iPad mini with Retina display might be available today, causing many eager folks to make their way to Apple’s website to buy one, but another thing that has changed on Apple’s website is availability of the iPhone 5s, which has improved to a 1-2 week shipping time for all models in all countries. This includes the gold model, which has seen a worse availability than other color options of the iPhone 5s.

This marks the first time since the phone’s launch that shipping times have improved — almost two months after the device released to the public. The iPhone 5s launched on September 20 to much fanfare, and the gold model sold out within minutes online, while other colors and storage capacities sold in just a few hours.

Furthermore, several days after the launch, those looking for a gold model wouldn’t be able to get one until November at some carrier locations, including Verizon. However, it seems that if you been waiting for the hype to die down, you’ll be able to order one today and have it ship a week later at the earliest, which isn’t terrible by any means.

Of course, it says a lot as far as the demand for the iPhone 5s. We knew supply would be low before the phone was even released, so we weren’t surprised to learn that they sold out within minutes at the quickest. Ever since then, Apple has been trying to keep up on production and the company even ordered its suppliers to speed things up.

As for the lower-level iPhone 5c, that phone has seen plenty of supply, and it’s only sold out a couple of times with certain colors, but Apple was quick to get supply back up. The iPhone 5c was surprisingly an afterthought for most iPhone buyers on launch day. Very few people that we talked to who were waiting in line said that they were getting the iPhone 5c, which Apple is touting as the phone for many different kinds of folks.

The iPhone 5s starts at $199 on-contract, and it comes with the same overall body design and screen as the iPhone 5, but you’ll find a faster processor and better camera on the inside, as well as the new Touch ID fingerprint sensor that takes over the Home button.