Apple sells 9 million iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C in three days

Nine million iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C have been sold in three days, according to Apple.

Apple said that sales of the iPhone 5S and 5C had beaten previous launches of new phones.

Apple said demand for the iPhone 5S had outstripped supply and Apple shares rose almost 6% on the news before falling back to trade 4% higher.

The 5S has a fingerprint sensor built into the phone’s main button. The cheaper 5C comes with a plastic back in a choice of colors.

In a statement, Apple CEO Tim Cook said: “The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we’ve sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5S, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone.”

Analysts said that while the sales were strong, Apple had made an effort to ensure that the opening weekend was a success.

“Apple was concerned about the public relations angle of a soft first weekend, so they took some steps to strengthen the numbers,” telecom analyst Jeff Kagan said in an email.

“Traditionally users could pre-order devices. Not this year.

“This year anyone who wanted a new iPhone must get into line. That bolstered the lines and strengthened [the] opening weekend from a PR perspective. This upset users, but made for great numbers,” he said.

In a notification to market regulators Apple said it expected sales in its fourth quarter to be at the higher end of its previous announced range of between $34 billion and $37 billion.

Apple also forecast that its gross profit margin would be near the high end of the previously provided range of 36-37%.