Commentary: Waiting in the usual hyped-up Apple store line isn’t worth the risk of getting the coronavirus.
Every fall, Apple fans dependably line up at marquee stores like Manhattan’s famed Apple Fifth Avenue Cube, spending days in folding chairs for a chance to be one of the first to get their hands on a new iPhone. But with this year’s launch of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro on Friday, the situation is radically different thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. That throws into question whether people should show up at Apple stores at all.
If there’s any confusion on this, let me clear it up for you: Stay away.
Let me also be clear: I’m not advocating you skip out on buying an iPhone. Apple has spent years building up its online presence and working with its carrier partners to allow you to activate wireless service online, and now you can chat or call a retail specialist, removing the need for people to physically show up at stores aside from pickups (You should call your local Apple store to see what options it offers). For the most part, you haven’t needed to line up for a long time, and Apple is offering even more options this year more.
