Apple claims new record: 2m orders for iPhone 5 in 24 hours

Hear that? That’s the sound of millions of Apple consumers telling every tech journo out there who panned the iPhone 5 launch to stick it where the sun don’t shine.

The Cupertino-based tech giant today announced that some two-million people had pre-ordered its latest iBaby, more than doubling the number who ordered the 4S.

Despite apparently having more stock available, pre-orders for the iPhone 5 on Apple’s website sold out way faster than as the 4S too.

If those figures are anything to go by then the 5 could completely destroy the opening weekend sales for the 4S too. When the 4S hit retail stores, nearly four-million were sold on opening weekend alone. To put that into perspective, Samsung has only sold around 10-million Galaxy Notes to date.

Sales of the iPhone’s chief contender, the Galaxy SIII, meanwhile are expected to top out at 30-million by year’s end.

When you bear in mind that the iPhone 5 will only be available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UK on launch day, then there’s every chance it could thrash its South Korean opponent.