iPhone 4S Availability

We’ve received a few questions regarding iPhone 4S availability both in the USA and abroad, here’s what we know so far directly from Apple, as announced at the launch event keynote.

First, iPhone 4S is to be released on October 14 with pre-orders starting a week before, the countries with immediate release will also take pre-orders on the 7th of October at midnight. Other countries will have the device on October 28 or later, we have the full list of availability on a per country basis below.

Second, there’s a big question as to whether or not 4S will sell out and generate the crowds that prior iPhone and iPad releases have generated. If you are at all concerned about being an early adopter and getting your hands on the new iPhone as soon as possible, you should either pre-order or wait in line at an Apple Store or reseller on launch day.

Now let’s look at the official availability dates per country:

iPhone 4S will be available immediately from October 14th from the following countries:

• United States
• Australia
• Canada
• France
• Germany
• Japan
• UK

iPhone 4S will be available by October 28 in the following countries:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

What About China & Hong Kong?
Notably absent from this list is Hong Kong and China, and it’s uncertain when either location will get the device officially. Unofficially, iPhone 4S will almost certainly be available very quickly at a premium price on the grey markets throughout Hong Kong, Shenzen, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, due to being manufactured nearby anyway.

Other Countries Get iPhone 4S by End of 2011
Apple has said that by the end of 2011, over 70 countries will carry the iPhone 4S on over 100 carriers, so presumably some of the other countries where iPhones are extremely popular, like UAE, India, China, and HK, will fit in somewhere between 28 October and and December of 2011.

Pricing Varies Per Country
Any country where the carrier subsidizes the phone will lower the iPhone 4S price considerably, starting at $199, these devices generally come locked to the carrier. Unlocked iPhone 4S devices will be sold separately and outside of contract, but the price will be quite high regardless of whether it’s bought in the USA or elsewhere.

If you’re still not sure you want one, check out the devices impressive tech specs and the giant comparison lists pitting the iPhone 4S vs a variety of smart phones, including the 3GS, 4, and even a Galaxy II if you are being tempted by the dark side.