Apple Inc has sold out its latest smartphone, with more than 5 million iPhone 5 sales in the three days after it hit stores, the company said today.

That number blasted past sales of the iPhone 4. When Apple introduced it in October 2011, it sold more than 4 million units in its first weekend.

With the iPhone 5, Apple said that while the majority of preorders have been shipped to customers, many are scheduled to go out in October.

On Friday, Apple fans lined up around the world to get their hands on the new smartphone - which is thinner and lighter and has a bigger screen.

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