SHANGHAIBEIJING, Sept 22 Reuters Over a hundred customers queued inside Apple39;s flagship store in the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai on Friday, waiting to pick up their iPhone 15 orders on the first day of instore availability.

How Apple39;s latest iPhone sells in China is under close scrutiny by fans and market watchers alike, after widening curbs on iPhone use by government staff and the release of a highend rival from domestic manufacturer Huawei HWT.UL sparked concern about demand for the device in its thirdlargest market.

But the strength of preorders in the world39;s secondlargest economy, which began last Friday, has eased worries, with delivery times pushed into November and the premium iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max selling out in just one minute on Alibaba39;s Tmall ecommerce site.

Local media reported the queue at the store on Shanghai39;s East Nanjing road shopping belt started forming at 5 a.m. 1000 GMT.

Among those at the store was social media influencer Zhang Ming, 25, who said she wanted to try out the iPhone 15 after being unsuccessful in preordering online.

I always like to look at the new devices. When I buy Apple products I only look at the colour. If I like the colour I will buy it, she said.

The iPhone 15 includes a new titanium shell, a faster chip and improved videogameplaying abilities. Apple also surprised by not raising prices, reflecting the global smartphone slump.

But some customers at the store lamented the lack of significant…