The most devoted Russian fans of the brand Apple had been waiting for the start of sales at the GUM department store since evening of September 22. According to eyewitnesses, the first buyers decided to carry the list, and the number of willing people exceeded 230.

Photo: Russians wishing to acquire a novelty from Apple

The first customers entered the store at 10:00 a.m. Online stores in Russia start selling iPhone 7 at 0.00 a.m. local time on September 23.

Judging by the amount of pre-orders (it was announced a few days earlier), consumers are very interested in the new smartphones.

Russians could make the pre-order for the treasured smartphone starting from 16 September. Early results suggest that the demand for the seventh model of Apple gadget is four times higher than during the iPhone 6s release.

Photo: The massive lines in front of a shop to buy the iPhone 7

Photo: Visitors are trying to break into the shop before its opening.

"We see the growing interest among customers in the new products from Apple, in comparison with the last year," Julia Dorokhina, a representative with Megafon operator, told TASS. "We see that there is much more buzz than before", VimpelCom's representative Anna Aybasheva told TASS. She attributes the popularity of the new model to such features as variety of colors and bigger memory.

In Russia, according to the websites of mobile operators and retailers, iPhone 7 with a storage capacity of 32 GB worth in the region of 56-57,000 rubles ($895), with 128 GB - about 65,000 rubles ($1,020), with 256 GB - 74-75,000 rubles $1,177).

iPhone 7 Plus with 32GB memory - about 68,000 rubles ($1,067), with 128 GB - about 77,000 rubles ($1,209), with 256 GB - 86-87,000 rubles ($1,366).

Last year's model price for iPhone 6s and 6s Plus today is not different from the cost of the new products.

The turn for iPhone 7 in St. Petersburg looked not so massive in comparison to Moscow.

Photo: The first buyers of the new gadget from Apple in St. Petersburg.