Sep 15, 2014 11:04 AM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Hype for Apple's next iPhone is literally at an all-time high, as the company announced the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have set a first-day preorder record.

According to CNET, Apple announced it had received more than four million preorders for the two new iPhones within the first 24 hours that customers were able to do so. After unveiling the new handsets last Tuesday, the iPhones were put up for preorder Friday and are set to hit shelves Friday, Sept. 19.

Last year marked the first time Apple offered two new iPhones at once, the 5S and 5C, which sold nine million units in the first weekend. A year before, Apple sold more than five million iPhone 5 units in its first weekend. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are well on their way to shattering iPhone sales records.

"iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are better in every way, and we are thrilled customers love them as much as we do," Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, said in a press release. "Pre-orders for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus set a new record for Apple, and we can't wait to get our best iPhones yet into the hands of customers starting this Friday."

According to USA Today, several retailers were wiped out of their stock of the new iPhones during the weekend and were since offering more at an inconsistent rate. Translation, they are being snatched off the shelf once they are put there, yet before being officially released.

Verizon reportedly still had both models in stock come Monday and AT&T had gold ones, but Sprint and T-Mobile were sold out.

"There are going to be ridiculously huge lines," Tim Bajarin, an analyst with Creative Strategies, told USA Today. "Demand for iPhone 6 is so high."

The iPhone 6 will have a 4.7-inch screen and the 6 Plus' will be 5.5 inches, by far the largest Apple handset to date. Ahead of the iPhones' release will be iOS 8, which will be a free mobile download on Sept. 17.

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