Bangalore/Kolkata/Mumbai, Oct 17 : Apple Inc unveiled its eagerly awaited new iPhone series in India on Friday, drawing an amazing response, as Apple fans gathered outside retails stores across the country to buy the new smartphones.

Apple began the sale of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus at midnight for the first time in India, in line with the practice it follows elsewhere.

The launch in India came nearly a month after the global launch of the latest version of the iconic phones.

Both iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are available in 16GB, 64GB and 128GB variants. While iPhone 6 has 4.7-inch screen, the iPhone 6 Plus comes for 5.5-inch screen.

Industry watchers have said increasing the iPhone's screen size from 4 inches would help Apple regain market share from competitors such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, who they say have responded to consumer desire for more screen size.

Apple says with the new smartphones, it is not just a bigger display but a better display.

The 16GB iPhone 6 model is priced at rupees 53,500 (USD 868), with the 64GB version priced at rupees 62,500 (USD 1014)) and the 128GB variant available at rupees 71,500 (USD 1160). Whereas iPhone 6 Plus is priced at rupees 62,500 for the 16GB model, the 64GB is priced at rupees 71,500 and 128GB variant is available for rupees 80,500 (USD 1306).

Meanwhile, in southern Bangalore city the excited customers made a beeline at the mobile stores on Friday morning. A customer, Venkatesh, praised the product for its features.

"See, I am an Apple fan for a long time, for last 15 years and I believe in the product. It has not let me down anytime and it's easily transferable from phone to phone. It is a great piece of material," he said.

The phones were available for purchase across 24 cities in India through Apple Premium Resellers, multi-brand retail stores and online retail stores. Customers who pre-ordered the iPhone6 and iPhone 6 Plus earlier this month were the first ones to get their hands on the product.

"I think really it has come up well with iOS 8. I have already used iOS 8 with my previous phone that is iPhone 5S and it has got very nice features, particularly which can be integrated with. They go very well, seamless interface particularly iCloud feature. This is a new thing that has come up," said another buyer, Abhiroop Ghosh, in eastern Kolkata city.

The phones has built processor of iOS 8 and the new version includes iCloud which makes it easier for users to store important things like documents, applications, notes and contacts one is using while it also provides advantage to shares photos, calendars, locations and most importantly to find the device if it is lost.

Meanwhile, another buyer in Mumbai city, Krishna, said he has been looking forward to the product ever since it was announced to be launched in India.

"This is a really popular phone and since I have been using Apple for many years, I like it. It is little expensive but it is still a good phone with good screen size and well built camera," said Krishna.

Although Apple's products were not as popular in India compared to western countries, the brand has steadily gained traction among affluent professionals who don't mind paying a premium for the iconic products.

The pressure on Apple for stand-out products has increased as Samsung Electronics Co and, more recently, a clutch of aggressive, lower-cost Chinese producers such as Xiaomi Inc and Lenovo Group Ltd have eroded the U. S. company's market dominance.

The iPhone 6 unveiling has been widely anticipated to bolster momentum for Apple shares, which have risen by a third, to above USD 100 each, since the company posted strong first-quarter earnings in late-April. (ANI)