Apple Inc. began accepting early orders for its iPhone X and shipping times quickly lengthened to as much as five weeks in the U.S., signaling supplies will likely remain tight as the new device goes on sale Nov. 3.

Hong Kong appeared to run out less than half an hour after purchases commenced in the mid-afternoon, as the online store for the city of 7 million showed both models of the gadget to be "currently unavailable."

Those who ordered the phone in the first few minutes after the clock struck midnight in California will get their phones next Friday. And Apple also sets inventory aside for those buying at their physical stores. But its online stores from Europe to Asia showed waits of several weeks. In markets including Japan, Australia and China, shipping times extended to as much as five or six weeks, while they reached three to four in Europe. For comparison, an iPhone 8 ordered in the U.S. will be delivered by next week, according to Apple's online store.