At past iPhone launches, long lines have formed in front of Apple stores as people pick up their pre-orders and get their hands on the first new models to be released. However, Apple has different plans for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro launches.

With the coronavirus pandemic making it unfavorable to gather in large numbers, especially indoors, Apple is focusing on a "new way to shop" in a physical store format it calls "Express. According to Apple's description, this could be what you see the next time you head to your local retail store.

Apple is fashioning Express stores to make shopping safer as the COVID-19 craze continues. According to Reuters, there are more than 20 Express stores in existing stores in the U.S. and Europe. (Think shopping malls and other places where you can't easily pull into a store to pick up your iPhone or other Apple products you've ordered.)

Apple told Reuters that the number of Express stores will reach 50 by the end of the month. Apple has 271 stores in the U.S. alone, all of which were closed in March when COVID 19 occurred.

The Express stores feature a temporary wall in front and a Plexiglas barrier between the sales counters. There are also shelves displaying phone cases, AirPods, and other accessories important to iPhone 12 owners. All of these precautions are intended to protect customers from prolonged contact with other buyers and to expedite the accounting process.

However, a trip to the local Apple Store is not the only option for buyers; Apple has made it clear that there are several ways to purchase a new iPhone. Online, through regular chat sessions with a specialist; in-store, through one-on-one appointments with a store associate; and some stores offer a variety of delivery options, including curbside pickup and same-day delivery.

You can check the status of your local Apple Store through Apple's retail website. Apple also provides store information on the Apple Store app on the iPhone.