That price is surprisingly high for a contract. I was expecting $0 for the base model. They may have increased the carrier profit so that the carriers may opt to do it for $0 but otherwise the C is not going to be a big hit.
Why? They've NEVER dropped the second tier model to zero. The C is the 5 replacement to get the world radio across more of the line alongside the 5S.
Great. But I already have a 4S. I wanted an off contract phone.
Would have been better if they offered a 399 EURO 5C in one color (white) 8GB model, and dropped the 4S. I guess I have to wait another 6-12 months before they do.
Surprised they didn't make the 5C the low tier device. I was certain the whole purpose was to get rid of the 4S and standardise around the 4" display.
5C > 5 > 5S would have been a clear lineup in my opinion. The 5C is a somewhat questionable replacement for the 5. It's thicker and plastic for starters.
Surprised they didn't make the 5C the low tier device. I was certain the whole purpose was to get rid of the 4S and standardise around the 4" display.
5C > 5 > 5S would have been a clear lineup in my opinion. The 5C is a somewhat questionable replacement for the 5. It's thicker and plastic for starters.
Problem then would be: What's the difference between the 5C and the 5? One is plastic and the other is not. Everything else is the same, so differentiation is minimal. And Apple doesn't want plastic to be regarded as inferior. Better to have 8GB base model 5C -- but we have to wait another 6-12 months for that to happen.
Normal tactics would have been to offer the "old" 5 for this price, which would have been a great deal, but now they keep the price and downgrade the offering from a 5 to a 5C
I agree. They should have kept iPhone 5 at $99 on contract with 5c free on contract. I think many who would have bought iphone 5 at $99 will not want 5c at that price. Also disappointed with only 8gb option for 4S.
Problem then would be: What's the difference between the 5C and the 5? One is plastic and the other is not. Everything else is the same, so differentiation is minimal. And Apple doesn't want plastic to be regarded as inferior. Better to have 8GB base model 5C -- but we have to wait another 6-12 months for that to happen.
But it is inferior and peoples expectations were that with old 5 innards and plastic case we would see a significant price reduction.
Unlocked 5C will be $550 and $650. Where are the savings? That's what the iPhone 5 would have cost as the middle tier. So this is just a margin-building exercise? Then why is stock tanking? How are China and India going to afford these "cheap" phone off contract?
Disappointed by the price of the 5c. We don't want to be "stuck" with a 3-years contract (in Canada...). I'll forget about the idea of getting an iPhone as I don't expect Apple price policy to change. Unless I go with the 4s, but without contract it's costly for a 2 years old phone.
I somewhat understand their logic to not "hurt" the 5S (very nice by the way), but I would have liked to have the feeling that Apple cares about people who don't have big needs. I suppose they think that the can go have an Android phone, what might happen for me (never thought I could think that). Well, in the end, disappointed.
A little more aggressive price strategy would be great, like when they surprised us with $499 for the iPad; everyone was expecting $999. But in Asia, Apple can't go too low a price, because it will diminish the brand -- sounds funny but is true. Still, I desperately wanted an entry level 5C at 399 EURO. I don't want 30 pin connector or the 3.5 inch screen in the iphone line-up; it's not even in the iPod touch lineup.
Frankly I am not all that impressed with the 5c or even the 5s for that matter, but anyone who thinks that the 5c is not going to be a big seller in the US is fooling themselves. Now that its comes in a wide array of candy like colors tweens and teenagers are going to bugging their parent's crazy to finally get them an iPhone. And at $99 (contract price) it going to be hard for parents to say no.
The iPhone 5C is not a cheap phone by any standard. How long can Apple go on pricing iPhones based on storage capacity... Will be getting a 5S upgrade from my 4S on contract hopefully
Unlocked iPhone prices from Apple HK Site (Non contract)
The 5¢ is indeed desperately cheap and stupid-looking for a grown consumer, it's however the precise hit when it comes to younger audience. The thing is in perfect accord with the childish experience of the iOS 7.
Apple is still unbeatable in search for new markets.
But it is inferior and peoples expectations were that with old 5 innards and plastic case we would see a significant price reduction.
I agree, but it's not want Apple wants to communicate, obviously. If they are going to use plastic in iPhones in the future, they want to make it appear something "high grade" now. So they have to strike the iPhone 5 in the lineup. Ha! Funny Apple... Not really. Also if they did 5 -- 5c -- 5s, naming would be confusing, because it would seem iPhone 5 with no letter added is the low tier -- crazy, yes, but people would see it like that.
Comments
That price is surprisingly high for a contract. I was expecting $0 for the base model. They may have increased the carrier profit so that the carriers may opt to do it for $0 but otherwise the C is not going to be a big hit.
Why? They've NEVER dropped the second tier model to zero. The C is the 5 replacement to get the world radio across more of the line alongside the 5S.
Great. But I already have a 4S. I wanted an off contract phone.
Would have been better if they offered a 399 EURO 5C in one color (white) 8GB model, and dropped the 4S. I guess I have to wait another 6-12 months before they do.
5C > 5 > 5S would have been a clear lineup in my opinion. The 5C is a somewhat questionable replacement for the 5. It's thicker and plastic for starters.
The unlocked iPhone 5C in the UK is 16GB: £469 ($737.22 USD) and 32GB: £549 ($862.97 USD). Yikes! This is *not* a cheap phone by any measure!
Surprised they didn't make the 5C the low tier device. I was certain the whole purpose was to get rid of the 4S and standardise around the 4" display.
5C > 5 > 5S would have been a clear lineup in my opinion. The 5C is a somewhat questionable replacement for the 5. It's thicker and plastic for starters.
Problem then would be: What's the difference between the 5C and the 5? One is plastic and the other is not. Everything else is the same, so differentiation is minimal. And Apple doesn't want plastic to be regarded as inferior. Better to have 8GB base model 5C -- but we have to wait another 6-12 months for that to happen.
I agree. They should have kept iPhone 5 at $99 on contract with 5c free on contract. I think many who would have bought iphone 5 at $99 will not want 5c at that price. Also disappointed with only 8gb option for 4S.
Problem then would be: What's the difference between the 5C and the 5? One is plastic and the other is not. Everything else is the same, so differentiation is minimal. And Apple doesn't want plastic to be regarded as inferior. Better to have 8GB base model 5C -- but we have to wait another 6-12 months for that to happen.
But it is inferior and peoples expectations were that with old 5 innards and plastic case we would see a significant price reduction.
Those pastel colors are painful. They could have at least offered a black or dark gray color choice.
I somewhat understand their logic to not "hurt" the 5S (very nice by the way), but I would have liked to have the feeling that Apple cares about people who don't have big needs. I suppose they think that the can go have an Android phone, what might happen for me (never thought I could think that). Well, in the end, disappointed.
A little more aggressive price strategy would be great, like when they surprised us with $499 for the iPad; everyone was expecting $999. But in Asia, Apple can't go too low a price, because it will diminish the brand -- sounds funny but is true. Still, I desperately wanted an entry level 5C at 399 EURO. I don't want 30 pin connector or the 3.5 inch screen in the iphone line-up; it's not even in the iPod touch lineup.
Those pastel colors are painful. They could have at least offered a black or dark gray color choice.
I'm not getting the cases either. Damn fugly IMO.
The iPhone 5C is not a cheap phone by any standard. How long can Apple go on pricing iPhones based on storage capacity... Will be getting a 5S upgrade from my 4S on contract hopefully
Unlocked iPhone prices from Apple HK Site (Non contract)
iPhone 5S 64GB $7188 HKD = $926.98 USD
iPhone 5S 32GB $6388 HKD = $823.81 USD
iPhone 5S 16GB $5588 HKD = $720.64 USD
iPhone 5C 32GB $5588 HKD = $720.64 USD
iPhone 5C 16GB $4688 HKD = $604.57 USD
I can't believe it's not slightly cheaper. I guess there's a method to the madness, but this is not a cheap phone for emerging markets.
Though it's still entirely possible they'll have a td-lte version that is slightly cheaper for the China market.
The 5¢ is indeed desperately cheap and stupid-looking for a grown consumer, it's however the precise hit when it comes to younger audience. The thing is in perfect accord with the childish experience of the iOS 7.
Apple is still unbeatable in search for new markets.
But it is inferior and peoples expectations were that with old 5 innards and plastic case we would see a significant price reduction.
I agree, but it's not want Apple wants to communicate, obviously. If they are going to use plastic in iPhones in the future, they want to make it appear something "high grade" now.
So they have to strike the iPhone 5 in the lineup. Ha! Funny Apple... Not really. Also if they did 5 -- 5c -- 5s, naming would be confusing, because it would seem iPhone 5 with no letter added is the low tier -- crazy, yes, but people would see it like that.
I'm not getting the cases either. Damn fugly IMO.
I was watching the Engadget live stream and the person reporting said it best about those cases, "It looks like I can play Connect 4 on it"
The 5C is a 5 in internally. I know my daughter is thrilled she is going to to be able to get a pink 5C instead of a white or black 5.