AppleInsider's guide to preordering the iPhone 5c
Tonight at midnight, Pacific time, Apple's lower-cost iPhone 5c will become available for preorder, but figuring out just where to get the colorful new iPhone can be a hassle. AppleInsider has put together a round-up of which carriers and retailers will be opening up access for early-adopting consumers.
Apple Store employees tell AppleInsider that preordering online will be the only way to do so through Apple. Apple Stores will not be accepting preorders.
T-Mobile has also revealed a portion of its installment pricing for the iPhone 5c. T-Mobile customers can buy a 16GB model for zero down and $22 per month over two years, for a total price of $528.
With AT&T, customers will have two options for purchasing the 5c. Those with AT&T Next will be able to pay zero down and then $22 per month for 20 months. Those eligible for a two-year contract can pay $100 for a 16GB 5c model with the activation of a new contract.
Sprint's preorder page does not go into detail regarding pricing, but the 5c will likely cost what it costs on-contract at the other carriers, $99 for a 16GB model or $199 for a 32GB model.
Walmart's offer is in-store only, but customers can get the iPhone 5c for $79 when signing up for a new two-year contract with AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint.
As Walmart's offer requires being in a physical retail location, preorders will only begin on the 13th during the regular business hours of those locations. For those willing to wait, Walmart will also be offering a trade-in program that will give credit toward a new, on-contract phone. That program will start on Sept. 21, the day after the 5c launches.
A Best Buy preorder will require the purchase of a $50 Best Buy gift card to hold a customer's "spot." Customers will also have to come back to actually purchase the handset on launch day, though the gift card can go toward that purchase.
Best Buy will also begin offering preorders for the still-alive iPhone 4S, which will be available in an 8GB configuration only.
Target will offer the iPhone 5c on-contract for Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint.
Radio Shack will carry each shade of the 5c for Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T. Pricing, of course, is contingent upon a customer signing up for a two-year contract.
Direct from Apple
The first option, of course, would be to order an iPhone 5c directly from Apple through the company's online store. As was previously noted, iPhone 5c preorders will go live on Apple's Online Store on Friday, Sept. 13, at midnight Pacific, or 3 a.m. Eastern.Apple Store employees tell AppleInsider that preordering online will be the only way to do so through Apple. Apple Stores will not be accepting preorders.
Verizon
Preorders at Verizon will begin online on September 13 at 3:01 a.m. Eastern, 12:01 a.m. Pacific.T-Mobile
The "UNcarrier" will, as with other options, have the iPhone 5c available for preorder online at T-Mobile's website. Preorders will commence at 12:01 a.m. Pacific, 3:01 a.m. Eastern. Customers who want to stay informed on T-Mobile's pre-order process can sign up at the carrier's site for email updates.T-Mobile has also revealed a portion of its installment pricing for the iPhone 5c. T-Mobile customers can buy a 16GB model for zero down and $22 per month over two years, for a total price of $528.
AT&T
Preorder purchasing for AT&T will commence at the same time that it will for Apple and other carriers.With AT&T, customers will have two options for purchasing the 5c. Those with AT&T Next will be able to pay zero down and then $22 per month for 20 months. Those eligible for a two-year contract can pay $100 for a 16GB 5c model with the activation of a new contract.
Sprint
Sprint's preorder page notes that the iPhone 5c will be available on September 13 at 2:00 a.m. Central, which is the same as 12:00 a.m. Pacific time.Sprint's preorder page does not go into detail regarding pricing, but the 5c will likely cost what it costs on-contract at the other carriers, $99 for a 16GB model or $199 for a 32GB model.
Walmart
Walmart is getting in on the iPhone 5c preorder game as well. The retail giant is going so far as to undercut Apple, other retailers, and the wireless carriers, offering $20 off of the iPhone 5c on-contract.Walmart's offer is in-store only, but customers can get the iPhone 5c for $79 when signing up for a new two-year contract with AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint.
As Walmart's offer requires being in a physical retail location, preorders will only begin on the 13th during the regular business hours of those locations. For those willing to wait, Walmart will also be offering a trade-in program that will give credit toward a new, on-contract phone. That program will start on Sept. 21, the day after the 5c launches.
Best Buy
Best Buy has informed AppleInsider that it will also be offering preorders for the iPhone 5c starting on Sept. 13. As is the case with Walmart, preorders from Best Buy will have to be filed at a physical location.A Best Buy preorder will require the purchase of a $50 Best Buy gift card to hold a customer's "spot." Customers will also have to come back to actually purchase the handset on launch day, though the gift card can go toward that purchase.
Best Buy will also begin offering preorders for the still-alive iPhone 4S, which will be available in an 8GB configuration only.
Target
Retail chain Target has also confirmed to AppleInsider that it will begin offering in-store preorders on the 13th. Target will offer the iPhone 5c at its normal price points of $99 and $199 with a two-year contract.Target will offer the iPhone 5c on-contract for Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint.
Radio Shack
Radio Shack will begin offering preorders on Friday as well. The retailer will be offering the iPhone 5c at its regular $99 and $199 price points, with all five colors available.Radio Shack will carry each shade of the 5c for Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T. Pricing, of course, is contingent upon a customer signing up for a two-year contract.
Comments
Think about it. The 5 was already an extremely popular phone even a year after its introduction. Now take the 5, reduce its price, improve it, and make it more stylish.
Kaching. I predict heavy traffic at every outlet mentioned in this article to buy the 5C!
When Apple can sell 4S (Small screen old phone ) like hotcakes when 5 released, no wonder 5C new phone will sell well in face of 5S!
Also parents would not want kids to use 5S. They won't be able to peek inside to see what their kids are doing lol
Also parents would not want kids to use 5S. They won't be able to peek inside to see what their kids are doing lol
Why not?
Why not?
He's obviously referring to Touch ID.
He's obviously referring to Touch ID.
I know, but it's assignable to multiple fingers from multiple people. Hardly think that stops parents from controlling what their kids do unless they're idiots in the first place.
I know, but it's assignable to multiple fingers from multiple people. Hardly think that stops parents from controlling what their kids do unless they're idiots in the first place.
I think that it was just meant as a joke, though there are many clueless parents who know nothing about tech at all.
I do think that most kids will probably end up with the 5c, because it costs less, it's plastic, which is more kid resistant and it's colorful.
The iPhone 5s looks more elegant and grown up. I think that Apple will be selling plenty of both models, so it doesn't really matter what particular preference people have.
I think that it was just meant as a joke, though there are many clueless parents who know nothing about tech at all.
I do think that most kids will probably end up with the 5c, because it costs less, it's plastic, which is more kid resistant and it's colorful.
The iPhone 5s looks more elegant and grown up. I think that Apple will be selling plenty of both models, so it doesn't really matter what particular preference people have.
Perfect!
So how do we gauge the success of this? Will we know only if Apple announces sales figures on Monday?
In October the iPad event will open with "We'd like to take a moment to talk about our most amazing product and software launch yet..."
Making China a tier one release country and providing compatibility with their largest network for the first time will virtually guarantee this. Tim Cook probably already has the place-holder slides in keynote.
since the apple online store came back up on tuesday it has appeared that both an unlocked 5c and unlocked 5s will be available for sale right out of the gate. the 5s page went down for a minute and then came back up with somewhat different verbiage but it still seems that they're both going to be available unlocked. does anyone have any insight into that?
Why wouldn't they be available unlocked as an option for those who prefer it?
as far as i know, unlocked models haven't been available on day 1. they've only been available weeks after the launch.
as far as i know, unlocked models haven't been available on day 1. they've only been available weeks after the launch.
Only in the US. Customers in other countries have been able to purchase unlocked since the iPhone 3G.
Don't know it it'll be available tomorrow (still Thurs. in Cali) or this weekend, but the iPhone5 is still available on T-Mobile, Verizon, and others for only $99. If I was buying a new iPhone and didn't want to pay for an iP5s, it would make more sense to buy the iP5 not the iP5s, the 5 has better housing.
White, blue, green, yellow, pink.