My personal reaction to the 5C

Having seen all of the leaked images/details on the 5c far in advance of today's announcement, my expectations were pretty low. I thought the phone looked cheap/childish and was actually quite surprised Apple chose to go this route.

However, after seeing the phone in a final product, seeing actual press photos, and getting a better understanding of their target market with this product, I think it both looks GREAT for what it is, and it makes a LOT of sense in many ways.

The plastic unibody design looks very clean and seamless, the colors really pop, and the fact that it has a reinforced body (I can't remember if it was aluminum or steel) is a great idea...it adds heft to the phone and it offers additional protection.

This product segment makes a lot of sense to me.

1. I can see younger people buying this because it is colorful and more customizable with the cases and its more affordable.

2. I can see the large crowd of "I don't care how advanced it is, I just want a sturdy phone that works and won't break the bank" people buying this.

3. I can see people who just want a simple, good looking, capable, reasonably priced smartphone that has a good looking overall PACKAGE...the body colors matched with the default color wallpapers make for a great looking overall package without going through any customization (yes, most of us here love customizing our devices, but a LOT of people want something that looks great right out of the box, both software AND hardware together). I know, finding nice looking wallpapers is simple, but a lot of people just don't care to take the time to search for a wallpaper or even learn how to change their wallpaper.

4. And of course, I think there is a big market for colorful, more affordable devices in other countries as well.

Long story short - this isn't a device for me personally and isn't a device for a lot of people on these boards. I'm in the crowd that "needs" the top of the line device. However, I can see this product growing into a huge segment. I cannot see how, in any way, offering a new phone with more color options, a new option for body design/material, and GREAT power/functionality at a lower price point is a bad thing.

EGamComp said:

1. If you're already paying ~$2,000+ over a two year period for the contract, why not pay an extra $100 for the 5S? Not only is the 5S faster, more advanced, etc. but 5C has the reputation of being that cheap low end phone.

2. If I could choose between buying an iPhone 5 (I'm sure I could find a brand new one for sale somewhere like eBay) and a 5C, I'd definitely choose the 5 without regret.

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Even if it isn't that much more expensive in the long run, $100 is $100, and to people who don't care THAT much about what they have for a phone, paying an extra $100 up front in a lump sum can be a tough pill to swallow. You also have to consider the fact that some people might just like the 5c option better, even if it isn't the fastest/most powerful option. Also, a lot of people could care less that the 5c has a "cheap reputation". If you consider the market they're likely targeting here, I don't think the people who care about the reputation of their phone or consider their phone some type of status icon fall into the 5c targeted demographic.

I agree, I would rather have the 5 too, but I can easily see how/where the 5c fits.