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iPhone 5c Topped UK Smartphone Sales Charts Ahead of iPhone 6 Launch

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Smartphone sales data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech (via Business Insider) indicates consumer interest in the iPhone 5c remained strong in the UK ahead of the iPhone 6 announcement, with the lower-cost phone actually becoming the top-selling smartphone in the country for the month of August.

smartphone-sales-uk.jpeg
Kantar Worldpanel ComTech​
According to Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, Apple's share of smartphone sales in the UK fell just 1.6 percentage points between July and August, with strong sales of the iPhone 5c helping to prop up overall sales just ahead of the iPhone 6 launch.
Apple has managed to limit the drop this year with its share of sales dipping just 1.6 percentage points versus July this year - almost half the equivalent drop seen in 2013 ahead of the iPhone 5 launch. This has in part been achieved through focusing on the iPhone 5c which tends to attract a slightly less tech savvy buyer who will be less likely to be holding off for the iPhone 6. The iPhone 5c was the best selling phone in Britain in August with 8.9% share, outselling the flagship iPhone 5s with 7.6% and the Samsung Galaxy S5 with 6.0%.
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This sales momentum for the iPhone 5c is not expected to impact future iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sales, however, as an estimated four million iPhone owners -- one-third of all iPhone owners in the UK -- are eligible for upgrade this year.

Apple released the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus last month, with strong consumer interest generating record-breaking pre-order and first weekend sales. Apple has struggled to supply enough handsets to meet consumer demand with shipping times slipping to seven to ten days for the iPhone 6 and three to four weeks for the 6 Plus.

Article Link: iPhone 5c Topped UK Smartphone Sales Charts Ahead of iPhone 6 Launch
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/01/iphone-5c-uk/
Maybe I’m the only person in the universe who thinks so, but I really like my 5c. Fell on the floor countless times, once in water, but still works perfectly and hardly displays any scratch or dent.
 
A few of my friends fall into the non-tech savvy iPhone 5c demographic and they love it.

Have to say that I quickly borrowed my friends and there is a noticeable difference between that and my 6, I suppose that's what you get for 2 year old tech.

Fortunately the users aren't fussed about some of the features that I am. Just goes to show that the target readers of Macrumors who initially pooh-poohed the 5c launch are just a small drop in the ocean compared to the larger market.

The 2 year old tech doesn't put me off but to release a model with only 8GB (same for the 4S re-release as well) is a bit shocking.

I had a friend ask me to help them update to iOS 8 and I couldn't understand how he only had 300MB left when there was nothing on the phone. Then I saw the fact that the accessible memory was something like 5.9GB...
 
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allistera said:
But I thought the iPhone 5c was a flop?

/sarcasm
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It is amazing to see the 5c even ahead of the galaxy. It really shows that there are a lot of less tech savy people out there that are not interested in the specs. They are interested in a phone that works without having to tinker with it. Oh and it has to come in candy colors (or I guess in Britian that would be colour). My wife has a white 5c with a pink cover. She loves it. I love my 6.
 
allistera said:
But I thought the iPhone 5c was a flop?

/sarcasm
Click to expand...

Word for word you posted exactly what I was going to.
Right now, I cannot think of anything plastic that feels as nice as the 5C.

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Cuban Missles said:
It is amazing to see the 5c even ahead of the galaxy. It really shows that there are a lot of less tech savy people out there that are not interested in the specs. They are interested in a phone that works without having to tinker with it. Oh and it has to come in candy colors (or I guess in Britian that would be colour). My wife has a white 5c with a pink cover. She loves it. I love my 6.
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I don’t think the non tech savvy even get that far. They probably buy what looks nicest. Specs or the lack of them are probably secondary.
 
Every one I know with the 5C loves the phone. They just use a few apps and want something that just works.
 
I am really surprised that they didn't do a 6c .... I hope there will be a 6c next year. Seems like the 5c was always selling pretty good.

I know many people (mostly younger generation, incl. my daughter) that prefer the color option. Or just expand the 6s to more color choices - maybe a colored 'cheaper' 6 once the 6s is released?
 
What I've been saying from the release of it. Great phone for the general audience. If the specs were higher I would have preferred the build of the C model over the 5S. Were the 6 Plus reinforced with a steel backplate there would be no bendgate issue to speak of.
 
I like the look of the 5C, but I hope that there are not just candy colours when the 6C arrives. Product Red looks so much better on the iPod Touch, and would on the 5C also. Emerald green and other similar bold shades would also be welcome.
 
0815 said:
I am really surprised that they didn't do a 6c .... I hope there will be a 6c next year. Seems like the 5c was always selling pretty good.
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To follow suit the 6c would join when a 6s is released otherwise your just getting a 6 for cheaper!
 
What? No usual blather about the 5c being a flop? Where's the guy claiming they only sell in the us?

Seriously, here in mexico the 5c is what you see selling, many places don't even carry the 5s. I havn't looked around to see if the 6's are here yet, but I'm willing to bet now you see the 5c and 5s but few 6's.
 
I'm not actually surprised by this, there was some seriously good deals available for the iPhone 5C which suited a lot of people who wanted an iPhone but were previously put off by the price.

For example, one of the deals I saw was a 32GB iPhone 5C, with a huge 4G data/calls/text allowance. The phone was £0 up front, £23.99/mth over 24 months. That's pretty spectacular for someone who wanted an iPhone but wasn't fussy.
 
Replaced my mom's iPhone 3GS with a brand new 5C at the same time as I replaced my fiancee's and my own iPhone 4Ss with an iPhone 6 and 6+, respectively.
 
Otelm said:
Maybe I’m the only person in the universe who thinks so, but I really like my 5c. Fell on the floor countless times, once in water, but still works perfectly and hardly displays any scratch or dent.
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It is a great phone - feels very nice. My daughter has one (of course in pink) and she drops it a minimum three times a day. She was only unlucky once when it fell face first on the uneven concrete floor in the garage - of course it shattered (and the insurance covered it) - but otherwise, I am impressed how well it holds up to the abuse of a 12 year old.

Great phone.
 
Spec Updates in Sight for 5c?

I find the 5c most interesting out of what Apple has to offer, but its hardware is a bit old given what Apple is charging for it –*and with each iOS update you take a gamble about how usable the phone remains –*not a fan of sluggish interfaces. I get more bang for the bug with a Nexus5, but that is just too large to be pocketable, for the same reason I'm not fussed about the iPhone6.
I just need a phone, that can handle occasional google queries and directions, something that is sturdy and has long battery life, but otherwise does not require any form of attention or pampering. I've lost all interest in apps or have an iPad for that itch anyways. Battery life, and price remain the main reasons why I'm still holding on to my feature phone ...

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your suggestion about a 6c makes sense but strikes fear in me. Apple HAS to keep a pocketable phone around. A 6c being a slightly thicker 6 and therefor too large for a person that does not want to be reminded he is carrying a phone in a pocket, this would be bad news ...
acearchie said:
To follow suit the 6c would join when a 6s is released otherwise your just getting a 6 for cheaper!
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BitsnPieces said:
[/COLOR]your suggestion about a 6c makes sense but strikes fear in me. Apple HAS to keep a pocketable phone around. A 6c being a slightly thicker 6 and therefor too large for a person that does not want to be reminded he is carrying a phone in a pocket, this would be bad news ...
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Would seem odd if they let the 5c concept disappear. I wouldn't be surprised to see the 5s turn into a 5cs next year so they can keep the plastic body and colors and price, just add TouchID and the A7.
 
allistera said:
But I thought the iPhone 5c was a flop?

/sarcasm
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are you basing your post on multiple positive sales reports for the 5c or is this the first one you have seen?

i would think if it were so successful they would continue the c and update it every year but then again the names and versions of the iphones and ipads is a jungle.

blackcrayon said:
Would seem odd if they let the 5c concept disappear. I wouldn't be surprised to see the 5s turn into a 5cs next year so they can keep the plastic body and colors and price, just add TouchID and the A7.
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why next year? why not update it his year?

i dont get why creating and advertising the c concept and keep it as a year release.
 
Context: the 5C was really, really cheap here starting from about March this year. Many networks had "32GB for the price of 16GB" deals on, often for £30 a month. (At that price, the handset works out at something like £480, considerably cheaper than even the 16GB 5S at the time.)

And then in the period covered by this article, it got far cheaper again. For the last month could easily get contracts that effectively priced the 16GB 5C at £350, and the 32GB 5C at £400. (And probably even better offers if you dug around.) For reference, the Nexus 5 is £300 or £340 in those sizes. I think that's the reason for your sales surge: it was really stupidly good value for money.

Don't expect to see that continue on the 8GB model.

(My personal hypothesis for the price drops: Apple started offering really low wholesale prices in order to empty the supply chain of 16GB and 32GB models in preparation for discontinuing them.)
 
It seems rather easy to explain this. People wanting a cheap phone weren't planning to buy the iPhone 6 anyway. With absolutely no rumour or mention of an iPhone 6C, there is no reason to continue waiting.
 
As the biggest supporter of a larger iPhone, since way back when you were called a troll for saying it, I went in and bought the 6 and was out the door to my car with it in my pocket.

Then I opened the car door and walked back to the store and exchanged it for the 5s. I like the idea of using a large phone, but the reality of my active lifestyle set in. I am just not a big phone target customer.

Then another reality set in, of never having a smaller option after the 5s.
I Sure hope the iPhone 7 is available in three sizes otherwise I'm ****ed
 
I am glad Windows Phone is increasing market share as it's such a quick and easy OS to use.
 
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