iPhone 5C - Why the hell is it so expensive?

[mantan]

It seems like the big market will be parents wanting to buy their teenagers/kids a 'cheaper' iPhone. Any parent who fell for it, will tell you the 8 gig 'free on contract' iPhone is useless. Most kids will fill up 8 gig in about a week. $99 puts it at a nice price point for other smartphones.

But I agree with the comments above...when you factor in the monthly cost, customers are paying WAY more over the life of the contract for the device than the cost. More fat profits for Apple.

And the off contract price is insane. Reminds of when everybody thought the iPad Mini would be $249-$279 and it came out at $329.

 

[truelies]

Apple's intent was never to create a low cost device as most people thought. Their intent was to get rid of the iPhone 5 and have something that seperates itself from the 5S. I think a lot of people will get these colors after everything is said and done because it's still a solid device.

Obviously the 5c means cheap, otherwise why it doesn't have A7 and same functions like 5s? The problem is apple selling 4s for $450, then 5c can't be lower.

 

[IFRIT]

Apple's intent was never to create a low cost device as most people thought. Their intent was to get rid of the iPhone 5 and have something that seperates itself from the 5S. I think a lot of people will get these colors after everything is said and done because it's still a solid device.

I'm sure they will but i don't think they will capture many new customers though, which they had opportunity to do if they had priced the 5C right.

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Obviously the 5c means cheap, otherwise why it doesn't have A7 and same functions like 5s? The problem is apple selling 4s for $450, then 5c can't be lower.

Apparently the "C" stands for colour.

 

[Spacial]

Apple has always been focused on high gross profits, not market share. One look at the huge stockpile of cash on hand proves Apple knows how to extract every last dollar out of their buyers. iPhone C promises to be another cash cow for Apple. Cheap lives on the other side of town

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

No one can be pissed that a rumor didn't pan out...

You've been around awhile. You know better than this. (;

 

[Classiclays]

Their stock price reflects the failure, -2.2%

http://www.google.com/finance?cid=22144

Almost every time, after Apple gives their keynote, their stock falls. It is not indicative of anything.

 

[rockitdog]

Obviously the 5c means cheap, otherwise why it doesn't have A7 and same functions like 5s? The problem is apple selling 4s for $450, then 5c can't be lower.

Really, $549 is cheap to you? If all of a sudden A6 is cheap? The camera on the iPhone 5/ 5C is still one of the best cameras that can be found on the market today. It's the iPhone 5 in a new body. The 4S should be lowered in price.

 

[LoloBond]

This was a good call on Apple profit wise, discontinued iPhone 5, build the same iPhone 5 with a cheaper body body=$$$

 

[DarwinOSX]

they're ********** mad, 599 euros for a plastic iphone - and how much does it cost them, 100, 150 euros to make? and even lifting the 5S's price even higher, they have to be mad. but then it's apple, they can do whatever they want and people will still buy their products

If you think thats all it costs to make one of these you really know very little.

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Really, $549 is cheap to you? If all of a sudden A6 is cheap? The camera on the iPhone 5/ 5C is still one of the best cameras that can be found on the market today. It's the iPhone 5 in a new body. The 4S should be lowered in price.

We all know very few people buy their phones for full price. $99 on contract and it will sell very well for that.

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This isn't some piece of junk cheap plastic phone like the S 4. Its solid for one thing and better quality and feel.

I thought the iPhone 5C was supposed to appeal
to a more 'mass-market' or for emerging markets, typically aimed at those who couldn't afford the standard iPhones and for Apple to gain a greater market share.

At $549 / £469 for the 16GB version, it certainly isn't cheap. In fact, you could get a Samsung Galaxy S4 at a similar price. So why would someone want to buy a plastic iPhone at an extortionate price, even though it may essentially be an iPhone 5 in a plastic housing?

Apple have certainly got their pricing wrong on this one. What was the purpose of the iPhone 5C? If anything, it's ruining their premium, high-end brand image.

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Reminds of when everybody thought the iPad Mini would be $249-$279 and it came out at $329.

Who is everybody?
The Nexus 7 is sold at that price because it is sold at cost. Maybe even a little below cost.

 

[mantan]

If you think thats all it costs to make one of these you really know very little.

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We all know very few people buy their phones for full price. $99 on contract and it will sell very well for that.

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This isn't some piece of junk cheap plastic phone like the S 4. Its solid for one thing and better quality and feel.



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Who is everybody?
The Nexus 7 is sold at that price because it is sold at cost. Maybe even a little below cost.

I should say a lot of people around here 'hoped' it was going to be under 3 bills - potentially well under. And it came in above $300 and sold a ton.

Apple is unmatched in squeezing every last potential dollar they can out of their products, you think we would have all learned by now.

I think it'll sell a lot in the US as a cheaper alternative...but will be very interested to see what happens in the markets where people are paying full boat where this was rumored to be a 'cheaper' alternative to the 5/5s.

 

[robbie12345]

Yes, it's a plastic phone, but a better looking, and not as cheap looking phone than the 5C. And, it's (arguably) a better phone than the 5C, but lets not argue that here.

What do are you talking about theres an argument? Of course the iphone 5c is better after all the plastic on the back is a lacquer finish! So its shiny! and it comes from california! its like plastic gold!

No but seriously there is no argument here. The galaxy s4 did have a cheap build quality, but it has a much better battery life, specs, camera, features, and almost everything else. But now with the iphone 5c apple literally knocked off the iphone 5 so a: people would buy the 5s because obviously it is an iphone 5(half s) and not even a full s.

Im kind of happy with the release though, it made my iphone 5 worth more in after market cash

 

[GoCubsGo]

You've been around awhile. You know better than this. (;

I do. I wasn't mad that a rumor didn't pan out.

 

[deaglecat]

They will sell as many as they can make... so why not ? The higher margins will help profits.

They will sell to parents who want a durable iphone and are unhappy with the fragility of (say) the 4S.

It is a lost opportunity in many respects - I hope that the screen, audio etc is upto par, cos' the costs don't justify any corner cutting in screen quality. That would be fatal for these products...

 

[henry72]

I'm so disappointed with the 5C pricing... WTH I mean who would get the 5C instead of the 5S when the price difference isn't much? The hardware difference is pretty BIG

Also, WHY would they keep the 4S lol. 5C pricing should be the price of the 4S!

 

[inselstudent]

If you think thats all it costs to make one of these you tralla know very little

http://onswipe.investopedia.com/investopedia/#!/entry/the-cost-of-making-an-iphone,5228c8f1da27f5d9d017ac53

That was for the 4S, I know, but I can't imagine the cost for iterations to be considerably higher, especially since the 5C uses "old" tech from the predecessor. So, there you go, (roughly) 281 dollars. In euros, that's 212 euros. So I was off by about 60 euros. I admit I know indeed very little

 

[JailDesigner]

I cant understand it. For the price of the 5C you can get an Iphone 5. Why on earth would i buy a worst phone??? Only for the color???

 

[Curun]

I thought the iPhone 5C was supposed to appeal to a more 'mass-market' or for emerging markets, typically aimed at those who couldn't afford the standard iPhones and for Apple to gain a greater market share.

At $549 / £469 for the 16GB version, it certainly isn't cheap. In fact, you could get a Samsung Galaxy S4 at a similar price. So why would someone want to buy a plastic iPhone at an extortionate price, even though it may essentially be an iPhone 5 in a plastic housing?

Apple have certainly got their pricing wrong on this one. What was the purpose of the iPhone 5C? If anything, it's ruining their premium, high-end brand image.

1. iPhone 5 is good hardware.
2. Ruining this high end brand image?

It basically looks like typical Apple.

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I cant understand it. For the price of the 5C you can get an Iphone 5. Why on earth would i buy a worst phone??? Only for the color???

5 is being discontinued. Quantities are limited.

Once they are out of new ones... It's 5C or used.

 

[UBS28]

Well, at these prices I much rather get a flagship Android phone since the iPhone 5C is also a plastic phone. Or spent a little more and get the iPhone 5s.

 

[kevink2]

If my existing iPhone 5 wasn't locked to ATT, I would go ahead and buy the 5S for myself and give the 5 as a gift to someone on TMobile who doesn't have a smartphone right now.

But since mine isn't unlocked, I will probably go ahead and get the 5C for her. About $150 more than speculation led me to believe it might be.

 

[ajt1995]

They will sell more units... Picture my mom walking into a carrier store... Wait, this is an iphone? "Yes" it runs the same apps? "Yes" it's $100 cheaper? "Yes" oh! Then I'll get that one since it has a bigger screen than the free one.

 

[cynics]

I'm surprised there is a lot of argument here.

Apple did what they'd have done with the 5 price wise but were crappy about it and decided they wanted even more profit. So they made the phone cheaper...

Apple products have some of the highest profit margins of all devices. When you purchase an Apple product more of your money goes directly into their piggy bank then the competition. Not R&D, quality materials, parts, or any of that, just a high PROFIT margin.

Makes me laugh when someone brags about how much money they have in the bank. That's because you put it there...lol...

 

[copykris]

The 5C is still a good phone for the price. Not much difference than the current iPhone 5.
What you guys expect to pay $350 full price?

wow! whoda thunk, not even a year ago, you'd speak so highly of a plastic phone?

Feels like a plastic toy? Where do you see the plastic? its made out of metal and glass. Maybe you were holding an android

 

[Applejuiced]

wow! whoda thunk, not even a year ago, you'd speak so highly of a plastic phone?

Lol
I wouldn't buy a 5C but it is a good phone for the price.