iPhone 5s Reportedly Outselling iPhone 5c Two-to-One Since Launch

[Daalseth]

Sorry to Disagree

But I like the 5C. I prefer the curved case to the square slab of the 4-4S-5-5S. I like the bright colours better than the faded black, tired silver or the <ugh> pale gold. I also like a plastic case that will keep it's colour and absorb some damage rather than a metal case with anodize that will scratch off. If I were going to get an iPhone it would be the 5C.

 

[BaldiMac]

What would be a compelling reason to get a 5C over the 5S?

I saved $150 on the 5C over the 5S. And I have a phone that will do everything I need for the next two years. That's compelling enough for me.

It's the same phone only with different colors and cheaper materials

It's certainly not the same as the 4S that I replaced.

but not a cheap enough price to justify the difference.

Maybe $150 is nothing to you, but some people would disagree.

 

[aneftp]

Apple's profit margin has got to be eroding with the iPhone 5c ($99 on contract). Compared to 2012 (iPhone 4S $99 on contrast back than)

Why?

Simple. If they are selling just about as many 5c vs 4s at same price points. That's a bad sign considering the millions they have been spending on advertising the 5C.

Apple didn't spend any ad money promoting the 4S model last year after the iPhone 5 was announced.

The overall strategy isn't working when factoring in advertising money spent.

 

[840quadra]

With the new LTE chipset the 5C is still competitive. But not every potential buyer likes there bright colors. Same might have preferred gray, dark gray or black.

I also think having a Black or Grey model would have helped, that and some more standard, non pastel colors (Brilliant Red, Navy Blue, and perhaps other colors like Orange, and Purple) .

 

[nazaar]

This shouldn't be surprising to anyone.

 

[Slumpey]

Waste of an article. everyone already knows this.

 

[DIRSGT]

I think this explains why there is a shortage on the 5s and if you can find a 5s it is usually Space Gray. Apple hedged production on the wrong model by focusing on the 5c. Though it kind of makes sense, since the Space Gray 5s and the 5c pretty much use the same front panel (sans finger print sensor and front camera specs). Apple went full out making black front panels. They just should have tilted production more towards the 5s and not the 5c.

I too like the feel of the 5c in the hand, just not the specs for the price.

I am happy with my 5s Space Gray.

 

[SBacklin]

My guess for the slumping 5C sales is because its basically a repackaged iPhone 5. The vast majority of iPhone buyers now are people doing upgrades from the previous iPhone and that being the 5. I surely wouldn't want to waste an upgrade discount going from the 5 to the 5C if its almost identical...just repackaged. I also believe the second half of that problem is the price like others have stated.

 

[BaldiMac]

Apple's profit margin has got to be eroding with the iPhone 5c ($99 on contract). Compared to 2012 (iPhone 4S $99 on contrast back than)

Why?

Simple. If they are selling just about as many 5c vs 4s at same price points. That's a bad sign considering the millions they have been spending on advertising the 5C.

Apple didn't spend any ad money promoting the 4S model last year after the iPhone 5 was announced.

The overall strategy isn't working when factoring in advertising money spent.

What makes you think that they are spending significantly more advertising money this year?

 

[kemal]

The $100 phone should have been the 5 with updated radio, 5s chassis and red/green/blue anodize. The glass back panels could have been plastic even.

This would have made the development costs much lower.

I'm actually shocked the plastic phone is selling as well as it is.

 

[Rogifan]

They're literally taking last years left-overs and wrapping it in plastic. How would anyone think that's a recipe for success?

Just curious....does Samsung, Motorola, HTC and Nokia phone have the latest and greatest specs? Is there something wrong with the iPhone 5? I use it every day and never do I think it's "last years technology". Apple never meant the 5C to be the flagship device. What specs do you think it should have?

 

[Battlefield Fan]

Is anyone surprised? I know I was claiming it to be a flop. If it's not selling better than the iPhone 4S at this time last year then why bother making a whole new device instead of just demoting the iPhone 5?

Oh Apple. Either you're losing your way or you've created another device to join the G4 Cube, ping, and many other failed apple devices.

 

[QCassidy352]

When the iPhone 5 launched the iPhone 4 was free with contract and made up 9% of sales. The iPhone 4S was 23% and the 5 lead with 68%. That seemed normal to everyone.

Now the 5S is 64%, the 5C is 27% and the 4S is 9%.

So, the real story is that a slight change to the look of the mid tier device (in the absence of change in the flagship) has resulted in a slight increase in it's sales.

People who want the free one are still taking it at the same rate, but people who don't care to pony up for top of the line are more willing to take a mid tier device that has been refreshed.

This is all very remarkable.

Thank you. This is by far the most succinct and accurate description of what is happening yet posted. The iPhone 5c is the mid range model - the 4s of last year, if you will - and is taking a slightly bigger piece of the iPhone pie than the 4s did last year. Which makes sense because the 5c is basically last year's model with slight tweaks.

 

[Shanpdx]

Contract vs non-contract

On Contract
It is better to get iPhone 5S


On non-contract
it is expensive @ $550 -> never going to sell in china or India, same logic applies you can get much better phone for $100 more.


iPhone 5C - there is still some sales for this. for various reasons.
1) I do know in US companies many of them pay for the plan and employee just pay for the device.
2) during thanksgiving to Christmas it might go on $0 on contract
3) who does not like aluminium construction
4) and many more


But apple shoot themselves in the foot by trying to save money/cost and kept the price as $550. the more iPhone 5C sells fat margins for Apple.

Buy the iPhone 5S, you get a phone for another three years, simple as that.

 

[DipDog3]

This is what apple wanted!!!!

Everyone complaining that the 5c is a failure doesn't understand what Apple is doing. The 5c was never meant to be a "cheap" iPhone. Apple is simply following the formula that has worked for them for years, by releasing last year's model for $100 cheaper. Only this time, Apple revamped the iPhone 5 to improve margins.

The 5c is not a "cheap" iPhone, it is the iPhone 5 wrapped in plastic with better margins. Apple's plan is working perfectly.

If you want a cheap phone, stop posting on Apple rumor sites and go buy a Android, they have plenty of cheap models.

Apple is NEVER going to release a cheap iPhone! So stop asking.

 

[Rogifan]

Maybe it's because the 5c is an overpriced piece of last years hardware? I know a lot of people say that people who buy the 5c don't care about having the latest and greatest, but it's not about that. It's about being fiscally responsible. The 5c is just a terrible value for your money.

So if Apple had reduced the 5 by $100 would that be terrible value for your money? Should Apple just stop selling older models of phones? Or reduce the price more than $100? Were people saying last year that the 4S was a terrible value?

 

[BaldiMac]

I know I was claiming it to be a flop.

How is it a flop?

If it's not selling better than the iPhone 4S at this time last year

It is selling better the the iPhone 4S at this time last year relative to the top of the line model according to these stats.

then why bother making a whole new device instead of just demoting the iPhone 5?

To increase margins.

Oh Apple. Either you're losing your way or you've created another device to join the G4 Cube, ping, and many other failed apple devices.

Or, they have a different strategy than you would like.

 

[giantfan1224]

Is anyone surprised? I know I was claiming it to be a flop. If it's not selling better than the iPhone 4S at this time last year then why bother making a whole new device instead of just demoting the iPhone 5?

Oh Apple. Either you're losing your way or you've created another device to join the G4 Cube, ping, and many other failed apple devices.

If the 5C yields a larger margin than the 5 at a discounted price, then isn't it a huge success over what they did last year? That was the whole point in creating the 5C, to improve the margin over reselling the 5 at a lower price. Why is this so hard for people to understand? Apple has to be thrilled with these numbers.

 

[abhishake]

Apple doesn't need cheap, but it does need solid mid-range competitors to Android. The 5c fits the bill, but it's priced too high.

It's not the price that hurts the phone, it's the phone itself. The colors aren't nice - it's an ugly phone.

 

[QCassidy352]

So if Apple had reduced the 5 by $100 would that be terrible value for your money? Should Apple just stop selling older models of phones? Or reduce the price more than $100? Were people saying last year that the 4S was a terrible value?

Well put. And I think the 5c is actually a much better value now than the 4s was last year because the 5 was a much bigger leap from the 4s than the 5s is from the 5 (or 5c).

 

[Rogifan]

When the iPhone 5 launched the iPhone 4 was free with contract and made up 9% of sales. The iPhone 4S was 23% and the 5 lead with 68%. That seemed normal to everyone.

Now the 5S is 64%, the 5C is 27% and the 4S is 9%.

So, the real story is that a slight change to the look of the mid tier device (in the absence of change in the flagship) has resulted in a slight increase in it's sales.

People who want the free one are still taking it at the same rate, but people who don't care to pony up for top of the line are more willing to take a mid tier device that has been refreshed.

This is all very remarkable.

Yeah I'm shocked why people would think the 5C is a failure because it isn't selling at the same rate as the 5S. Why should it? And the figures you quote actually show better sales compared the 4S last year. So even though some think the 5C is an inferior device because the casing isn't a "premium" material it's selling better than the 4S was at this time last year. Some failure.

 

[Nevaborn]

This isnt news.

The 5S should be outselling the 5C as it is the flagship phone. if sales figures were the other way around then that is a story, but this no.

We can agree the price of the 5C was higher than it should of been however the quality of it is fantastic for a plastic phone with many happy owners on here. I personally think the 5C looks better and more interesting than the 5S and hope the 6 takes after it.

It is every bit a quality product that is an improvement over the 5 however isnt designed to be everyones taste instead being aimed at people who like a bit more colour.

 

[giantfan1224]

It's not the price that hurts the phone, it's the phone itself. The colors aren't nice - it's an ugly phone.

You realize that's your opinion, right? And that others might feel differently? The fact that Apple is selling just slightly more of the 5C over the 4S from a year ago makes it a resounding success.

 

[itguy06]

If Tim Cook thinks people are stupid enough to buy cheap plastic phones that are essentially past year's old product dressed in different colors, he should get his head checked.

Really? Cause Apple made 2 hugely successful phones out of plastic - the 3G and 3GS. They also made a few computers, also hugely successful out of plastic. Apple knows how to do plastic well.

I was talking about this with the wife the other day. As a guy (who likes bright colors) there are no "manly" colors of the 5c. Nothing against pink (I've got plenty of it in my wardrobe) but there are no colors that scream out to me. I'd probably "settle" for white or blue. But I'd really pony up the extra few $$ for the 5s.

 

[mantan]

Apple's profit margin has got to be eroding with the iPhone 5c ($99 on contract). Compared to 2012 (iPhone 4S $99 on contrast back than)

Why?

Simple. If they are selling just about as many 5c vs 4s at same price points. That's a bad sign considering the millions they have been spending on advertising the 5C.

Apple didn't spend any ad money promoting the 4S model last year after the iPhone 5 was announced.

The overall strategy isn't working when factoring in advertising money spent.

Your argument doesn't take into account the increased manufacturing costs of the 5 vs the 4s. The 5c is cheaper to make than the 5...so as long as profitability remains the same as the 4s (when it was sold as a year old model), they'll be fine.

What Apple didn't want to do was shrink profit making a lower cost 5. Where they made a marketing blunder was not offering a more neutral color option (black, dark gray, navy blue) that would have appealed to a broader audience.

I agree with the posts above that the core 5c audience isn't going to show up in the first 30 days of sales. A lot of these are going to be sold to people rolling off contracts or kids/teens getting their first phone. In those cases a $100/$150 makes a big difference.