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

[elgrecomac]

Well..

I knew this was going to happen when I heard Jony Ivy, in his holier thst thou tone utter the words "unapologetically plastic". The first thing that came to my mind was that this was "male bovine scat", aka, BS.
And late last week on this website we began to hear of discounted 5Cs for $50.
Apple controls its pricing with a vengence to the point where a 10% discount makes the loyalists giddy, so this is almost like breaking a commandment so early in the product launch cycle. But, perhaps, we're missing the point: the 5S is wildly successful in the US and will be a huge hit on the global market so people look at the rebranded, unapologetically plastic last years model and say to themselves 'screw it. I'll spend the extra bucks and buy the better product'. And they are. So Apple will use the 5C to reduce excess inventory of iphone 5 inventory and, as history has shown, the will make billions on the 5S.

Listen, Apple isn't the most successful company in the world because they make bad products. They are the best because they make superior products and have the best marketing team the planet has ever seen.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I just wish the colors were better.

It seems my choices are:
- Dirt-magnet white
- Lisa Frank pink / blue / green
- Pee yellow (or, early kidney failure yellow)

Oh, and I can put a Crocks shoe on it. :-/

I like the idea of a taking last-years phone and re-imagining it as a new mid-tier devie, but I don't like their execution.

 

[avanpelt]

Yes. The iPhone 5C is not only a poor idea, it is blatantly taking advantage of people who are tricked into buying it. It is borderline fraud, as they call in the "new" iphone 5c, but nothing about it is new except the ugly color.

This is the funniest post I've read in a while. "Borderline fraud"?! I don't think so. Fraud would be for Apple to say, "The iPhone 5c is just like the iPhone 5s -- just with more color options!"

The iPhone 5c is a new product line for Apple so there's nothing wrong with them calling it a new product. For most consumers who couldn't care less about the internal specs of a smartphone, the iPhone 5c *is* a new iPhone because they've never seen an iPhone in those colors before. For the average consumer, their assessment of whether or not a phone is "new" doesn't go beyond the external casing of the device.

Remember, the vast majority of iPhone owners or prospective owners have never heard of macrumors.com nor do they know or care what an A6 or A7 processor are.

 

[bsolar]

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%.

This. Many consider the 5C a new product category but it's actually a new marketing strategy for the already existing "old model" product category.

 

[autrefois]

Let's see... The $99 iPhone 5c has 4 times the computing power of the 1985 $8,500,000 Cray Supercomputer, and it's considered to not be cheep.

Compared to other smartphones on the market, $549 unsubsidized for a phone is not cheap.

As for the Cray Supercomputer, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the pricing might be just a tad lower than $8.5 million if a computer with those specs were released for sale today. Although it'd sure cost a lot to ship the thing!

 

[Rogifan]

What would the 5C need to be considered "new" and not cannibalizes sales of the flagship device?

 

[BrockC]

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 certainly not the same as the 4S that I replaced.



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

I respect your choice of buying the iPhone 5C. You may like the aesthetic better or just the way it feels in your hand, compared to an iPhone 5. It's just when it comes to specs and everything it's the same as the iPhone 5. . So couldn't someone buy a new to slightly used iPhone 5 much cheaper than the 5C and get the same product spec wise? Either way it's all up to what the consumer wants (like i said it may be the design that caught your eye and thats perfectly fine)

 

[shareef777]

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?

Well, if Apple's goal is to follow the crowd, then mission accomplished.

 

[Ramchi]

Looking for stupid customers!

In India they are trying to sell 5C beyond iPhone 5 price levels and by keeping 5S exorbitant ($990 - 1100 for 16 - 32 GB) Apple smarting for stupid customers who are having the illusion that 5C is actually better than 5!!! By looking at the sale figure Apple indeed successful so far!

 

[Gasu E.]

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.
That dude can't get anything right.
Needs to get replaced as CEO of Apple ASAP.

I can picture the discussion at the Board meeting.

"Man, this dude Tim has GOT to go!"

"Yeah, his strategy sucks!"

"You said it! He's not the New Steve!"

"OK, let's vote!"

Results
--------
Aye: 4
Nay: 3
Huh: 2
Too stoned to vote: 4

 

[acslater017]

I think this will balance out a bit in time. Product launches are skewed toward the early adopters, the hardcore fans, the frequent upgraders. Of course the flagship will outsell the middle tier product.

The true effect of the iPhone 5C probably won't be felt until the holiday quarter results are made known. I suspect they will do very well as people get phones for their loved ones. $99 for something that's somewhat personalized (I.e. color) and not "last year's thing" is going to be a good draw. But are they going to line the streets to get one on day one? Of course not.

 

[kas23]

According to this article, last year 5 68%, 4s 23%, 4s:5 sales were closed to 1:3, so 5c is actually doing better than 4s did last year.

It depends what exactly is a "sale". Is it a purchase and activation? Or, is it a click of a mouse and subsequent wait of 3 weeks to actually get your phone?

I raise this point because 5S supplies seem to be much more limited compared to 5 supplies a year ago. Is the ratio closer to 1:2 because people are having a much harder time actually getting a 5S? If the 5S was just as ubiquitously available as the 5c, I think the ratio would be much lower.

 

[Vodka]

In India they are trying to sell 5C beyond iPhone 5 price levels and by keeping 5S exorbitant ($990 - 1100 for 16 - 32 GB) Apple smarting for stupid customers who are having the illusion that 5C is actually better than 5!!! By looking at the sale figure Apple indeed successful so far!

In Japan sellers saying what 5C have better reception than 5, lol

 

[funkright]

Most sales channels..

Are stuffed with excess iPhone 5C inventory. It is not selling well. I'm confident that Apple will have a solution that works for them

 

[acslater017]

I just wish the colors were better.

It seems my choices are:
- Dirt-magnet white
- Lisa Frank pink / blue / green
- Pee yellow (or, early kidney failure yellow)

Oh, and I can put a Crocks shoe on it. :-/

I like the idea of a taking last-years phone and re-imagining it as a new mid-tier devie, but I don't like their execution.

For what it's worth, I've owned plenty of white Apple stuff over the years - an iPod, a iBook, a MacBook, an iPhone 3G, and an iPhone 5.

The glossy white parts don't attract dirt. In fact, they hide oil and fingerprints better than the black ones do. The only exception I've seen is if you wear heavy makeup, that might smudge off after awhile.

 

[DipDog3]

I expect that by the holiday shopping season here in the U.S. the iPhone 5c will be $0 down on contract.

Yes, On Black Friday, Walmart will be selling the iPhone 5C for $0 down plus will give you a $50 Walmart gift card. That will make the iPhone 5C's actual price $399, which is a very attractive price point.

 

[giantfan1224]

Are stuffed with excess iPhone 5C inventory. It is not selling well. I'm confident that Apple will have a solution that works for them

Name a smartphone maker that would not kill to have the 5C's opening weekend. "It is not selling well" is relative, don't you think?

 

[Rogifan]

Well, if Apple's goal is to follow the crowd, then mission accomplished.

Tell me what specs the 5C should have had that would make it a worthy
phone in your eyes, and not cannibalize the 5S in the process.

 

[DipDog3]

Never underestimate the purchasing power of the lowest common denominator

True, most people who buy the 5C are turning in their old iPhone 4/4S for $100 credit and getting the 5C for free. For them, they are getting a free upgrade and that is the market that the 5C is really aiming for.

Apple priced the iPhone 5C perfectly for the carrier-subsidized marketplace.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I don't really understand the arguing back and forth about wether or not the iPhone 5C is successful or not. Apple didn't create the 5C simply to increase sales in their $99 offering. Yes, I'm sure that was a secondary hope. But the primary reason was to lower manufacturing costs. Even if Apple doesn't sell a single more 5C than they would have sold 5's, it will still be a win for Apple. This is obvious.

Also, the inexpensive materials and manufacturing costs will open up the possibility to lower the price even MORE next year. The 4S is selling for $450 off contract right? I bet you next year the 5C will reach the $350-$399 range.

 

[wovel]

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.

That dude can't get anything right.

Needs to get replaced as CEO of Apple ASAP.

Bet you that cheap plastic phone wrapped around last years model is outselling the S4....

 

[jmerchlinsky]

Really? Got a source for that?

My gut tells me the profit on a 5C is going to be higher.

Here's a link...

http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/32612-iphone-5s-5c-bom-revealed

5C BOM Cost: $173
5S BOM Cost: $191

The 5S cost less than $20 more to manufacture, and they sell it for $100 more. Which one do you think Apple wants you to buy?

 

[montefuego]

I like it

I think it looks pretty awful In person like it's constantly wrapped in a cheap case. The 5 is much more classier in terms of aesthetics. .

I have a 5s on order, but I have handled the 5C and I like the feel and aesthetic of it a lot. If it had the better technology, I would be happy to buy it. The plastic feels really solid and well made.

 

[bozzykid]

Honestly, this report is based on very little facts.

Of course the 5s is outselling the 5c the first month of the release of both. People don't line up to get a year old phone. But 6 months from now, when someone who is not an early upgrader or die hard fan has their contract run out, they may go for the 5c because it is cheaper. The fact is the people that buy the iPhone when it is first released is a totally different group of people than buy the iPhone 6 months from now.

 

[PlainviewX]

It comes down to perceived segregation of devices. I think they should have waited and not have one phone with a fingerprint sensor and one without when launching two new phones. They should have stayed course and just reduced the price of the iPhone 5 and introduced the 5s. Next year the 5s could have gone the color route with both the flagship and the c having similar tech and features. A customer walks in and sees a phone that's only $100 more and has a fingerprint sensor. They'l immediately think the c is inferior.