You Know What? Screw the 5c

[drew0020]

Not exactly. In Apple's previous MO, the iPhone 5 would now be the same price as the 5C, with the 5S taking the top spot and the 4S the entry-level model.

Instead of the 5, we get the 5C, which is bulkier, heavier, and depending on your taste, much uglier.

If you love the design of the 5C, you only get a device that is bulkier and heavier.

If you, like me, wanted the iPhone 5 at a mid-range price point, tough.

Like many, I expected the 5C to replace the 4S. Unfortunately, not.

I agree with each of your points. Problem is the Apple fan boys will 1) all of a sudden love plastic, because it is better plastic or 2) like the pretty colors and buy it anyway.

I can only imagine the reaction if Microsoft released these two phones.

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Hence the reason why Samsung sells tons of plastic phones.

I hate plastic phones too, but the S4 blows away the 5C. On a 2 year contract you can find the S4 for about $119 if you look hard enough.

 

[zedzded]

I hate plastic phones too, but the S4 blows away the 5C. On a 2 year contract you can find the S4 for about $119 if you look hard enough.

Yeah I like the specs of the S4, could never bring myself to buy a phone with a plastic removable back though

 

[Ramio]

I agree..the 5c is a disaster at the $550 price point. It should have been priced at $450. That's the sweet spot.

 

[Steve121178]

I agree..the 5c is a disaster at the $550 price point. It should have been priced at $450. That's the sweet spot.

The 5C is designed to make it more affordable to those wanting it on a contract. That's what the 5C is aimed at - making it more affordable to people who wouldn't normally choose an iPhone.

 

[Thedeathbear]

The iPhone 5C was made for a younger crowd. Now you can get your child a cellphone and not worry as much they will break it. Like how Nintendo created a 2DS because of the fragile clam-shell design of the 3DS. My plastic 3G took a beating.

 

[greygray]

Well I guess the 'C' just stands for children/ childish... Seriously, apart from the white model, the rest look like a mockery to Apple's 'professional' line-up, or whatever is left of it. The 5c just looks like a child's plaything tbh.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

The C stands for cheap

No, it stands for: Crap.

 

[Steve121178]

No, it stands for: Crap.

How is it crap? It's essentially a slightly cheaper iPhone 5 with a better battery & support for more 4G bands.

It's a great phone, just not as great as the 5S.

 

[darngooddesign]

And Apple, you should have know better that to try and copy MS.

Apple has had colored iPods for a long time.

 

[drew0020]

Yeah I like the specs of the S4, could never bring myself to buy a phone with a plastic removable back though

I want the S4 after the disappointing Apple phones, but I also struggle with the plastic removable back.

My friend's wife bought the Verizon S4 and the screen amazes me, the operating system I can live with altough it will take some getting used to, but the plasticy (is that a word?) removable back just feels so cheap considering the rest of the tech in the phone.

I don't want to leave Apple, but I feel like they are doing their best to lose me as a customer.


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How is it crap? It's essentially a slightly cheaper iPhone 5 with a better battery & support for more 4G bands.

It's a great phone, just not as great as the 5S.

Its an average phone. It loses the build quality of the 5, plus it uses year old technology. I'm sure it will sell well, but to call the 5C a great phone at $549 is definitely a reach.

 

[Thedeathbear]

Also, the odds are that they are better build quality than the 3G and 3GS. Apparently those phones were crap too but we ate them up in 2008 and 2009. Why did we pay so much for plastic phones back then.

 

[drew0020]

Also, the odds are that they are better build quality than the 3G and 3GS. Apparently those phones were crap too but we ate them up in 2008 and 2009. Why did we pay so much for plastic phones back then.

I think that's where phones were in 2008-2009. The iPhone was pretty much the leader at that time. After the iconic iPhone 4, I think build quality expectations changed for much of us.

Like I have said in previous posts, Apple spolied me from a build quality perspective. That said, I am close to buying a S4, but it really is a struggle haha.

 

[viewfly]

Oh god. I forgot. I should kneel in front of Tim Cook and kiss his feet At this point they are basically giving their Phones away for free.

Good. You got my point!

 

[Ramio]

The 5C is designed to make it more affordable to those wanting it on a contract. That's what the 5C is aimed at - making it more affordable to people who wouldn't normally choose an iPhone.

Good point but if Apple wanted to truly have a bigger market share internationally, a $450 off contract price would have been better. $200 off the 5s price is a good chunk off and it would allow people who like iOS to get one much easier.

 

[viewfly]

That's kind of the point with technology; more bang for your buck as time goes on and production costs drop.

Sure

That's why TV cost $2000 today, instead of a few hundred. And we pay for cable instead of free TV service. And 3D movies are priced higher.

Fact is the iPhone price hasn't changed since the 3G. Nor has my 850 min family plan price changed in nearly 7 years. but the iPhone has gotten better each year and I went from TDMA through gsm 2G to LTE with AT&T

 

[Thedeathbear]

Like I have said in previous posts, Apple spolied me from a build quality perspective. That said, I am close to buying a S4, but it really is a struggle haha.

Nothing should tie you to an iPhone. You should get what you want.

 

[drew0020]

Nothing should tie you to an iPhone. You should get what you want.

I want an iPhone with a slightly bigger screen and a slightly more innovative O/S, but that is not going happen this year.

I guess there are trade-offs in life (and this is not a major life decision ha), but for me it comes to screen size vs. build quality. Im also waiting to see what the Nexus 5 brings.

 

[Bremel]

So I guess the moral of the story is, for 220 euro you could've had the phone you really wanted?

I don't follow you here. Maybe I didn't explain it right.
In both cases I'm talking about the same phone (in my case stil the iphone 4) (one with subscription and one lock free).

But you could do the same with every new phone that comes out.

 

[the8thark]

The iPhone 5C was made for a younger crowd. Now you can get your child a cellphone and not worry as much they will break it. Like how Nintendo created a 2DS because of the fragile clam-shell design of the 3DS. My plastic 3G took a beating.

in Australia

Nintendo 2DS - $148
iPhone 5C 16GB - $739

There's your reason why the 5C won't favour so much of a younger audience whereas the Nintendo 2DS will.

 

[James717]

Good point but if Apple wanted to truly have a bigger market share internationally, a $450 off contract price would have been better. $200 off the 5s price is a good chunk off and it would allow people who like iOS to get one much easier.

u asume people in China, India, up and coming countries have "kids" or young yuppies in the millions who can afford $70 USD a month for internet and phone connection for 2 years.

In China, that's a tall order.

 

[Ramio]

u asume people in China, India, up and coming countries have "kids" or young yuppies in the millions who can afford $70 USD a month for internet and phone connection for 2 years.

In China, that's a tall order.

I have travelled overseas a lot and I can tell you many people want apple products but wish they were cheaper. I'm not talking about kids. I'm talking about normal people with jobs.

 

[spicynujac]

I never understood why people say this. Whether you pay full price or subsidized price, you're still paying the same amount for wireless service, are you not? And for those that have no problems fulfilling a contract, they have saved hundreds of dollars in the end, unlike what is said above.

No, it's more like paying $80+ per month on contract versus $40 or less when you can go to a handful of MVNOs with your unlocked phone. Even T Mobile is $50 / month with an unlocked device and unlimited everything. The unlocked phone is almost always cheaper in the long run ($40 x 24 = $960 in savings which is much more than the subsidy you are getting with a contract, not to mention you are now restricted by a contract). I haven't had a contract for several years and can't imagine agreeing to one again.

 

[eyoungren]

And the 5C is this years 5, at 33% less subsidized price!

Hard coated polycarbonate back- so if you do ding it- it will show the same color- no bare metal showing through.

I bought an iPhone 5 last year at whatever subsidized price it was.

It's not plastic. It may ding and scuff and show marks beneath, but it's not plastic.

It has pretty much the same insides as the new 5C. But it's not plastic.

Say what you want about how it may feel…the 5C is plastic. My iPhone 5 is metal.

 

[zipster]

Guess we found out the C stands for 'costly'.

 

[m00min]

Nothing should tie you to an iPhone. You should get what you want.

You must not use many apps then. Apps are what tie me to iOS, if they move to Android I'll go too.

My difficulty with the 5c is it looks bargain bin / kiddie phone, it's priced for adults though. Not a good combo. That said I'd buy one if my 4S conked out, or I would have done if they weren't priced stupidly.