Apple iPhone 5c
Key specs
Critic consensus
“Perhaps, this was Apple's plan all along: a sales setback that would help steer attention towards Apple in the hope that once you are in the Apple Store, you will have no trouble finding a phone well worth its value. It certainly seems the iPhone 5s was always meant to be the one topping the lineup, with the iPhone 5c sitting on the side-lines offering an alternative to those looking for a bit more color. No pressure or anything, iPhone 5s.”
“Apple's positioning and marketing of the phone and its implications for the future are ultimately more noteworthy than this particular phone itself. That's not to say it's a bad phone by any stretch. Minor component differences aside, it's mostly an iPhone 5 in a colorful plastic shell. It's only technically new, but that may be as new as it needs to be.”
“The iPhone 5C is a nice smartphone. However, we just can't see the need for it in the first place, unless it was cheaper. It's too expensive for what is effectively an iPhone 5 in a plastic shell with minor changes in hardware. There are better and cheaper Android devices on the market and those wishing to stick with iOS should pay the extra £80 for the iPhone 5S.”
“Not too shabby, and if you recently purchased one, you can be fully content that you have nearly the best smartphone available this year outside of iPhone 5s. The camera is good, the network speed can't really bet bettered, and you can run any app near the top of where it was designed to run. Remember to turn on Activation Lock in iOS 7, although you will have to bother with typing in a password.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
The iPhone 5c is one of two new devices released by Apple for 2013. With is colorful polycarbonate shell, iOS 7, beautiful retina display and rock-solid build quality, it is adding a bit of life to an otherwise stale product line up. TechCrunch’s Darrel Etherington says “The 5c is probably more broadly appealing than the iPhone 5s just by virtue of its lower cost of entry, but it’s still premium hardware and is likely better thought of as an analogue to the iPhone 4s relative to the iPhone 5 back when that device launched.” While this is the cheaper of the two new models, that does not make the iPhone 5c a budget phone. In fact, it shares a few upgrades of it’s more expensive sibling, the iPhone 5s.
Overall, reviews of the new phone and the new iOS 7 are extremely positive. With the new Control Center, Apple fans finally have the ability to toggle common settings, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, by swiping up a tray on the screen. The camera app and hardware both receive slight updates to provide better manual control and improved low-light performance.
Finally, the front-facing camera is all new in the device. Boasting 1.2 megapixels and designed specifically for low-light conditions, the camera offers an obvious boost in quality to voice and video chat. If you are worried about all the changes in iOS 7, Myriam Joire of Engadget echoes the sentiment of many other reviews when she says “Well, after using iOS 7 for a few days, it’s hard to imagine going back to iOS 6.” The 5c is powered by the same chip used in the iPhone 5 and offers plenty of performance for most users.
There are a few considerations to keep in mind about the iPhone 5c, most from an upgrade standpoint. Engadget, TechCrunch and SlashGear all say that if you have an iPhone 4 or earlier, this phone will be a significant upgrade. Otherwise, it shares many similarities with the previously released 4s and 5. There are also debates about the polycarbonate casing. Although it is a plastic case, the build quality is superb. A steel reinforcing layer makes it behave more like ceramic than plastic. However, if you prefer to the aluminum build of recent releases, you might want to consider upgrading to the 5s.
The Good: Stunning retina display, great picture quality, long-lasting battery life, snappy performance, most flexible LTE support to date and a choice of case colors.
The Bad: No NFC support, mid-sized screen, high off-contract price and no support for external memory.
What people actually want to know
When was the Apple iPhone 5c released?
The Apple iPhone 5c was released on September 20, 2013.
How long does the battery last on the Apple iPhone 5c?
The Apple iPhone 5c has a 1,510 mAh battery.
Does the Apple iPhone 5c have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Apple iPhone 5c has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the Apple iPhone 5c have NFC?
No, the Apple iPhone 5c does not have NFC. Contactless payments and tap-to-pair will not be available.
Where can I download the Apple iPhone 5c manual?
You can view and download the Apple iPhone 5c manual on our dedicated manual page.
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i have I phone 4 not being used. I bought new iPhone 6. I would like to use I phone 4 for emergency phone for my husband Judy to talk or text if needed. What's a good pay as you go plan? I'm now with Virgin. Thanks