Apple i Phone 5C
Apple unveiled two completely different iPhones on the same day. The answer is a resounding. yes, though we have a feeling Tim Cook's little surprise wasn't the most well-kept secret in Cupertino. Known as the iPhone 5c, this is the less expensive (yet vibrant) sidekick to the 5s, and we've been playing with the device here at Apple HQ. The device will be available for pre-order starting September 13th, and will hit stores a week later on September 20th. All told, you get a choice of five colors. The 16GB version will be offered for $99 on contract, while the 32GB tacks on an extra $100 to the total; if contracts aren't your thing, the off-contract costs are $549 and $649, respectively.
Speaking of which, the 5c has a glossy finish, but we were quite happy to find that it's not the fingerprint magnet that we've come to expect on other devices. It sufficiently handled the greasy fingerprints of a couple hundred journalists, so we doubt you need to be concerned about this phone looking dirty when it's just you handling it. In fact, it has a subtle shine to it that serves to complement the vibrant colors. As expected, the phone has a polycarbonate (plastic) back. Jony Ive, Apple's senior vice president of design, described the iPhone 5C as "beautifully, unapologetically plastic. Multiple parts have been reduced to a single polycarbonate component whose service is continuous and seamless."
How does it feel in the hand? Remarkably solid and dense, more like a candy-lacquered metal phone than a "plastic phone." The 5C has a steel frame under the polycarbonate, and the smooth finish feels very hand-friendly. It also feels heavier than the iPhone 5. Hopefully it'll stay scratch-resistant, because that extra-shiny look is a large part of its charm. It almost feels like an iPhone that's been given a custom hard-shell paint finish, or had a skin-thin case permanently bonded to it.
The colors are clean, somewhat pastel and vibrant, and Apple's separately-sold $29 microfiber cases studded with large holes come in different color schemes, allowing for mix-and-match patterns. The case's design feels like a similar material to Apple's iPad Smart Covers, and snaps over the back snugly. The design-your-own color process has a similar feel to the Moto X's, and it'll be interesting to see what other cases toy with colors and exposed cut-out designs.
Specs: iPhone 5-esque
If you're wondering what makes a 5C different from the now-discontinued iPhone 5, it's basically this: new colors and feel, better front-facing FaceTime HD camera, and a slightly larger battery. Oh, and there's no 64GB version: you'll have to get an iPhone 5S for that.Some of the specs Apple is highlighting include an A6 processor, an 8-megapixel camera with a 3x video zoom in-camera app, an improved front-facing HD camera, and 802.11 a/b/g/n dual band Wi-Fi, as well as "more LTE bands for world coverage."
The iPhone 5C weighs slightly more than the iPhone 5 but seems to offer slightly better battery life.
From a specs standpoint, the iPhone 5C appears to be a slight upgrade over the existing iPhone 5. However, at 4.65 ounces, the iPhone 5C also weighs more than the 3.95-ounce iPhone 5.
iPhone 5C: Design
The iPhone 5C is the first one since the 3GS to be clad in plastic. The plastic Apple uses on phones has never felt anything other than premium and they’ve made no mistake with the 5C.The unibody shell is made of hard- coated, shiny polycarbonate, but it’s almost like enamel to touch and keeps the body of the phone slim. It feels far more premium and durable than the sweaty plastic equivalent found on the Samsung Galaxy range of smartphones.
All the buttons and connectors are where you’d expect them to be. The power/screen button is on the top, the volume rocker on the left hand side and the Lightning port at the bottom, together with the 3.5mm headphone jack.
You might think it’s strange to have the headphone jack at the bottom but the iPhone 5 has shown that it’s not a bad place. The cable doesn’t cover the screen while you’re holding it and it’s also more natural to pocket a phone top first.
It’s very different to hold than the likes of the glass on the iPhone 4/4S or the aluminium of the iPhone 5S and 5. The plastic gives it a softer, more comfortable grip. It’s almost as if Apple has purposefully gone for a more child-friendly material.
And then there’re the colours. The iPhone 5C comes in a candy crushing assortment of bright shades, from strawberry pink to pea green and a few in between. A total of 5 colours will be available from launch.
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