Apple iPhone 5C: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

All eyes are on the iPhone 5C right now even if the iPhone 5S is the flagship handset from Apple. Confusion about what the “C” stands for in the iPhone 5C but it’s obvious that “cheap” is not one of them.

The iPhone 5C is either a blessing or a curse for both Apple and its customers, depending where you are coming from. We break them down here and share with you some possible scenarios.

The Good.

It’s ~~cheaper~~ more affordable. This will be the first time in the last 7 years of the iPhone that it will be sold at under the Php30k mark. Yes, a Php26,500USD 452INR 38,282EUR 430CNY 3,289 16GB iPhone 5C might still be expensive in this day and age when the same amount of money can buy you a quad-core Android smartphone with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a full HD display plus all the bells and whistles that would make Apple’s Touch ID pale in comparison.

Imagine getting a brand new iPhone free on a postpaid plan of around Php1,500USD 26INR 2,167EUR 24CNY 186 per month. That’s already 25% less than the average Php2,000USD 34INR 2,889EUR 32CNY 248/month which is the usual price point under a plan. It will certainly eat up the market share of otuneher handsets in the plan. Say goodbye to the “Mini” which Samsung has been marketing really heavily in the last couple of years.

The Bad.

Apple continued its “tik tok” timeline by creating a slightly improved handset every other year. As such, the iPhone 5S is a completely expected product of this cycle. After the 3GS, the 4S and now the 5S, the iPhone becomes so predictable it reduces itself to a borderline boring product.

The introduction of the iPhone 5C was an unexpected move. It certainly is a reaction to the growing popularity and market share of Android, and perhaps, even of Windows Phone. It’s a nice little trick — re-package the year-old iPhone 5 using cheaper materials and manufacturing cost, then sell it as brand new at a slightly lower price.

While that might excite a number of people since it gives them a better chance at acquiring a new iPhone, the 5C does not speak well of Apple’s image. Apple has always been extravagant, ambitious and uncompromising. The iPhone 5S still adheres to that philosophy but the iPhone 5C just screams unimpressive.

The Ugly.

The iPhone 5C could be the stealth product. While the iPhone 5S is definitely positioned as the flagship handset which will go head on against the likes of the Galaxy S4, LG G2, Xperia Z1 and HTC One, the iPhone 5C may also get in the way as a second choice.

The iPhone 5C could either undermine the postpaid pricing of the flagship phones or force them to lower their prices. In a line-up of mid-range handsets being offered free on a Php1,500USD 26INR 2,167EUR 24CNY 186/month plan, the iPhone 5C could certainly disrupt the positioning of other brands. If it does, it’s going to be ugly.

Only time will tell how the iPhone 5C would fare. There is a pretty high likelihood that it will succeed and help Apple bite a bigger piece of the smartphone pie.

Hat tip to Israel Nicolas for additional inputs over email.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

53 Comments

Phillip says:

11 years ago

it’s really hard to care.. NEXT.
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Ffghh says:

11 years ago

Marami ang disappointed kasi mahal daw. Pero hindi naman nagsabi ang Apple na gagawa sila ng murang iPhone. Ang sinabi nila plastic iPhone lang.
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HiERARCH says:

11 years ago

i like the above review :)
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PinkyHeart6 says:

11 years ago

Php26,500 for a 16GB Plastic iPhone 5C with last year’s specs, is it worth it? I’d rather spend additional money and get the 5S.
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tarush says:

11 years ago

Just like your not so good reviews and comments in the previous iPhone releases, your reviews won’t matter anymore to iOS users.

We buy for good overall experience and not just bloated specs just like the Android phones…

So in the end, tech blogs and Android users whine while Apple users enjoy record breaking sales on their “bad and ugly” iPhones ü
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kmgali says:

11 years ago

Sana malugi na yang apple ang maibenta sa chinese company.hahahaha
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Pacro says:

11 years ago

Expect floods of back cover plates, gold plated metal, with much hits in youtube DIY tutorial on how to replace the back cover.
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metre9dmt says:

11 years ago

I was planning to buy the iPhone 5C thinking it would go at around PhP 15,000 or less. Whoa, PhP 26,500?! Grabe naman…para ka na rin bumili ng middle-end laptop. Might as well buy a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 – once it breaks the PhP 20,000 barrier…Goodbye Apple iPhone dream (nightmare na)…
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Phillip says:

11 years ago

Parang sablay ang strategy nila.. at least in terms of pricing. Sa halip na maglabas sila ng 2 phones with different target markets, they released both that has a potential to eat up each other’s share. Yung bibili ng 5s mapapaisip na 5c na lang. Yung 5c naman, maiisip na konti na lang 5s na. Kung naging less than 20k sana ang 5c, ang kakainin na share ay yung sa lower bracket mostly android and windows phones then they maintain their share sa upper bracket.
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Crazykid says:

11 years ago

I don’t consider this phone mid-end actually. It’s somehow different. The experience can still be considered high-end because it can run apps fluidly just like iPhone 5 but is made of a cheaper material. The price could’ve been lower but let’s be honest, it runs apps faster and better than most branded midrange android phones.
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flitz says:

11 years ago

tangina ang mahal parin pala. i’m expecting below 20k since it was plastic and with the specs that.. so 2012. magsara na kayo apple!
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Guy Fawkes says:

11 years ago

My guess is that kapag di naging mabenta sa 26,000 they will lower the price let’s say 20k ang range. think about how Blackberry did that 31k for a Z10? ngayon 17k sobrang hirap parin sila magbenta.

Oh I guess this is apple. pero ang price range mali eh. 26k pwede ka na magdagdag to go 5S or get the iPhone 5 16gb din
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migmig says:

11 years ago

great review! i want to read more articles like this. insightful yuga
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diorarat says:

11 years ago

Pang loko lang ng mga sheep.

Repackaged iPhone 5 lang with plastic body para hindi malaos kaagad ang 5 sa paglabas ng 5s
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silent b0bjay says:

11 years ago

puff and pass :)
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applesed says:

11 years ago

style lang ng Apple yang post paid plan na yan, remember, dadalahin nila ito sa China, and i Bet china will be flooded with these Iphone 5c, and the result, mag mumura ng maige ito and eventually ibebenta sa neighboring countries. :)
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Ry says:

11 years ago

The 5C was “unexpected”? COME ON MAN. It’s been talked about for months on end
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Magelan says:

11 years ago

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/apple-cuts-iphone-5-production-stock-falls-age-144103011.html

This is d birth of the iphone 5c n 5s. Due to low demand, dey decided to recycle d hul shibang and split it into two separate entities. Its also the reason 4 d sudden death of d original iphone5.

1. bcoz d hul inards of ip5 including d screen was set in a new plastic housing (wid d exception of battery which dey pump up a bit) and den walla, ders d cheaper 5c..

2. And den d original housing of iphone5 bcomes d resting place of d 5s!

A great marketing and business strategy by d apple company, they preventd a huge loss, its like hitting 2birds in one stone 4 dem. coz instead of paying penalties to those suppliers/manufacturers/contractors 4 d sudden short order of ip5, they’ve converted it into two products wc dey could sell.

4me 5c is not cheap, bcoz its stil basicaly d capable ip5 just less d premium casing, wel wth, sgs4 n lg g2 is also housed in plastc. Den ders note2 n s3 n some sony n htc units stil at 25k also, if i were to choose btwn dem, i would pick d colorful 5c due to its screen – color reproduction and cam quality.

D only downer 4 d iphone is its seal tight eco system, a useless bluetooth, itunes freak, no nfc and a small screen size. Nextym just a wider 4.3 or 4.5 wil do..
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Lapu-Lapu says:

11 years ago

IMHO, why would you buy the iphone 5c? It has the same internals of the current iphone 5 (maybe slightly larger battery), but in a plastic shell. E di bumili ka nalang ng iphone 5, better build quality and baka mas mag mura pa. Or dagdag ka lang ng konti 5s na.

Either sheep or hipster lang talaga bibili nito.
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Gams says:

11 years ago

Ano kaya ang reaction ni Steve Jobs in heaven….he..he..
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Janet Lim Napoles says:

11 years ago

Makabili nga ng iPhone 5s at 5c, para may mapahid lang ako sa pwet ko pagka-tae ko.. Marami naman ako pera.. Bwahahaha!
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Ukin Inau Amin says:

11 years ago

Sige mag payabangan kau dian, panay naman credit card pinambili niu cellphone niu at pag uwi niu sa mga tirahan ninyu sardinas ulam niu tipid tipid pra lang me pang monthly kau. Aber sinu sa mga super yabang dian nakakabili ng cellphone in cold cash an dala dalawa pa na branded as in Vertu TI at Blackberry Porsche edition aber? At for yur info ANDROID ang OS ng Vertu Ti. Apple fan CHEAP NIU.
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Easy Call da Best says:

11 years ago

Daming haters. Walang pambili. Singhot muna kayo ng rugby!
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kikaykimy says:

11 years ago

kung i o-offer ng Globe ang iPhone 5C for Plan 999 WITHOUT any cash out/s, papatusin ko to! kase I’ve got nothing to lose dahil definitely, wala akong gagastusin..pero I agree na for Php 20k+ price for an A6 chip-plastic back covered phone, that’s ridiculous!
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kikaykimy says:

11 years ago

kung i o-offer ng Globe ang iPhone 5C for Plan 999 WITHOUT any cash out/s, papatusin ko to! kase I’ve got nothing to loose dahil definitely, wala akong gagastusin..pero I agree na for Php 20k+ price for an A6 chip-plastic back covered phone, that’s ridiculous!
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Nam says:

11 years ago

HI,

nice article – although i do really not like the Iphone 5c too much to be honest, id rather buy the new Nexus or if Apple the 5S.

For all who want to check out the newest prices of Iphone 5c and Iphonen 5s check out http://www.oizoioi.ph – we compare more then 100000 electronic prices in the philippines everyday.

cheers nam
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anything says:

10 years ago

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- Reply