iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C: Which Apple Smartphone Is the Best Buy?

 
 
By Don Reisinger  |  Posted 2013-09-10 Email Print this article Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Apple's big day is set for Sept. 10. The company will be delivering to customers not one but two new smartphones media and analyst reports agree will be named the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 5C will have the same basic design as the iPhone 5, but will offer more colors and a lower price compared with the iPhone 5S. That device will be Apple's top-of-the-line handset for at least the next year and will feature enhanced components. In either case, the technology world is abuzz with what Apple might (and might not) announce at the event. But actually determining what to do when the dust settles might not be so simple. Sure, both smartphones promise something special, but which device would be right for one customer or another? Perhaps more importantly, which type of customer would like the iPhone 5S, and which type of customer would prefer the iPhone 5C? Apple is targeting several different market segments with its handsets, and it's high time to parse out the differences. This eWEEK slide show will help prospective buyers decide which one might best suit their needs.

 
 
 
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  • iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C: Which Apple Smartphone Is the Best Buy?

    by Don Reisinger
    1 - iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C: Which Apple Smartphone Is the Best Buy?

  • Budget-Conscious Shoppers Will Like the iPhone 5C

    Shoppers on a budget who don't need to have all the frills might like the iPhone 5C. The device is expected to mimic the design of the iPhone 5, but come in at a significantly discounted rate, making it more budget-friendly than the iPhone 5S.
    2 - Budget-Conscious Shoppers Will Like the iPhone 5C

  • Power-Hungry Users Will Go for the iPhone 5S

    Those who want the latest and greatest power in smartphones will want the iPhone 5S. That device will come with a better processor than the low-end model and will feature a better camera and better graphics performance. It'll be ideal for power-hungry users.
    3 - Power-Hungry Users Will Go for the iPhone 5S

  • Design Flair Will Matter to iPhone 5S Buyers

    The iPhone 5S should also find its way into the hands of those who want a bit more design flair. As nice as the iPhone 5C might look, it'll be last year's design. Those who buy smartphones for the design—and there are quite a few—will want the iPhone 5S.
    4 - Design Flair Will Matter to iPhone 5S Buyers

  • A Colorful iPhone 5C

    The iPhone 5C, meanwhile, might just appeal to those customers who want more options with their handset. The iPhone 5C will reportedly come with a plastic casing that will allow Apple to offer several different colors. The move worked great with the iPod, and should work out well with the iPhone 5C.
    5 - A Colorful iPhone 5C

  • Resource-Heavy Users Will Want the iPhone 5S

    There are some applications running in Apple's App Store that tax the company's iPhone 5. Those apps, which mainly offer video editing and other advanced features, won't work nearly as well on the iPhone 5C as they will on the iPhone 5S. With that factor in mind, buyers who demand a high-end device capable of running any application should be ready to pay a bit more.
    6 - Resource-Heavy Users Will Want the iPhone 5S

  • The iPhone 5C Will Work Just Fine for Standard Apps

    Those mobile users who don't use resource-intensive applications will like what they find in the iPhone 5C. That handset is expected to come with around the same specs as the iPhone 5, which works quite well with standard applications. Expect the same from the iPhone 5C.
    7 - The iPhone 5C Will Work Just Fine for Standard Apps

  • Novice Users Should Jump for the iPhone 5C

    Novice smartphone users who want to dip their toes into the mobile water should start with the iPhone 5C. That device, while still quite capable, will not come with everything but the kitchen sink, like the iPhone 5S, according to reports. For some folks, a simpler experience is a better experience.
    8 - Novice Users Should Jump for the iPhone 5C

  • Old-Time iPhone Owners Will Want the iPhone 5S

    Old-time iPhone veterans will jump at the chance to buy the iPhone 5S. After all, over the years, those folks have been picking up new, flagship iPhones every year or two. Just because Apple is offering a lower-end product this time around shouldn't change their decision-making.
    9 - Old-Time iPhone Owners Will Want the iPhone 5S

  • The Value Argument Wins Out With the iPhone 5C

    The overall value the iPhone 5C will deliver to customers will more than likely exceed that with the iPhone 5S. Sure, the iPhone 5S will have more power and a slick design, but when it comes to overall value and bang for the buck, it'll be hard to beat the cheaper iPhone 5C.
    10 - The Value Argument Wins Out With the iPhone 5C

  • The Stylish Owner Will Want the iPhone 5S

    The so-called "stylish" smartphone owner—the person who cares quite a bit about how he or she looks with a smartphone in hand and wants to have the latest and greatest toys—will definitely want the iPhone 5S. In fact, those folks might just want the gold iPhone 5S that will reportedly complement the black and white versions. The iPhone 5S will deliver that stylish owner a bit more flavor when they hit the streets.
    11 - The Stylish Owner Will Want the iPhone 5S
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

20 Comments for "iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C: Which Apple Smartphone Is the Best Buy?"

  • Vincent September 13, 2013 2:06 pm

    If only Nokia would make the Lumina with Android, but alas.

  • Jim Kirk September 13, 2013 8:57 am

    Steve is Gone....So is the Creative Talent of him and the People he PUSHED in the Company to make his Vision come true. The Create Giant of Samsung has been awoken....Any the rest is History.

  • Bob September 11, 2013 2:53 pm

    Iphone 5S and 5C still cannot beat the Nokia Lumia 1020 Windows Phone 8 smartphone.

  • Stratocaster September 11, 2013 11:31 am

    Since there are now plenty of publicity pictures of the iPhone 5C, those should have been used for all the slides talking about it instead of last year's black iPhone 5, such as slide 5, which talks about the “colorful” 5C.

  • Greg September 11, 2013 11:24 am

    This is a really silly story. How do you make a decision which to buy? A cheap plastic phone with a slower processor, or the traditional high end phone with the latest processor, better camera and nicer looks? It's like a story on what car to buy a Yugo or a Ferrari? Who would read that story?

    • Joel Tomaneng September 12, 2013 10:42 am

      Sorry, but considering that the 5C has the same processor and screen as the 5, and the 5 is substantially faster than the 4S that my wife still uses for basic apps -- to call the 5C a Yugo is an insult. At least call it a Toyota Corolla or a Kia, or even a Chevy Malibu, but a Yugo?

      • Bob September 16, 2013 11:48 pm

        It is worse than a Yugo. Everything made by apple is over-priced and is worse than a Yugo.

        • David September 21, 2013 11:23 am

          Apple products are solid, and work very well. I have few outages with the software, and traveling as I do, I want something that is rugged and solid. Apple pricing is set because of the value, and the stability. I say this to not bash MS, as I use a Surface Pro for my tablet, but for presenting or for working on critical information, I use the Macbook Pro.

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