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

by Don Reisinger

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.