Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The iPhone 5c was released back on 20 September 2013 , over 2 years ago . Apple ’s most colourful iPhone provided a cheaper option for those who wanted to own an iPhone and experience iOS . Now , the phone ca n’t match the performance of Modern iPhones , nor of some budget Android smartphones , however apply its much lower price in 2016 , the iPhone 5c still serves as an option for those who want to experience iOS . The iPhone 5c provide a good upgrade choice for those who are on elder generation iPhones and also offer those looking to buy a budget iPhone , a worthy smartphone that boasts a decent camera for its price . We should note that at the sentence of follow-up in 2013 , we impart the iPhone 5c a 5 star review , but with other options now out there , we have update it to a 4 star critical review , to reflect how the phone liken to its competitors in 2016 . Do behave in mind that the phone has been discontinued and can be hard to encounter brand young .
The iPhone 5c is a colourful , now - budget iPhone and ‘ shamelessly charge plate , ’ concord to Apple . But , as the iPhone 5c now becomes over two eld sometime , should you bribe it ? We revisit our iPhone 5c review to ascertain whether it ’s worth buying .
Just after Apple plunge the iPhone 5 in 2012 , there were call for the society to start thinking about offering a low cost version of the iPhone . Apple watchers and analyst hint that Apple take a gaudy iPhone if it was to continue to put on market part at a time when smartphone ownership was start up to reach saturation . Apple responded by saying that a gimcrack iPhone would “ never be the future tense of Apple products . ”
And yet the idea that Apple would launch a chintzy iPhone took hold , so when Apple bring out the iPhone 5c alongside the iPhone 5s many accept that the ‘ cytosine ’ stood for cheap . Perhaps because expectation were set so high ( or should we say low ) the inevitable disappointment when it emerged that the upfront Mary Leontyne Price of the iPhone 5c was just £ 80 less than the equivalent iPhone 5s . Starting at £ 469 the iPhone 5c is not a loud iPhone .
Apple then launch an 8 GB iPhone 5c , quash the starting price of the gadget to £ 429 . Even so , the 8 GB variant was n’t popular give its limited storage capacitance and very thin discount over the 16 GB variant . At launch the price were the following : £ 429 for 8 GB ; £ 469 for 16 GB ; £ 549 for 32 GB .
Since its launching in 2012 , the price of the iPhone 5c has put down substantially , with the iPhone 5c now available between£108.99 and £ 119.99for 16- and 32 GB repositing capacity . However , with the iPhone 5c now break off , these price reflect a seller freshen up terms , which is not the same as a brand young phone . As it ’s hard to observe the phone firebrand new , our updated article is base on you being able to buy the phone in 2016 forunder £ 120 .
Regarding the phone ’s winner , we see it rum that so many Apple watchers brand the iPhone 5c a bust . It was far from it . In 2012 , it oversee to outsell Samsung ’s flagship smartphone on one-half of the top carriers in America , and also pushed every other Android , Windows and Blackberry phone out of the top three smartphones across each carrier .
Plus , Apple CEO Tim Cook defended the iPhone 5c on various occasions , claiming that the gimmick has been a large winner when it add up to attracting Android users to the iPhone , and has in reality show up the strongest growth rate of any of Apple ’s mid - range iPhones since its launch .
iPhone history
This iPhone has been replaced with a new exemplar . detect links below to our reviews of all iPhone models , including the up-to-the-minute generation.iPhone 16is expected to establish in September 2024 ( seewhen is the good meter to buy a fresh iPhone ) , whileiPhone SE ( 4th generation)andiPhone 17are potential to appear in 2025 . Find out aboutApple ’s September event detailsandhow to determine the Apple September event resilient flow ; or for other Apple intersection , get word more about all thenew Apple Cartesian product coming this yearandwhen is the next Apple outcome . You might also like ouriPhone purchasing guide , best iPhone dealsandcomparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today .
iPhone 5c review: Design & build
The plastic back of the iPhone 5c is a huge release from the steel , aluminium and methamphetamine hydrochloride materials that Apple has used since the iPhone 4 . The iPhone 3GS had a credit card back , so it ’s almost like going backwards . But does the plastic case make the new iPhone 5c look like it belongs in a bargain basement ?
On the contrary , we think that Apple has evidence that plastic does n’t have to see cheesy . The iPhone 5c bears all the trademark of Apple ’s meticulous attention to detail . It is crafted from a single while of plastic . You wo n’t find a unmarried wrinkle or join in the unibody - style design . One benefit of the plastic mental synthesis is that the border are smooth and curved , unlike those of the iPhones 5s and 4s , which by equivalence feel a small less comfy in the hand .
On the inside of the plastic case is a sword - enforce flesh . Thanks to this metal skeleton the credit card coated iPhone 5c feels solid . Along with add rigidity the steel frame and metal plate at the back can double up as an antenna , so there was n’t a repeat of antennagate , the response effect that plagued the iPhone 4 .
On the outside the plastic shell gains a clear lacquer hard coating , which gives it a durable and calendered surface that is very hard to call off – our attempt merely go away marks that could be easily pass over off .
The iPhone 5c case sure as shooting plunk up fewer marks than the iPhone 5 . We ’ve continue our iPhone 5 in a instance from day one so as to protect it . We think you could get aside with never put your iPhone 5c in a example , indeed , you may choose to show off your chosen colour .
As for size and burthen the iPhone 5c measure 124 millimeter by 59.2 mm , and is 8.97 mm deep . It weigh 132 gm . This signify it ’s slightly foresighted and boneheaded than both the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5 , and a niggling heavy .
Here ’s our unbox the iPhone 5c video recording
iPhone 5c review: Colour options
Speaking of colours , it ’s passably clear that when Apple go under on the name iPhone 5c the ‘ c ’ was intended point colour . This is the first time Apple has produced an iPhone in any colour other than black or lily-white .
The iPhone 5c is usable in pink , yellow , blue and green , as well as white . The colours are bright and vivacious and it looks like they came flop off the catwalk – they contrast well with the next two time of year colouring , according to the way manufacture .
To underscore its manner credentials Apple ’s unexampled iPhone 5s was used at a Burberry fashion shoot at London Fashion Week . We also experience that Apple recently poached a designer from Yves St Laurent , and its novel head of retail , Angela Ahrednts , was formerly the CEO of Burberry . With the iPhone 5c , Apple has designed a phone that will become a fashion particular .
option of colour will be a personal determination for anyone buying an iPhone 5c . It ’s inevitable that pink will be popular with younger females , and we ’ve see circle of icteric and gamey modelling out and about . The white model is for the more subdued , while the putting surface seems to be a number of a dud so far – we ’ve not seen any out in the real existence so far .
What is crucial is the fact that there is option . People like to be able to emphasise their personality though the products they own and what better way to do this than through colouring material .
iPhone 5c review: Camera
Now that we ’ve discussed the iPhone 5c ’s coming into court , it ’s time to talk about what ’s on the inside . The iPhone 5c is a characteristic - bundle phone , though much of its computer hardware has been taken from the iPhone 5 and placed inside the new plastic consistence ( see more on this below ) .
The FaceTime camera on the front of the twist is better than the one establish in the iPhone 5 , offering up good visibleness in low - light .
The camera on the back of the iPhone 5c features the same 8Mp detector , 3264×2448 , backside illuminated , intercrossed IR filter , five - element lens , and f/2.4 aperture as the iPhone 5 did .
It is by no means a bad camera . If your current television camera is an iPhone 4S or older you will notice a marked difference . The iPhone 5c ( or iPhone 5 ) camera propose debauched picture seizure , good humiliated - light performance and better haphazardness reduction compare to those late models . HDR capture are also faster when compared to elder iPhones .
The camera itself is indistinguishable to that in the iPhone 5 , as you’re able to see from this selection of guess taken with the two cameras .
The video quality is also monovular .
If picture taking is your thing you may choose the camera in the iPhone 5s , which is greatly improved with a new five - constituent Apple designed lens that features a big f/2.2 aperture . The sensing element in the iPhone 5s camera is also larger as are the pixel on this sensor .
See also : How to delete photos from your iPhone .
iPhone 5c review: Display
When the iPhone 5 launched the most obvious departure to the iPhone 4S was the sizing of the showing , and like the iPhone 5 , the iPhone 5c ( and iPhone 5s ) boast a 4 in Retina showing as contradict to the 3.5 in show of the older models . Being 176 pixels taller mean the display offers a 16:9 aspect proportion – which is the same as an HDTV .
Since its liberation , Apple unfreeze the iPhone 6 , 6s , 6s Plus that all have larger screens – making the iPhone screen bigger than ever before . These unexampled iPhones feature a better pixel concentration and resolve , provide you with a better ocular experience .
However , the 4 in show is designed so that you could hold the iPhone in your hand and reach all parts of the screen comfortably . You ca n’t do this with a bigger display unless you have bounteous hands , so if one - handed function is of import to you then the iPhone 5c ’s exhibit will be the perfect size of it for most .
The iPhone 5c ’s video display is pretty frosty , with a 326ppi display at a settlement of 1136×640 pixels . That ’s not as eminent resolution as some competing smartphones from rivals such as Samsung , LG and HTC , but you ’ll find it more than acceptable for browsing the WWW , reading and acting games . See also : The best iPad & iPhone game .
iPhone 5c review: Performance
The iPhone 5c ’s Geekbench scotch turned out to be more or less less than the iPhone 5 , according to our tests . The iPhone 5 was about 10 percent quicker than the new 5c in this test . The iPhone 5s Geekbench score is more than twice that of the iPhone 5c .
Geekbench 3 ( single - core score )
iPhone 5s 1393.0iPhone 5c 671.0iPhone 5 723.0iPhone 4S 217.0iPhone 4 213.0HTC One 591.0Samsung Galaxy S4 667.0
Geekbench 3 ( multi - core score )
iPhone 5s 2485.0iPhone 5c 1180.0iPhone 5 1302.0iPhone 4S 412.0iPhone 4210.0HTC One 1507.0Samsung Galaxy S4 1862.0
Sunspider 1.0.1
iPhone 5s 454.0iPhone 5c 715.6iPhone 5 707.6iPhone 4S 1573.1iPhone 4 2682.9HTC One 1117.4Samsung Galaxy S4 1210.5
The iPhone 5c was also slightly slower on the Sunspider test than the iPhone 5 . The Sunspider JavaScript tests showed the 5s wind up the run in 454 milliseconds versus the 715 milliseconds of the iPhone 5c and 707.6 for the iPhone 5 ( lower is better ) . However , the iPhone 5 was only 1 percent quicker than the iPhone 5c .
When put up against the newer iPhone 6 and 6s , the iPhone 5c is a much slower earphone . For lesson , the iPhone 6 scored 1569 in its single - core Geekbench 3 score , whilst the iPhone 5c scores 671 . The iPhone 6s score 2524 for the same benchmark , completely outclass the iPhone 5c .
If you ’re looking for a earpiece for intensive gaming or require a phone that is more able of handling multiple different apps simultaneously , then the iPhone 5c wo n’t cut it .
See also : iPhone 6 review| There are more benchmark atMacworld.com .
iPhone 5c review: Battery life
Apple says that the barrage fire in the iPhone 5c is larger than the one in the iPhone 5 . Apple take that it offers 10 hours of vane browsing on Wi - Fi and LTE networks , up to 8 hours on 3 G internet , and up to 10 minute of video playback and up to 40 hours of audio playback .
This is almost indistinguishable to Apple ’s claims regarding the iPhone 5 , with the elision that Apple now claims 10 minute over LTE where last year that claim was 8 60 minutes .
How did the battery stomach up to our tests ? The iPhone 5c lasted an impressive 10 hours , 19 minutes ( compared to the iPhone 5s at 11 hours ) . The Samsung Galaxy S4 handle 7 hours in the same tests , and the HTC One lasted 6 hour , 44 minutes . The Droid Razr Maxx , however , lasted 13 hours , 28 minute in our video recording - loop battery test .
Battery life-time coil telecasting
iPhone 5s 11:03iPhone 5c 10:19iPhone 5 9:37iPhone 4S 8:31HTC One 6:44Samsung Galaxy S4 7:01
See also:33 tips to help promote iPhone battery life
iPhone 5c review: Capacity
Along with the various colours , there are three rendering of the iPhone 5c useable offering 8 GB , 16 GB and 32 GB capability , though the 8 GB model is n’t available in all country . If you want a 64 GB iPhone you will have to turn to the iPhone 5s or other new mannequin .
iPhone 5c review: Software
The iPhone 5c , of course , runs Apple ’s iOS 7 . It ’ll shortly get the update to Io 8 when the unexampled rendering is released to the world afterwards this year , too . you’re able to determine out more about iOS 7 in ouriOS 7 review , and more about what to expect from iOS 8 in ouriOS 8 preview .
iPhone 5c review: Price
As we mentioned , all the insistency around the iPhone 5c peg down it as the ‘ low - cost ’ , ‘ budget ’ , or ‘ flash ’ iPhone . While the iPhone 5c is slightly cheaper , it was unloosen only slightly cheaper than the iPhone 5 .
At launch , the monetary value were : £ 429 for 8 GB ; £ 469 for 16 GB ; £ 549 for 32 GB . Since its launch in 2012 , the price of the iPhone 5c has knock off considerably , with the iPhone 5c now uncommitted between£108.99 and £ 119.99in16- and 32 GB memory capacities . However , with the iPhone 5c now discontinued , these prices reflect a vendor refurbished price , which is not the same as a brand newfangled phone .
If you ’re looking to get it on contract , you ’ll now find it concentrated to source . Previously , you were able to regain it from EE , Three , O2 , Vodafone , Virgin Mobile , Tesco Mobile , Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4 uranium in ourBest iPhone 5c deal article . Due to the phone being discontinued , it will be hard to find the phone available firebrand new , let alone on contract – so you ’ll need to buy it in a flash .
See also : How to stop running out of datum on your iPhone
iPhone 5c vs iPhone 5
As much as we like the plastic case of the iPhone 5c there is one fact that we ca n’t disregard . The charge plate example is fundamentally the only difference between the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c . The two headphone are almost superposable , share the same iSight camera , A6 mainframe , and Lightning connector . This has direct many to assume that the iPhone 5c is a repackaged iPhone 5 .
There are a few difference between the two models , though . The iPhone 5c shares its home WiFi and cellular hardware with the iPhone 5s rather than the iPhone 5 – probably because by share common constituent Apple can make unnecessary money . This , mate with the steal back render special aerial capability seems , in our tests , to result in a better signaling .
The iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s also share the new FaceTime camera that is capable of clear-cut FaceTime video calls , according to Apple . We tested this and indeed , the iPhone 5c meant we could be seen in more detail than when we tried with an iPhone 5 .
iPhone 5c on the left over , iPhone 5 on the right
The other major dispute is the fact that the iPhone 5c supports all the UK 4 gigabyte networks , whereas the iPhone 5 can not underpin the 4 G mesh of O2 and Vodafone .
Despite these internal differences – and the new figure – it would be difficult to contend that it is a wholly dissimilar phone . The big question is whether it really matters .
We do n’t think that it does matter if the iPhone 5 if hiding inside these new vibrant cases . The iPhone 5 is a smashing phone and we ’re certain that if the iPhone 5 was still on sale people would be queuing up to grease one’s palms it . What ’s dissimilar this twelvemonth is that you’re able to buy an iPhone 5 that does n’t look like it ’s a year old .
iPhone 5c vs iPhone 5s
Why pick out the iPhone 5s alternatively of the iPhone 5c ? Aside from the design and price tag , there are many differences between the two devices , because the iPhone 5s sports importantly upgraded ironware .
As mentioned previously in this review , the iPhone 5s has a much improved photographic camera . In addition , another reasonableness to opt for the iPhone 5s would be if you know that your usage is probable to benefit from the modern platform offered by the iPhone 5s . With an A7 bit and 64 - bit processing the iPhone 5s will , no doubt , be loved by gamers and will also give you a few more twelvemonth of utilization before it becomes disused .
On - the - other - handwriting the A6 chip is no tedious coach . When we tested it when it first appear in the iPhone 5 we said that it ran laps around all previous iPhones and iPhones . Its Geekbench score was more than twice as gamey as its closest competitors , the iPad 2 and the iPad 3 , so again , if you have an old machine , expect to see a obtrusive improvement .
If you need the power of an A7 micro chip , then the iPhone 5c might not be for you , but we consider there are mess of the great unwashed who do n’t take that much power on their smartphone right now .
