iPhone 5s vs. iPhone 5c: why price is not the only difference?

One of the few details which truly gripped our attention during Apple Special Event’s unveiling of the iPhone 5c was its price. iPhone 5c costs just peanuts less (at least to some Western standards) compared to its big fingerprint-reading brother iPhone 5s. On top, iPhone 5s is a tech-spec champion; so why the tiny price difference?

We can only speculate. With such a petite difference in face value, the incentive to choose one iPhone from the other becomes largely focused on each model’s technical specs and appearance rather than its price. Whether or not you are over the 100-dollar bill, read on and decide for yourself which iPhone is right for you: iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c.

Appearance: iPhone 5s vs. iPhone 5c

Both the iPhone 5s and 5c are similar in dimensions to iPhone 5. The 4-inch screen size and resolution are unchanged. When it comes to weight, iPhone 5s is almost an ounce lighter than 5c.

iPhone 5c is profoundly colorful and shines in 5 bright dyes: yellow, pink, green, blue and white. Phil Schiller pronounced the 5c as remarkable, vivid, colorful and familiar. Apple also describes iPhone 5c as a distillation of what people love about its predecessor.
Source: http://www.apple.com/iphone-5c/

iPhone 5c is the first iOS device since iPhone 3GS to feature plastic in its exterior encasement. The general look of the device reminds us of a 60s home appliance. The polycarbonate phone back is glossy and smooth-edged.

While the iPhone 5c nostalgically “distills” the past, iPhone 5s is probing the future. The 5s is analogous to iPhone 5 in form and appearance but the similarities end there. The phone comes in three metallic hues: gold, silver and space-grey. The home button in iPhone 5s is noticeably different from that of the iPhone 5c as it is made of hard sapphire glass and is emphasized by its surrounding shiny metallic ring.
Source: http://www.apple.com/iphone-5s/

Both iPhones come with optional colored cases: funky, perforated, and made out of silicon for the 5c and elegant, luxurious and made out of leather for the 5s. Mind you, we find the cases somewhat overpriced at $29 and $39 apiece respectively.

Tech Specs: iPhone 5s better, iPhone 5c reasonably improved

When it comes to features and specifications, we find the iPhone 5s the clear winner. The iPhone 5c, on the other hand features some respectable improvements over its predecessor. The larger battery powers the 5c for longer while the upgraded HD front-camera brings better FaceTime and Skype-call experience.

iPhone 5s appears superior and rather elitist when compared to the 5c. The dark metallic hue of the 5s grey variant reminds us of Kubrick’s extraterrestrial Monolith from “2001: A Space Odyssey”. We wouldn’t mind getting our hands as soon as we could on an iPhone 5s and testing its revamped camera or even its Touch-ID fingerprint sensor.

The back iSight camera in iPhone 5s remains 8 MP, however it showcases a wider f/2.2 aperture and a 15% larger sensor. iPhone 5s features a new auto-image stabilization which allows taking still photos in low-light conditions with less effort. This combined with the new True Tone flash (essentially two flash lights with different color) is deemed to produce awesome pictures. Check out some sample pictures taken with iPhone 5s camera at Cnet.

iPhone 5s processing power is provided by a 64-bit (a first on a phone of any type) A7 chip which provides up to twice the speed and responsiveness over the iPhone 5. iPhone 5c retains the A6 chip we know from its predecessor.

The below table provided by GigaOM summarizes the technical specification differences between the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c:
Source: http://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/iphone-5c-vs-iphone-5s.jpg?w=708&h=437

The iPhone 5s fingerprint sensor encased in sapphire glass is by far the most talked-about new feature. Apple pledge absolute security but many debate the potential danger to privacy. A fingerprint reader installed in the world’s most popular smartphone in combination with NSA’s revelations from this spring might prove a volatile combination. Take a look at the meme picture we posted on Facebook earlier today along with its vivid on-topic discussion.

Price: iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s

iPhone 5s comes in three capacities at 16-, 32-, and 64 GB while iPhone 5c features only 16 GB and 32 GB. Unlocked, the 16 GB variant of the 5c comes at a whopping $549 while at $649, the 16 GB iPhone 5s is a hundred dollars more expensive.

iPhone 5c is $100 cheaper than iPhone 5s in all its price variations. The cheapest new iPhone you can get is the $99 16 GB 5c on a two-year AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon contract. While if you can handle it, you can buy the brand new 64 GB unlocked iPhone 5s for $849.

iPhone 5c is available to pre-order today while to buy an iPhone 5s, you’d need to wait for the official launch date on September 20th.

Should I get an iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c?

Unless you are keen on funky forms and colorful plastics, there is little reason to choose the iPhone 5c over the iPhone 5s.

Need some color and gloss to brighten your day? Check out Apple’s official iPhone 5c video below
:

source http://www.copytrans.net/blog/iphone-5s-vs-iphone-5c-price-is-not-the-only-difference/