Apple has launched a cheaper variant of the low-cost iPhone 5C worldwide, with reduced internal storage of 8GB.
Last week, according to reports coming out of Germany, it was speculated that Apple is readying a cheaper variant of the already low-cost, iPhone 5C with reduced internal storage. The speculations have well been put to rest today, as Apple has officially launched the iPhone 5C 8GB variant worldwide.
At the moment, the 8GB variant of the iPhone 5C has been rolled out in the U.K, Australia, China and other parts of Europe and will soon arrive in stores in India in the next couple of weeks. The 8GB variant has been priced at 429 pounds in the UK, which is 40 pounds cheaper than the 16GB variant of the iPhone 5C.
Apart from a reduced amount of storage, the latest variant of the iPhone 5C is identical in every way to the hardware that was launched back in September 2013. The smartphone sports a 4-inch retina IPS LCD display (640X1136p, 326ppi), a 8 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera. The device is powered by Apple’s A6 chip, that also powers the iPhone 5.
It was rumored that the 8GB model could replace the iPhone 4S, but for now Apple is still selling that phone alongside the low-price 5C. It’s not unprecedented for Apple to switch up storage options in the middle of an iOS product’s lifecycle, but the company usually adds more room for photos, music, and apps rather than take it away. The introduction of a cheaper iPhone 5C may serve as the best evidence yet that Apple’s mid-level smartphone is somewhere falling short of expectations.
In India, when iPhone 5C launched in November, it had an MRP of Rs 41,900 for the model with 16GB internal storage. Given its relatively high price, iPhone 5C has to compete with the likes of LG G2, Galaxy S4 and Xperia Z1, which have better hardware.
Apple’s executives have never expressed disappointment with the iPhone 5C, and calling the handset a dud is by no means fair. So far, it’s selling better than the 4S did, when it occupied the middle slot in the iPhone portfolio last year.
But every indication is that consumers are choosing the flagship iPhone 5S over the low-cost 5C. Hopefully, this trend will change with the introduction of the iPhone 5C 8GB variant.
