Apple had recently announced that it will be launching its new iPhones, the iPhone 5s and the 5c,
in India on November 1. While the base model of the
5c will set you back Rs 42,000, the 5s will cost Rs 54,000. The new products have definitely generated quite a lot of buzz, but opinions are spilt on which iPhone the Indian user will be picking up. While the 5c is being positioned as the “budget” iPhone, the price tag that it will be sporting in India might not be make it a suitable choice for the budget-conscious among us. The 5s, on the other hand, comes with some brand new features that definitely increases the user appeal.
Internationally, it has been seen that the sales for the higher-end 5s have
been considerably higher than the 5c. It was even reported that the company was forced to push the shipping dates for the higher-end handset to the next month just hours after the official roll out began. The 5c, on the other hand, comes with much of the hardware already seen in the now-discontinued iPhone 5. With the India launch just weeks away, we decided to take a look at which model we think will be popular and which one will be pushed to the sidelines:
Which one will rise to the top ? The iPhone 5s or the 5c
Shunal Doke:
Since the official unveiling of the iPhone 5c, the general consensus has been that Apple has shot itself in the foot with its pricing. The company decided to use the iPhone 5's hardware in the 5c, and then it shut down production of the 5 entirely. Now we have the pricing for India, and the 5c doesn't seem all that attractive. The 16GB model of the iPhone 5 was in stores for Rs 45,500, while the iPhone 5c is priced at Rs 42,000. Most people will probably opt for the iPhone 5s, which is priced at what some would consider an exorbitant amount—Rs 54,000—which makes it the most expensive smartphone in the market right now.
The richest among us will undoubtedly want to go for the iPhone 5s, assuming they can afford it. The iPhone 5c, while a good smartphone, still feels like it is too expensive for what is essentially last year’s technology. The 5s, however, has all of the new goodies that will make many consider the upgrade over the 5c, namely the Touch ID fingerprint scanner and the 64-bit chip under the hood. Were the 5c to occupy the 4s’s original price tag of around Rs 38,000, I could have seen the smartphone become quite successful. However, with the current pricing, if one is willing to go as high as Rs 42,000, they will certainly opt for the top-of-the-line 5s. In fact, assuming the iPhone 5 gets a price drop to clear out old stock, more people will probably by the iPhone 5 than the 5c.
Anujeet Majumdar:
It all boils down to the features that the new devices will come with for me, and that means the 5s. Keeping the comparatively low pricing of the 5c in mind, it could be assumed that the “budget” iPhone will definitely score big in the Indian market. That being said, the Rs 42,000 is still a hefty price to pay, and definitely a disappointment for users who were looking for a cheaper iDevice.
While there is definitely a difference in the prices, it should be remembered that we are still being asked to pay more than Rs 40,000 for either one of the new handsets. Thus, I would definitely think about shelling out more to get all the latest specifications that Apple has provided. The different target groups in the country might look at the new products differently, though. The bright avatars of the 5c should definitely appeal to the younger lot, while the corporate look that the 5s brings to the table will definitely be appreciated by the business-minded among the populace.
The 5c, though, comes with slightly dated technology, while the 5s comes with not just one but a multitude of new features to look forward to. While the Rs 54,000 price tag seems exorbitant in my books, if I have the funds to splurge, I will definitely go for the 5s.
