The forgotten smartphone: Apple iPhone 5C

September 18, 2022 Luisa Rey

Apple released the iPhone 5C in 2013. A colorful device that was different from other iPhone models. We discuss the device in this edition of ‘The forgotten smartphone’.

Contents

1 iPhone 5C

iPhone 5C

This week we have equipped the iPhone 14 that is available in the Netherlands with the so-called Dynamic Island. In this edition of ‘The forgotten smartphone’ we discuss a previously released device; the iPhone 5C. This smartphone was released in 2013 by Apple. The addition ‘C’ stood for Color. That was one of the key features of the iPhone 5C.

The Apple iPhone 5C is a variant of the iPhone 5 with specifications that matched that device. Otherwise was the housing anyway. Because instead of the aluminum design of ‘the 5’, the 5C has a plastic housing. That also immediately explained why the price was lower than with the iPhone 5S. When the 5C was released, the iPhone 5 was immediately taken off the shelves. Usually, Apple actually lowered the price of a predecessor; but that was not the case with the 5C. A year after the announcement, when the Apple iPhone 6 and 6S were announced, the 16GB and 32GB versions of the iPhone 5C came to replace and you could only choose from the 8GB model. Another year later, in September 2015, the iPhone 5C was taken off the shelves.

iPhone 5c colors

iOS 7

Apple released the iPhone 5C in five different colors. The phone was available in the colors white, pink, blue, yellow and green. The device came on the market with iOS 7. The iOS version was characterized by improvements to the typography, new icons and various changes in the interface. In addition, Apple had added the option to set your phone as a hotspot. With iOS 7, AirDrop was also introduced with which you can directly transfer files between Apple devices and CarPlay was also rolled out with this. Facebook was also more deeply integrated into iOS.

iOS 7

iOS 7

Specifications

The colorful iPhone 5C came on the market with the Apple A6 dual-core processor. There was a 4.0 inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1136 x 640 pixels. The home button was placed below the screen. An 8 megapixel camera took care of the photos and there was a 1.2 megapixel front camera. The battery capacity was 1510 mAh and there was a 3.5 millimeter connection for a headset.

Reception

Overall, the iPhone 5C was well received. Such as the extensive possibilities of the new version of iOS 7 and its various useful additions. However, the plastic housing was more sensitive to scratches and felt cheaper than, for example, the iPhone 5. The price was also a bit on the high side, with a suggested retail price of 600 euros.