Neil Hughes
Apple's new high-end iPhone 5s proved to be the most popular choice for early adopters this weekend, outselling the mid-range iPhone 5c by more than threefold, a new report claims.
Data published Monday by Localytics found that the iPhone 5s was 3.4 times more popular than the iPhone 5c after the first three days of availability. The firm's data is based on data from over 20 million unique iPhones tracked through applications and customers.
Together, the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c represented 1.36 percent of all iPhones activated in the U.S. through carriers AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. The iPhone 5s represents 1.05 percent of all U.S. iPhones, while the iPhone 5c accounts for 0.31 percent.
"That means the iPhone 5s outshines the 5c by a factor of 3.4x, a clear indicator that early adopters are favoring the high-end 5s compared to the 5c," wrote Bernd Lerger, vice president of marketing at Localytics. "This makes sense since those who feel the need to buy a new device the very weekend it launches are most likely the power users who want the highest-end phone experience."
The iPhone 5s is Apple's new flagship phone, featuring the A7 processor, Touch ID fingerprint scanner, M7 motion coprocessor, and improved iSight camera. The iPhone 5c, meanwhile, features largely the same parts and performance last last year's iPhone 5, but features a new polycarbonate plastic back that comes in a range of five new colors.
Breaking down adoption of the latest iPhones by carriers, Localytics unsurprisingly found that AT&T was the most popular choice for users. For years AT&T was the exclusive carrier of the iPhone, and the wireless provider has remained the default choice for most iPhone users in the U.S.
Internationally, the data also shows the iPhone 5s outpacing the iPhone 5c, by an even greater factor of 3.7 times. In Japan, the iPhone 5s is more popular than the iPhone 5c by a factor of five.
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56 Comments
Why is this even news? Of course 5S is going to be more popular on launch weekend. 5C isn't the kind of phone that people have to have NOW. But I'm sure over time it will sell very well and will probably be Christmas gifts for lots of people.
Fortune goes with, "An early sign that Apple may have erred when it set the price of the iPhone 5C so high." Really? Wall Street wanted a cheap, junk smartphone from Apple and Apple chose not to produce junk. Now when the higher priced iPhone 5s outsells the less expensive iPhone 5c, Apple erred. Hmmm... Maybe Apple wanted to sell more iPhone 5s smartphones to show Wall Street that Apple knows its business better than analyst.
The 5s just has so much more, and the price difference in negligible compared to the total cost of ownership (initial fee plus 24xMonthly rate). Having said that, the plastic case is actually a big feature IMHO. I was blown away by the quality of this (as nice as, but different from, the metal version), and if it wasn't for the rather feminine colors, I could be tempted. The 5c just has a really nice feel. A 5s in a black 5c case would sell well, I think. I guess that'll come next year :-)
Fortune goes with, "An early sign that Apple may have erred when it set the price of the iPhone 5C so high."
Really?
Wall Street wanted a cheap, junk smartphone from Apple and Apple chose not to produce junk. Now when the higher priced iPhone 5s outsells the less expensive iPhone 5c, Apple erred.
Hmmm...
Maybe Apple wanted to sell more iPhone 5s smartphones to show Wall Street that Apple knows its business better than analyst.
Yes, but what's the point of designing, manufacturing, and selling a second less expensive model when it's barely less expensive than the flagship phone? Who's going to buy the 5C? The thing still costs $550 off-contract.
Apple should have designed a phone that is equivalent to the 3S or 4 in specs and features. With today's technology I would think that is doable at a very low cost and be able to sell the phone at $400 off-contract and free on-contract. And I wouldn't consider a 3S or 4 junk.
If anything close these proportions are true, Apple will have to cut 5C prices to start at $449 unlocked. Some of us predicted it on keynote date.