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iPhone 5c Review

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The release of iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in September last year marked a departure from Apple's usual strategy of releasing one new iPhone every a year. The launch of the new iPhone would be accompanied by the outgoing iPhone getting a price cut, and the one before that becoming free on a contract in certain markets. This approach served Apple well because the iPhone doesn't age as quickly as its Android counterparts, and even a generation-old iPhone competes favourably with most mid-range Android phones on performance, if not on price.
This strategy was not without its flaws as many people felt uncomfortable buying 'a one year old phone'. While most non-flagship phones from other manufacturers run on hardware that's anywhere between one and several years old, it seems that as long as the outer package is refreshed and given a new name, you can avoid the criticism that comes with trying to sell an 'old' phone.
By releasing the iPhone 5c, which sports a brand new look, but has near identical specs as the now discontinued iPhone 5, Apple seems to have take a leaf out of the book of its competitors. So is the iPhone 5c just old wine in a new bottle, or is it another winner from Apple - let's find out.
(Also see: iPhone 5c vs. iPhone 5).
 The iPhone 5c is of course "unapologetically plastic", as Jony Ive called it in the introductory video showcased at Apple's developers conference. While this move surprised a few, it is worth remembering that iPhone 5c is not the first iPhone to come with a plastic body. The original iPhone-761) came with a body that used both plastic and glass, as did the iPhone 3G, and of course the iPhone 3GS. The metallic chassis seen in recent iPhone models didn't make an appearance until the iPhone 4.
We have to admit that having been spoilt by the great in-hand feel of successive iPhone models since the iPhone 4, we were initially sceptical about the plastic iPhone 5c. However, that changed when we held the new iPhone in our hand for the first time. iPhone 5c's plastic body comes with a steel reinforced frame inside that gives it a rigidity not usually associated with plastic bodies. The plastic itself is as good as what we've seen used on a phone, and in terms of overall fit and finish, the iPhone 5c compares favourably with flagship Lumia devices from Nokia.
One key difference between the iPhone 5c and Lumia devices of course is that while Apple has gone with a glossy finish for all its colours - Green, Blue, Yellow, Pink, and White - Lumia devices are available in both glossy and matte finishes. Apple is clearly trying to appeal to a younger crowd by going with a glossy finish on the iPhone 5c and though the result is better than the glossy-finished Lumia devices, we'd pick the matte-finished Lumia devices over either, but that's a personal choice.


The iPhone 5c (124.40 x 59.20 x 8.97 mm, 132 grams) is slightly bigger and noticeably heavier than the iPhone 5 (123.80 x 58.60 x 7.60 mm, 112 grams). While we don't like the idea of moving to a heavier phone, some people found the overall feel of the iPhone 5c better than the iPhone 5. It's safe to say, as solid as the iPhone 5c feels, we prefer the metallic chassis and the lightness of the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 5s.
Display
The iPhone 5c sports the same 4.0-inch 640x1136 seen in the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 5s. Yes, that display feels small in a world full of Android flagships around the 5.0-inch mark, and other even bigger devices that push the definition of the words phone and, indeed the bastardisation that is phablet. While the likes of Nokia and BlackBerry have realised the importance of having large screen offerings in the form of the Lumia 1520 and the BlackBerry Z30 respectively, Apple, rather obstinately some believe, continues to hold out. It is expected Apple will change that by finally releasing a bigger iPhone in 2014, though of course there's nothing even remotely official about that statement. Until then, if you want the iOS experience, you can choose between the 3.5-inch screen of the iPhone 4S or the 4.0-inch display that iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s offer.

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