iPhone 5s vs iPhone 5 vs iPhone 5c: High-End 5s Outsells 5c, But Old iPhone 5 Outperformed Both New Models
Consumers are more interested in Apple's iPhone 5s than the iPhone 5c. According to reports, the iPhone 5s is selling more than twice as much as the iPhone 5c.
"I don't subscribe to the common view that the higher end, if you will, of the smartphone market is at its peak," Tim Cook, Apple CEO, said during Apple's last earnings call. "I don't believe that."
Based on sales of Apple's fastest, most advanced phone, the iPhone 5s, Cook may have been right.
On Sept. 20, Apple released the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c. According to research performed by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), after its release, the iPhone 5s represented 64 percent of iPhone sales for the month of September. On the other hand, the iPhone 5c only represented 27 percent of iPhone sales.
Last week, it was reported that Apple actually plans on cutting production of the iPhone 5c in half. C Technology, a Chinese blog, claimed that Apple plans to half 5c production from 300,000 units per day to 150,000 units per day.
Changes on Apple's online store support C Technology's claims. Despite having the hype of a brand new iPhone, the iPhone 5c is available to ship next day. Meanwhile, the iPhone 5s is not available on the website until some undisclosed time in October.
Reasons for the production slowdown have not yet been revealed. Many, however, believe that the change is due to low demand for the iPhone 5c, especially compared to that of the iPhone 5s.
Last year, the iPhone 4s was in the same position as the iPhone 5c; it was Apple's second best phone after the flashy new iPhone 5 was released. The iPhone 4s, however, performed just slightly worse than the 5c, which had the advantage of being released the same day as Apple's best iPhone. The iPhone 4s represented 23 percent of iPhone sales the month after the iPhone 5 was released, just three percent lower than the colorful, lower-priced 5c.
Interestingly enough, the iPhone 5 outperformed the iPhone 5s when it was first released. In 2012, the iPhone 5 represented 68 percent of iPhone sales, outselling the 5s in that category by four percent.
It seems that Apple may have to bring more to the table than bright colors if it wants its iPhone releases to outsell its predecessors.