The First iPhone 5c Reviews Are Now Live

The first reviews of the new iPhone 5c have been published online. Here’s an overview from various publications.

TechCrunch:

The 5c is probably more broadly appealing than the iPhone 5s just by virtue of its lower cost of entry, but it’s still premium hardware and is likely better thought of as an analogue to the iPhone 4S relative to the iPhone 5 back when that device launched. But the 5c also has a focus on color, personality and a sort of ‘lightness’ of design. The phone feels ‘young’ overall, and it’s likely that’s the kind of consumer that’s going to enjoy this device; the youth market and those just getting their first smartphone or moving up from their first budget Android device to the big leagues.

Engadget:

Given the choice, there are only a few things we’d tweak. We’re happy with the iPhone 5c in terms of performance and battery life, but we’re longing for a better camera and a larger screen. The iPhone 5s addresses the former, but typing on any iPhone feels awfully cramped when you’re used to displays that measure 4.3 inches (and bigger, even). Maybe next time? If you’re using an iPhone 4s or anything older, you can’t go wrong upgrading to either the 5c or the iPhone 5s. We think most buyers will pick the iPhone 5c for the price and color choices alone, while the iPhone 5s will appeal to power users and gamers. iPhone 5 owners are probably better off sticking with iOS 7 or picking up an iPhone 5s instead of getting an iPhone 5c. And, if all else fails, there are always next year’s iPhones.

CNET:

In the end, I steered my mom to the iPhone 5S. You should too, unless you really, truly need to save a hundred dollars. In that case — or in the event you really love brightly colored plastic — get the iPhone 5C. Apple may not have set the global smartphone world on fire, but the 5C is another small step toward a more affordable iPhone. And if I were to pick an iPhone that wasn’t cutting-edge but still had everything most people needed to do everything they wanted, the iPhone 5C is it.

AllThingsD:

While the 5c looks and feels very familiar, it’s still a good phone and an improvement over the 5. But its improvements are evolutionary, not revolutionary.

 

[signoff]