The colorful iPhone 5c is widely regarded as a flop, and the fact that Apple remains tight-lipped about sales of its polycarbonate-clad handset speaks volumes. But while many are tipping it for the axe later on this year by the time the iPhone 6 comes around, there may still be life left in the handset yet, with leaked documents from O2 Germany appearing to suggest that an 8GB model is in the offing; and at a cheaper price point.
In the months leading up to last September’s announcement of both the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, the phrase "low-cost" was used frequently to describe the device that turned out to be little more than a rebranded, re-housed iPhone 5. But while it hit the retail market at a lower cost than the new flagship, the pricing was still pretty terrible – too high for developed market shoppers to bother not getting the 5s, and also way too high to have much hope of capturing those all-important "emerging markets."
The execution of the iPhone 5c has been slated by analysts, and with many reports indicating that two new iPhones will hit the scene later on this year, the 5c looks a dead-beat. Yet the leaked documents from O2 Germany seem to imply that Apple wants to make one last push, opting for the familiar tactic of releasing an 8GB model for a cheaper retail price.
It’s worth pointing out that these 8GB editions don’t usually manifest themselves until after a new model has arrived, but with the iPhone 5c seemingly outgoing anyway, perhaps this is more of an experimental move from Apple, to put out its cheapest current-gen iPhone to date and see if the consumer market will bite.
For all of its critics, the iPhone 5c is certainly not a bad device, and in terms of how it feels to hold, is hands-down our favorite here at Redmond Pie. Sure, it doesn’t look as accomplished and high-end as the 5s, but there’s still a lingering feeling that it still has something to offer, and if the leaked documents from O2 Germany are anything to go by, this is a sentiment shared by Apple.
The 8GB variant will apparently retail at €60 less than its 16GB counterpart, and despite the fact that the device’s pricing structure doesn’t make a great deal of sense, €60 is still a very healthy saving.
One suspects that if this device is about to release, it will do so in other markets besides Germany, so we’ll keep you posted on any further information as and when we hear it!
(via: iSpazio [Google Translate])
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