GADGET DESIGNER Apple's iPhone 5C and iPhone 5 handsets are admittedly not very different from one another. Both sport 4in Retina displays, Apple A6 processors and run the firm's iOS 7 mobile operating system, so you might ask why we're bothering to compare the two phones.
With Apple discontinuing the iPhone 5 following the launch of the iPhone 5C, we envision a sea of confused owners of Apple's last generation iPhone wondering whether it's worth upgrading to the repackaged iPhone 5C, which swaps out the high-end metal casing of the iPhone 5 for a colourful, plastic alternative.
We've been using both the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5 in tandem for the past two weeks, so to check out how the two handsets really stack up against each other, read on.
Design
While the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5 are very similar handsets in terms of technical specifications, they are worlds apart when it comes to design.
The iPhone 5, much like the iPhone 5S, features a chiselled aluminum casing paired with glass inlets, which makes the handset look and feel like a premium device. The iPhone 5 was available in only two colours, black and white.
The iPhone 5C, on the other hand, has a unibody polycarbonate casing, which has led some to brand the handset as "toy-like" and "cheap," with the phone available in green, blue, yellow, pink and white. However, as we pointed out in our iPhone 5C review, the iPhone 5C by no means feels like a mid-range handset, with its rugged plastic casing offering a more high-end feel than the Samsung's Galaxy S4's polycarbonate casing.
While we'd probably find ourselves reverting to the metal-clad iPhone 5 after a time due to its luxurious feel, we much prefer the iPhone 5C for ruggedness. Our iPhone 5, which is around nine months old, is covered top to bottom in scratches and chips, the silver aluminium material proving easily prone to picking up marks. However, after two weeks our iPhone 5C shows no signs of wear and tear.
The iPhone 5C is slightly chunkier than its predecessor, measuring 8.9mm thick compared to 7.6mm. In our iPhone 5C review, we pointed out that this was not a bad thing, as the added bulk offers a reassuringly solid feel when the phone is held in the hand.
Of course the design of the iPhone 5C is likely to divide opinions, but we've grown to like it over the past couple of weeks. Perhaps even more than that of the iPhone 5 due to its added ruggedness.
Winner: iPhone 5C
Display
There's not much to say when it comes to the displays, as both the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C sport identical 4in 1136x640 326ppi Retina displays. Apple's smartphone-sized Retina display is still a market leader in terms of quality and vibrancy, but when compared to the Sony Xperia Z1 and HTC One, it can seem a little small.
However, that can be said for both Apple smartphones, so there's no winner in this round.
Winner: Draw
Next: Performance and operating system.
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