Column: As Apple faces the critics, 'magical' iPhone 5S is getting all the love
On Sept. 10, after months of rampant Internet speculation and leaks, Apple officially unveiled its next generation of iPhones, including the high-end, fingerprint-scanning 5S, and the colorful, lower-end (but still not cheap) 5C.
Although Apple only made pre-ordering available for the 5C, which means you'll have to line up if you want to get a 5S on its first day, both phones will launch on Friday.
As such, reviews have flooded the Internet.
Let's begin with the colorful 5C, available in white, pink, yellow, blue, and green.
First of all, as for the letter "C," it doesn't stand for cheap - with a two-year contract, the phone has a pricetag of $99 for the 16GB model and $199 for the 32GB; unlocked, it comes in at $549.
Many reviewers seemed uncertain as to what demographic the 5C is being marketed to. Noting that the 5C is "an iPhone 5 in a pretty new hat," Alex Kidman of the Australian Broadcasting Corp. wrote, "I'm honestly not sure outside of the heavy fashion crowd who, for one reason or another, might just want color and not actual features. When it was announced and outright pricing emerged, the only glimmer of hope was that telcos would take it on board in a heavily subsidized fashion, making it a better value pick."
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