Is Apple preparing to deliver a refreshed iPhone 5c? A product image on its own online store shows what could be a new iPhone 6c sitting atop the new Lightning iPhone dock. The device carries the same plastic back we’re already familiar with, as well as a Touch ID sensor.
Recent rumors have claimed Apple will launch an updated 4-inch iPhone this year, alongside the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, providing a more affordable alternative to its pricey flagships. However, most of us were pretty skeptical of those claims.
Apple’s last attempt at an affordable smartphone didn’t sell anywhere near as well as expected — thanks mostly to its aging internals — and although the company continues to offer the 5c, it has gone without a refresh for 19 months.
But the image above suggests Apple hasn’t quite given up on cheaper iPhones. The device seen in its dock photo looks identical to the original iPhone 5c, and remains the same size, but clearly has a Touch ID sensor, which is a new addition.
It’s certainly plausible that whoever mocked up these images at Apple simply made a mistake, so this doesn’t confirm anything just yet. But either way, it’s a pretty surprising gaffe from a company that rarely makes surprising gaffes.
At the time of writing this piece, the images can still be seen on the Apple online store, though we expect them to disappear pretty quickly once Apple wakes up and sees the news.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
19 responses to “Oops! Apple Store gaffe may have spilled the iPhone 6c early”
This will sell well just like 5C has done and Apple investors will be happy. Not everyone needs the latest and fanciest devices.
From what I understand the 5c still sold incredibly well when compared to other smartphones, even so much as breaking into the top 10 most-sold phones on the market.
My guess is the margin on these phones is probably insane so it probably makes sense for Apple to keep the C-series alive. If nothing else it pads iPhone sales numbers which is always a good thing.
It’s probably nothing but the only thing I really worry about is if developers will continue to support 4″ screens but maybe the iOS SDK makes all of that moot point.
The 5C didn’t sell well initially in the US. I think the 6C will sell well because it’s at least a 64Bit processor where the 5C wasn’t. The 6C is also more affordable larger screen model. I think moving forward, it would make sense for Apple to have the lessor expensive polycarb for the 2nd and 3rd tier models and the top end flagship should be the more expensive case material. They just have to not have anymore Bendgate issues, despite it not being a big issue, it was a big enough media hype issue which Apple doesn’t need. I’m sure they’ll strengthen the case of the next model released at the end of the year. Also, didn’t the 5C also have a metal plate to make the case strong enough? I’m sure they’ll figure out how to not have any Bendgate issues.
I first bought the 6 and then later upgraded to a 6+ as the 6, over time, didn’t have a big enough screen. I got used to the 6+ and now, after a couple of months, love the screen size.
Not to have a dig but 5c was a big seller for the intended market and that market have no idea or desire for 64bit processor.
Might be iOS 9 on it… Who knows!
this means 2 options for me: 1- is a photohop mistake or 2-is an “iPhone 5S-C”
I think it’s a photoshop error. It’s almost like they forgot the layer, because everything now has Touch ID.
you can still see it at british apple store page
I hope that isn’t it, just buy the 5S, by this fall it will gain another significant price drop, and its still a great looking/running phone. my 5s still looks perfect, not sure if i will upgrade this year, because i really don’t need it.
That looks like a regular home button to me, just without the square in the middle. This is probably just a 5C with a little photoshop to make it sparkle. Nothing to see here…
That square is the only noticeable difference in a picture. Are you a complete idiot?
I just wish they used better color choices. The 5C colors are fugly, IMO. I think they should have black, white, and nice deep/rich colors instead of the pastel color choices.
Um… my iPhone 6 has 6 rows of app icons… the image above only has 5… I can’t remember what the iPhone 5 or 5c had, but I’m sure it was 5 rows like the one above. Wouldn’t the 6c have 6 rows of app icons too?
It’s now been updated to show a correct iPhone 5C model.
A 6c had better be 64-bit. The 5c being 32-bit when it was released was unfortunate, as developers were being strongly herded to 64-bit support even then, and not long after, required to have 64-bit support..or else. The lifecycle of a user’s newly purchased phone compared with the intent to move to 64-bit makes those brand new 32-bit phones bad news for everyone, because 32-bit support for 32-bit apps on 64-bit devices sucks resources on the device that don’t need to be sucked, which reduces battery life and performance. The A7 should have been the min-spec processor for mobiles the year after it was introduced, with no 32-bit processors being sold new in the lineup, to accelerate the transition to pure 64-bit apps, and therefore, better performance and battery life for everyone else. That Apple’s store page still lists the 32-bit 5c for sale at this late date is not just a disservice to the potential buyer, whose new phone faces an App Store whose developers were required to migrate to 64-bit already so new 32-bit optimized titles are extinct, but to the rest of the ecosystem, whose Apps are still Universal, loading the entire 32-bit framework set alongside the 64-bit framework set, sucking memory and battery and storage, for no good reason at all.
It doesn’t matter what it is. No iOS or iTV device released this year should have a 32-bit processor.
I personally think this is just a photoshop error, surely with the new devices they will have the Watch application on the home screen in the photos they show.
I would love a new 5c refreshed model, however at 4.7″.
i have looked at the pics and cant understand why everyone can’t see this will be the IPHONE 5S replacement it wont be a premium phone anymore you can tell just by the flash opening.
4″ screen with A8 SoC? Yes please #performance
cheaper to Apple means $50 less than the top model /s