Space Gray iPhone 5s Most Popular Amid Supply Constraints, Blue Leads for iPhone 5c - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Space Gray iPhone 5s Most Popular Amid Supply Constraints, Blue Leads for iPhone 5c

According to new color preference data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), Apple's space gray iPhone 5s was the most popular choice for consumers in the United States, followed by the silver and gold models, which is unsurprising given significant supply constraints of the gold and silver iPhones.

43 percent of iPhone 5s units sold were space gray, while 30 percent were silver and 27 percent were gold. Supplies of the space gray model were more readily available than the silver and gold iPhones, but consumers have demonstrated a preference for the black iPhone in the past.

For the iPhone 5c, blue proved to be the most popular choice with 27 percent of purchasers choosing the color, followed closely by white at 25 percent, green at 21 percent, and pink at 20 percent. Apple's yellow iPhone 5c was the least popular color, purchased by only 7 percent of the 400 consumers surveyed in the month after the phones launched.

iphonecolorpreference
Broken down by gender, women had a preference for the silver iPhone 5s, while men preferred space gray. Gold was equally split between both genders. Men also had a preference for the white and blue models of the iPhone 5c, while the pink iPhone 5c fared much better with women.

iphonecolorpreferencegender

Said CIRP Partner and Co-Founder Mike Levin, "iPhone 5S and 5C colors seem to confirm some traditional gender biases. In the iPhone 5C, men prefer the neutral white, and the Space Gray in the iPhone 5S. In contrast, women prefer lighter silver 5S and the brighter iPhone 5C colors. Interestingly, no one, including the women in the survey, appears to want the Yellow iPhone 5C very much."

Because multiple models of the iPhone 5s have been difficult to obtain, CIRP's data gives an incomplete picture of iPhone 5s preferences. It is possible that consumers desiring a gold iPhone chose another color when supplies ran out or have yet to make a purchase. Data on the iPhone 5c is likely more accurate, as supplies of the phone have been plentiful since launch.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone Duo Display Cracking

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue

Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue. If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....
apple pro tell logo

Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday

Monday November 2, 2026 1:22 am PST by
Apple is releasing five new products this Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models. The following new products will be available from Friday: iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip iMac with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen 16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED...
Everything New Your iPhone Can Do on iOS 27

14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2

Friday October 30, 2026 12:42 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 27.2 on October 26, bringing enhancements to Siri AI, adding Suggestions in Messages, and sneaking in a string of smaller additions across Photos, Podcasts, Games, Apple TV, and FaceTime. iOS 27.2 is available to download to your device now via Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update. Note that some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPhone models....

Top Rated Comments

saving107 Avatar
170 months ago
According to new color preference data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), Apple's space gray iPhone 5s was the most popular choice for consumers in the United States, followed by the silver and gold models, which is unsurprising given significant supply constraints of the gold and silver iPhones.
So you're telling me that the only color option Apple gave on launch day was the most popular?



3rd person in line:

Person "I want the gold iPhone 5s"
Apple employee "We don't have it"
Person "Can I get the White model"
Apple "We don't have it"
Apple "Would you like the Space Gray Model?"
Person "Do I have a choice?"
Apple "Yes, you can not buy a phone today"
Person "Fine, I will take Space Gray"
Apple "Awesome, this is a very popular model, everybody wants it"
Score: 59 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sevimli Avatar
170 months ago
Space Gray is not the most popular one, it is most abundant. :cool:
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
170 months ago
I bough space grey because I wanted space grey. :)
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shrink Avatar
170 months ago
I strongly disagree with this article. I believe the only reason Space Grey is "popular" is because the gold model is in such awful availability that people would rather have a different color than waiting a month for gold. Also, prices on eBay prove this.
Yup...the article is wrong. You say it's because the gold was not available that grey sold more.

And the article said...

According to new color preference data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), Apple's space gray iPhone 5s was the most popular choice for consumers in the United States, followed by the silver and gold models, which is unsurprising given significant supply constraints of the gold and silver iPhones.
Oh...wait...
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Orlandoech Avatar
170 months ago
So you're telling me that the only color option Apple gave on launch day was the most popular?

Image (http://images.wikia.com/brutallegend/images/8/8c/You_Don't_Say.jpg)

3rd person in line:

Person "I want the gold iPhone 5s"
Apple employee "We don't have it"
Person "Can I get the White model"
Apple "We don't have it"
Apple "Would you like the Space Gray Model?"
Person "Do I have a choice?"
Apple "Yes, you can not buy a phone today"
Person "Fine, I will take Space Gray"
Apple "Awesome, this is a very popular model, everybody wants it"


made me lol.... literally.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sofila Avatar
170 months ago
I'm sure they did not get that the gold version was so limited and people had to buy the space grey. lol

gold version was so limited because Apple based its numbers reading MacRumors forums, where a lot of trendy and fancy members bashed gold as a creepy, vulgar and very non-elegant choice.:rolleyes:
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple CEO Ternus Says iPhone Duo Shortages Have No End Date in Sight
Apple CEO Ternus Says iPhone Duo Shortages Have No End Date in Sight
7 minutes ago
Apple Reports 4Q 2026 Results: $30.7B Profit on $114.5B Revenue
Apple Reports 4Q 2026 Results: $30.7B Profit on $114.5B Revenue
32 minutes ago
Early Black Friday Brings Steep Price Drops on Apple's Latest iPhone Cases
Early Black Friday Brings Steep Price Drops on Apple's Latest iPhone Cases
3 hours ago
John Ternus Hosting His First Earnings Call as Apple CEO Today
John Ternus Hosting His First Earnings Call as Apple CEO Today
5 hours ago
Here's What Spotify Looks Like on Apple's HomeView
Here's What Spotify Looks Like on Apple's HomeView
5 hours ago
iOS 27.2.1 Coming Soon, iOS 27.3 Beta Likely Available Tomorrow
iOS 27.2.1 Coming Soon, iOS 27.3 Beta Likely Available Tomorrow
6 hours ago
Mark Gurman: Apple Initially Aimed to Release iPhone Duo in November
Mark Gurman: Apple Initially Aimed to Release iPhone Duo in November
6 hours ago
Best Early Black Friday Deals on Apple Products Available Now
Best Early Black Friday Deals on Apple Products Available Now
7 hours ago
Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming
Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming
7 hours ago
Apple 'HomeView Ultra' With 9-Inch 360º Screen Detailed in New Report
Apple 'HomeView Ultra' With 9-Inch 360º Screen Detailed in New Report
7 hours ago
Apple TV 4K Pre-Order Discount Returns at Amazon
Apple TV 4K Pre-Order Discount Returns at Amazon
8 hours ago
Zoom and These Microsoft Apps Now Optimized for iPhone Duo
Zoom and These Microsoft Apps Now Optimized for iPhone Duo
8 hours ago
Canva Brings Free All-in-One Affinity App to iPad
Canva Brings Free All-in-One Affinity App to iPad
8 hours ago
iPhone Duo: Latest Buyer Wait Times
iPhone Duo: Latest Buyer Wait Times
10 hours ago
iPhone Duo Owners Can't Change Display Zoom After Setup
iPhone Duo Owners Can't Change Display Zoom After Setup
6 hours ago
Apple HomeView Could Double as a Security Camera
Apple HomeView Could Double as a Security Camera
12 hours ago
Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday
Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday
13 hours ago
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
1 day ago
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
1 day ago
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
1 day ago
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
1 day ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
2 days ago
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
2 days ago
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
2 days ago
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
2 days ago
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
2 days ago
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
3 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
3 days ago
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
3 days ago
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
3 days ago