Apple is rumored to launch the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C in China on November 28th for 5,599 yuan ($914.69) and 3,399 yuan ($555.23) respectively, according to a report from Chinese news outlet First Financial Daily [Google Translate] (via CNET). The report cites telecommunications analyst Yang Tao, and states that the phone would be released later in China than the rumored global launch because of the verification process by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology that all new devices must go through.

iphone5s_line
The report also states that the phone will support China’s TD-SCDMA standard, which will theoretically make the phone compatible with the network of China Mobile, which is currently the world’s largest carrier and has so far not offered the iPhone. Last week, a report stated that recent talks between China Mobile and Apple have been "progressing smoothly" and that the two sides are optimistic about reaching an agreement for the carrier to offer the phone.

Earlier this week, prominent Japanese business newspaper Nikkei claimed that both the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C would launch in Japan on September 20, which is also widely speculated to be the date for the first wave of launches for Apple’s new iPhone models based on past history. Apple appears set to unveil its next-generation iPhones on September 10.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

Klae17 Avatar
160 months ago
no, but those who will buy this, it's like "stealing" money from them, $555 for a "cheap" iphone, really?

But it isn't even "like" stealing. They are getting a perceived value out of a product and in exchange are handing, willfully, monetary compensation for said product. It's a marketplace. It's not a cheap iPhone. It's a less expensive one.

----------

$555 is a lot of money for a "Cheap" phone, it's a rip off price. You don't have to take words literally it's the internet.

Again, not a cheap iPhone. It's less expensive. Just like BMWs have higher models and lower models. The range is $140k to $30k. Cheap for some and expensive for others.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
absurdamerica Avatar
160 months ago
iPhone 5C for 555$? Doesn't seem to be cheap to me...:rolleyes: Apple needs to go much lower, something about 400$.

The 5C is priced well under the price of the Galaxy S4 in China with the 5S priced above it.

Should sell well.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Solomani Avatar
160 months ago
But it isn't even "like" stealing. They are getting a perceived value out of a product and in exchange are handing, willfully, monetary compensation for said product. It's a marketplace. It's not a cheap iPhone. It's a less expensive one.
Bingo.

Apple will never.... NEVER market or advertise any of its products as cheap. They may tout it as the "less expensive model" but they will never market it as cheap. That is totally going against their brand image.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mad Mac Maniac Avatar
160 months ago
iPhone 5C for 555$? Doesn't seem to be cheap to me...:rolleyes: Apple needs to go much lower, something about 400$.

Well.. you also need to look at the high price of the 5S in china ($915). If you normalize the prices (keeping the same 5C to 5S price ratio) to the $650 expected US price the 5C would be about $395.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
CarPlay Pinned Messages

iOS 26.2 Adds New CarPlay Setting

Thursday November 13, 2025 6:48 am PST by
iOS 26 extended pinned conversations in the Messages app to CarPlay, for quick access to your most frequent chats. However, some drivers may prefer the classic view with a list of individual conversations only, and Apple now lets users choose. Apple released the second beta of iOS 26.2 this week, and it introduces a new CarPlay setting for turning off pinned conversations in the Messages...
Tesla Charging

Tesla Working to Add Apple CarPlay Support to Vehicles

Thursday November 13, 2025 8:31 am PST by
Tesla is working to add support for Apple CarPlay in its vehicles, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Tesla vehicles rely on its own infotainment software system, which integrates vehicle functions, navigation, music, web browsing, and more. The automaker has been an outlier in foregoing support for Apple CarPlay, which has otherwise become an industry standard feature, allowing users to...
tvOS 26 Profiles

tvOS 26.2 Adds a Useful New Feature to Your Apple TV

Friday November 14, 2025 10:02 am PST by
Starting with the upcoming tvOS 26.2 update, currently in beta, additional profiles created on the Apple TV no longer require their own Apple Account. In the Settings app on the Apple TV, under Profiles and Accounts, anyone can create a new profile by simply entering a name and indicating whether the profile is for a kid. The profile will be associated with the primary user's Apple Account,...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket Now Available to Order, But Already Selling Out

Friday November 14, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. iPhone Pocket is available to order on Apple's online store starting today, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, it is already completely sold out in the United...
homepod mini thumb feature

New HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and AirTag Were Expected This Year — Where Are They?

Wednesday November 12, 2025 11:42 am PST by
While it was rumored that Apple planned to release new versions of the HomePod mini, Apple TV, and AirTag this year, it is no longer clear if that will still happen. Back in January, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple planned to release new HomePod mini and Apple TV models "toward the end of the year," while he at one point expected a new AirTag to launch "around the middle of 2025." Yet,...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Available Next Month With These 8 New Features

Tuesday November 11, 2025 9:48 am PST by
Apple released the first iOS 26.2 beta last week. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date....
m1 chip slide

Five Years of Apple Silicon: M1 to M5 Performance Comparison

Monday November 10, 2025 1:08 pm PST by
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Apple silicon chip that replaced Intel chips in Apple's Mac lineup. The first Apple silicon chip, the M1, was unveiled on November 10, 2020. The M1 debuted in the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The M1 chip was impressive when it launched, featuring the "world's fastest CPU core" and industry-leading performance per watt, and it's only ...
Tim Cook WWDC 2018

Report: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO 'as Soon as Next Year'

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:40 pm PST by
Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO of the company "as soon as next year," according to the Financial Times. The company's board of directors and senior executives "recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins," the report said. While the report said that Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, it went on to ...
walmart new ornametns

Walmart Black Friday Deals Begin Today With Low Prices on Headphones, TVs, and More

Friday November 14, 2025 7:55 am PST by
Walmart's Black Friday sale has officially kicked off today, with an online shopping event that's also seeing some matching deals in retail locations. There are quite a few major discounts in this sale, including savings on headphones, TVs, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Walmart. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us...