Following the initial launch weekend for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c last month, analytics firm Localytics reported that it was seeing about 3.5 times as many iPhone 5s units showing up as iPhone 5c units, highlighting a strong preference for the higher-priced models by early adopters. At the time, we noted that the gap was likely to narrow over time and a report last week from a separate research firm indicated that the margin had indeed fallen to two-to-one.

Localytics has now published a new report that provides a more complete look at the data over the past month, revealing how the iPhone 5c has been steadily gaining traction both in the U.S. and abroad, with the iPhone 5s-to-iPhone 5c ratio falling to 1.9 in the U.S. and 2.3 globally. Localytics' numbers are cumulative since launch, indicating that the current sales ratios are even closer.

localytics_iphone_5s_5c_ratio_oct
The iPhone 5s remains in very short supply, with carriers such as Verizon indicating that they could have sold even more units of the device had supplies been readily available. The iPhone 5c, in contrast, has seen good supplies throughout Apple's distribution channels, allowing the company to meet demand. As a result, the ratios at which the devices are being seen are not exactly reflective of true demand, but it seems clear that demand is evening out a bit following the initial surge from early adopters focused on the iPhone 5s. As more mainstream customers look to upgrade when their current contracts run out, demand for the two lines may end up being in significantly closer balance.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

512ke Avatar
148 months ago
Both the 5S and 5C are selling extremely well around the world.

People who have described the 5C as a flop are wrong.

Wildly. Wrong.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
prehnra Avatar
148 months ago
Turns out that early adopters buy high end, cutting edge products. Turns out that price sensitive, wait and see consumers wait and then buy the cheaper one.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Col Ronson Avatar
148 months ago
oh gee its not like anyone predicted this or anything.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Karma*Police Avatar
148 months ago
#1 - The gap is now narrowing probably because the phones are available to more and more people as time after launch continues.

#2 - I love how if it's an Apple product, things are spun as "The 5c is still in great supply" as opposed to reality where "The 5c is not selling like hotcakes like the 5s is." I'm a huge apple fan and just think it's funny.

I guess you missed all the Apple is doomed spin last week because the 5C production was apparently cut.

Also, the fact that the phones are available in more locations has no bearing on the sales gap closing. If you're implying that emerging markets are impacting it, notice how the gap is wider outside the US.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tthomas612 Avatar
148 months ago
No kidding. 5C is the long tail play not necessarily for early adopters. But lets not put this on the front page as the main story because rumored 5C production cuts get more clicks.

Once people realize this it'll be good. Bad things is they will now spin it a different way. Why? Because for some reason the Apple. "Fans" don't think a plastic phone can have quality. Well I'm sorry, but the 5c is a quality device. Just as the iPhone 5 is a quality device. I understand that some people prefer aluminum over plastic. So be it... There's just no sense in hating on a product. It's your opinion

My opinion is that I do NOT like the design of the 5/5s. I had a launch day 5 and returned it to stay on my 4s. The only reason I'm not on the 4s now was because of LTE. That said the sales gap between the 5 s and 5c will only get more narrow now. Early adopters have mostly gotten there...

Here's an instance. At my local Best Buy:

Customer: do you have the 5s in Gold ?
Employee: no, we have it in gray or silver.
Customer: I don't want those colors.
Employee: we do have most colors of the 5c.
Customer: isn't it plastic?
Employee: oh, I don't think you can consider this normal plastic.

Guess what happened ? They walked out with a white and pink 5c. Was it because it was pushed on them? Maybe, but it sold.

The 5s is in stock in my city everywhere just not Gold.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
148 months ago
No kidding. 5C is the long tail play not necessarily for early adopters. But lets not put this on the front page as the main story because rumored 5C production cuts get more clicks.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

What to Expect From the 'Apple Launch' Next Week

Thursday February 13, 2025 11:48 am PST by
Apple has yet to announce any new devices this year, but that could change starting next week. Apple CEO Tim Cook today said to "get ready" for a "launch" on Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," said Cook, in a social media post. The post includes an #AppleLaunch hashtag, along with a short video featuring an animated Apple logo inside of a circle....
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro With All-New Camera Bar Design Allegedly Revealed

Thursday February 13, 2025 5:49 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro will feature three rear cameras arranged in a familiar triangular layout, but the cameras will be housed in an all-new rectangular camera bar with rounded corners, according to YouTube channel Front Page Tech. iPhone 17 Pro camera design render created by Asher for Front Page Tech In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser said the camera ...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

'New' iPhone SE Product Listing Appears on French Website

Wednesday February 12, 2025 6:49 am PST by
As the wait continues for Apple's long-rumored, fourth-generation iPhone SE, French electronics retailer Boulanger has prematurely published a product listing for a "new" model of the iPhone SE. The placeholder page says the device is "coming soon," but it offers no further information, and the price shown is obviously not real. The listing was spotted by a reader of the French technology...
M4 Mac mini Apple Video

Apple's Refurbished Mac Mini Pricing Has a Problem

Thursday February 13, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple this week began selling refurbished Mac mini models with the M4 chip for the first time, but this has led to a pricing conundrum. In the United States, Apple is offering a refurbished Mac mini with the base M4 chip, 256GB of storage, 16GB of RAM, and Gigabit Ethernet for $509, down from $599 new. This is the standard 15% discount that Apple offers on refurbished Macs. The issue is...
iPhone 16 Apple Store

iPhone 17 in New Sizes This Year: What to Know

Thursday February 13, 2025 2:45 am PST by
Last year, Apple tweaked iPhone 16 Pro screen sizes to make them bigger than 2023's iPhone 15 Pro models, and this year we are also expecting a change in the size of the displays in the iPhone 17 lineup. Here's what we know. Standard iPhone 17 Apple could introduce a new display size for the standard iPhone 17 model in 2025. The iPhone 17 could measure in at 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches,...
iphone air concept weis

iPhone 17 Air Could Look Like This in Real Life

Friday February 14, 2025 3:41 am PST by
There have been several alleged leaked details of the iPhone 17 Air, Apple's rumored new slim iPhone, but images have been limited to grainy shots taken in component factories. However, this hyper-realistic concept created by WEIS Studio gives us the best idea yet of what Apple's thin device might actually look like. The concept design is inspired by recent leaks indicating that the device...