iPhone 5c vs iPhone 5. Is it really an upgrade?

At first glance it might seem like Apple hasn’t worked that hard on the iPhone 5C, which is superficially identical to last year’s iPhone 5. It’s got the same screen (check out our screen size predictions for the iPhone 6) and the same processor, all wrapped up in the colourful selection of plastic chassis that Apple has been working on behind closed doors. But aside from the similarities, is the iPhone 5C better than the iPhone 5? Or should you bite the bullet and upgrade to this model rather than sticking with Apple’s older handset. Lets go head to head with the iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5.

4G Fandango

The biggest gripe that most users have with last year’s iPhone 5 is that it’s only compatible with one UK network provider’s 4G coverage. If you’re an EE customer then you can get 4G on an iPhone 5, as long as you’ve picked a suitable package. For everyone else, even O2 and Vodafone’s recently launched 4G coverage will not work with the iPhone 5. It’s all to do with the different bits of the spectrum that these companies use and if you peel away the technical mumbo jumbo you’re left with the annoying fact that an iPhone 5 is not quite the 4G machine you’d expect.

**Apple has amended this issue with the iPhone 5C thanks to the inclusion of a new mobile antenna. **Underneath the skin it’s got the ability to connect to any network provider’s 4G coverage, which means if you get a 4G contract on the Apple iPhone 5C you’ll be unrestricted in your choice of operator. Of course 4G coverage is still pretty limited so you’ll want to check up to see whether it’s in your area before you commit. For those who are dreaming of faster connectivity, ditching the iPhone 5 to upgrade to Apple iPhone 5C is going to be a must.

Battery Bother

Remember the days when you could charge a mobile phone up on a Monday and it would still be alive and kicking at the end of the week? We all use our smartphones now so much that battery life has been dragged downwards and daily recharges are almost impossible to avoid. Last year the iPhone 5 brought a 1440mAh battery to the table, which was bigger than the cells that came before it in this range but pretty small when compared with the cells found on rival high end smartphones. The iPhone 5C may use the same processor and display, but it now has a bigger 1507mAh battery under the skin. This should give it enough juice to last a little bit longer than its predecessor, although quite how that’ll translate into real world operation is a different matter.

Say Cheese!

While the 8 megapixel iSight primary camera on the iPhone 5C is the same as that on the iPhone 5, Apple’s new device does get the benefit of an upgraded front-facing secondary snapper, which is what you’ll use when making FaceTime calls, shooting high-def video and capturing lower resolution still images. The front-facing camera has bigger pixels which let in more light and make dim settings look a little brighter than in the past. It’s still not going to be as good for practical purposes as the rear camera, unless you’re very keen on video calling, but it’s a nice upgrade nevertheless. when it comes to iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5 in the camera stakes its the 5C that comes out on top.

Upgrading Expectations

Since Apple isn’t going to stop selling the iPhone 5 following the launch of the iPhone 5C, these two handsets are genuine competitors that’ll need to address the same market space. So you’ll have to decide for yourself whether the hardware tweaks featured on the new model make it more desirable. When it comes to design of the iphone 5c vs iPhone 5, the 5 still has its stylish, metallic design in its favour for those who don’t favour the colourful plastic look of the iPhone 5C, but other than that the fresher model holds all the cards.

So there you have it. The iPhone 5C Vs the iPhone 5. If you fancy an upgrade you can check out our competitive offers for the Apple iPhone 5C.