iPhone 5 vs iPhone 5C

iPhone 5

Release date: September, 2012
Discontinued: September 2013
Compatibility in Canada: If Unlocked…

  • Rogers and its subcarriers
  • Telus and its subcarriers
  • Bell and its subcarriers
  • Limited: Freedom Mobile (certain models)

Current iOS Updates: No longer supported
Last iOS Version Supported: iOS 10.3.2 (May, 2017)
Colours: White, Black
Storage: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB

iPhone 5C

Release date: September, 2013
Discontinued: September, 2015
Compatibility in Canada: If Unlocked…

  • Rogers and its subcarriers
  • Telus and its subcarriers
  • Bell and its subcarriers
  • Freedom Mobile

Current iOS Updates: No longer supported
Last iOS Version Supported: iOS 10.3.2 (May, 2017)
Colours: White, Pink, Yellow, Blue, Green
Storage: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB

Performance and Power

The iPhone 5 is powered by an Apple A6 System on Chip, a 32-bit processor, and has 1GB of RAM. After its release in 2013, the iPhone 5 was assessed to have 2.5 times better performance than its predecessor, the iPhone 4S.

The iPhone 5C is also powered by an Apple A6 System on Chip, a 32-bit processor, and has 1GB of RAM. However, today in 2017, a 64-bit processor is considered standard, which neither the iPhone 5 nor 5C is equipped with.

Camera

Both phones feature an 8mp back camera and 1.2mp front camera, facial recognition, and optical image stabilization.

Battery

The iPhone 5 is powered by a 1440mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery. This provides 225 hours of standby time and 8 hours of active talk time.

The iPhone 5C uses a 1510mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, providing 250 hours of standby time and 10 hours of active talk time.

Appearance

The design of the iPhone 5 has influenced later models like the iPhone 5S and SE, with an aluminium-composite frame that is about 4.8 inches tall, 2.3 inches wide, and only 0.3 inches thick.

The iPhone 5C features a coloured polycarbonate housing, which increases its overall thickness compared to the iPhone 5 and adds about 20 grams of weight.

Ports and Connections

Both phones have a bottom-mounted headphone jack, separate Lightning connector charging port, and take a Nano-sized SIM card. The iPhone 5 has various sub-models supporting different frequency bands, with limited compatibility on the Freedom Mobile network. The iPhone 5C supports a wider range of frequency bands.

The Big-Impact Difference Between iPhone 5 and 5C

Carrier Compatibility

For users who travel or switch carriers, the iPhone 5C offers more options with better LTE coverage. The iPhone 5 may limit compatibility.

Appearance

Users should consider which design they prefer— the iPhone 5's sleek aluminum vs. the colorful plastic of the iPhone 5C.

Differences You Probably Won’t Notice

Battery Life

The iPhone 5C has a slightly upgraded battery. Nonetheless, real-world battery performance is influenced by numerous factors, making this difference negligible.

Camera Quality

The front camera of the iPhone 5C has slight improvements over the iPhone 5 but is not significantly different.

Age

Both models will not support future iOS updates due to their 32-bit architecture.

iPhone 5 vs iPhone 5C: Our Verdict On Which is Better

Overall Winner: iPhone 5C

While both phones are similar in many aspects, the iPhone 5C is regarded as the better choice with superior network compatibility and usage.

Like the iPhone 5, the iPhone 5C is no longer available from Apple, but you can get a high-quality used device right here.
iPhone 5C for sale