# 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**](/content/iPhone-5C-for-sale/index.html)