Apple's 8GB iPhone 5c Surfaces In A Handful Of European Countries
Following an Apple Online Store refresh, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Belgium can now purchase Apple’s less expensive 8GB iPhone 5c handset.
As a reminder, Apple first introduced its 8GB smartphone in five countries back in March. Up until today, the handset had been available in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, and China, providing customers with a less costly means of purchasing an Apple-designed smartphone. Though we’d been surprised Apple’s 8GB iPhone 5c rollout hadn’t extended further, the Cupertino, Calif. company has indeed launched the smartphone in four new markets.
For iOS device users in the Netherlands, the 8GB iPhone 5c is retailing for €50 less than the price of Apple’s 16GB iPhone 5c handset (a saving of around $69); similar pricing has been reflected across the four territories.
Despite Apple’s efforts to bring a lower cost 8GB variant of its iPhone 5c to the market, recent analysis has argued that the move is “ultimately irrelevant,” and that the handset is “unlikely to drive more significant upside.” The opinion is that of Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who commented on the launch of the 8GB iPhone 5c in March.
The release of the handset comes as part of Apple’s wider effort to encourage iPhone 5c sales. Once billed as Cupertino’s “budget” iPhone, the surprising cost of the handset left customers overseas and in the United States disappointed.
This encouraged our own Bryan Wolfe to call the iPhone 5c “a mistake that won’t be repeated.” Though whether we’ll see a next-generation endeavor launch from Cupertino later this year of course remains to be seen.
We’ll keep you updated with further information as we receive it.
In the meantime, see: We’re Edging Closer To The Release Of OS X 10.9.3, Apple, Google And More Back Anti-Theft ‘Kill-Switch’ For Smartphones, and Mockups Of Apple’s iPhone 6 Make An Appearance At The Hong Kong Electronics Fair.
Via: 9to5mac