Which Apple iPhone Was the Worst Ever?

May 1, 2020 Topic: Technology Blog Brand: The Buzz Tags: TechnologyIPhoneAppleIPhone 5C

Which Apple iPhone Was the Worst Ever?

This is not to say that the 5C was a terrible idea because, at that time, Apple wanted to include a wider, more diverse audience through more affordable products. But the unintended consequence was that Apple seemed to take a step backward in both innovation and aesthetics. 

More often than not, Apple has hit a home run with each new release from its iPhone lineup. As the biggest driver of its revenue, just check out Apple’s market cap to see what kind of success it has enjoyed over the years.

There have been, though, a few swings and misses. If you had to choose one, it’s really a no-brainer: it’s the iPhone 5C.

Let’s not forget that the iPhone 5 was pretty impressive when it came out in 2012. But just a year later, Apple mistakenly decided that a newer version should be released. This particular offering, the iPhone 5C, came nowhere close to the performance bar of the flagship model.

Moreover, this model conspicuously lacked Touch ID, expandable storage, and any semblance of performance speed. Asking it to operate new software updates was like making a 12-year-old do the dishes.

Apple is usually spot-on when it comes to aesthetics and design, but the company failed miserably with the 5C. This phone came encased in plastic, which gave it the appearance of a cheap-looking device.

Thus, when people held the 5C for the first time, the wow factor was nowhere to be found. And Apple quickly found out that boasting a diverse set of bright colors for the phone could only take it so far. Especially when looking at the iPhones today, they come in steel, aluminum or glass, so just thinking back to a plastic iPhone would give Apple fans the shivers.

The only positive aspect the 5C had going for it was the price point. The 16GB model could have been had for only $99 with a two-year wireless contract, and the 32GB phone cost $199. These were indeed budget-friendly at a time when many were still on the fence about joining Apple’s burgeoning ecosystem.

Also, with the max storage option at 32GB, the buyers of this phone were mired in a difficult position, to begin with. Unless you’re intending to stream most of your content, having such a small storage will likely mean spending more time managing the device than actually enjoying it.

This is not to say that the 5C was a terrible idea because, at that time, Apple wanted to include a wider, more diverse audience through more affordable products. But the unintended consequence was that Apple seemed to take a step backward in both innovation and aesthetics. 

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek and Arirang TV. He currently resides in Minneapolis.