There’s a new iPhone in town, and it’s easier on the eyes and the wallet.
Apple announced the release of the iPhone 5c and 5s on Tuesday. The iPhone 5c costs $99 — with a two-year contract — for the smallest storage space and comes in five different colors. The phone has a polycarbonate plastic casing.
Ross Newman, CEO of iHospital, said the iPhone 5c is the entry-level model into the iPhone family and gives everybody the opportunity to be an iPhone owner.
The phone will be available in blue, green, pink, yellow and white. The 16 GB iPhone 5c costs $99 and the 32 GB costs $199.
Newman said the iPhone 5c is targeted to a younger audience and thinks high-school-age people will seek out the color option.
Newman described the features on the iPhone 5s as game-changing. He said the 5s will have a better camera and flash technology, as well as faster processing and Touch ID.
Touch ID reads any fingerprint programmed into the phone and will serve as a security feature, he said. The user just clicks the home button, and it unlocks the phone by reading the user’s fingerprint.
The iPhone 5c will go on presale Friday. However, Apple has yet to announce a preorder for the iPhone 5s. Both iPhones will go on sale Sept. 20.
Kelly Johnson, an 18-year-old UF telecommunication freshman, has the iPhone 4 and is due for an upgrade in November. Even though the iPhone 5c is less expensive, she said she will most likely get the 5s because of the software.
After seeing the new phone, Brandon Herndon said he didn’t think there was a big difference between the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 5c.
“Nothing really struck me as something that I would want so badly that I have to have it,” said the 19-year-old biology sophomore.
But the lower price and different colors are features that could promote sales among students, he said.
“Everyone wants an iPhone,” he said. “It’s part of the culture these days, so with it being less, then people are probably going to be buying them, especially college students.”
A version of this story ran on page 4 on 9/12/2013 under the headline "UF students amibvalent about just-announced iPhone models" [sic - ambivalent]
