Can The Apple iPhone 5C Galvanize Apple’s Sales In India?

The iPhone 5C is due to launch on September 10, along with the iPhone 5S. This is Apple’s first attempt in the low-budget phone market. The device has more potential to be a success in countries where budget-friendly devices are in higher demand. That being said, will the device be a top seller in India?

Low-budget phones are certainly in demand in India, as evidenced from the magnitude of sales gotten by brands like Micromax and Karbonn. This has led to even international manufacturers launching devices aimed at the budget crowd. However, it is unlikely that Apple will launch a device for as less as Rs. 15,000, as recent estimates suggest that the Apple iPhone 5C price in India would realistically be around Rs. 30,000.  Considering the features the device is set to come with and the brand recognition that is associated with Apple, that is not a bar bargain in the least.

Before determining whether the iPhone 5C will actually be a success, it’s necessary to know the device’s specifications. So let’s delve in to what the device will come with.

The Apple iPhone 5C Hardware

The iPhone 5C will be the first Apple device that is constructed out of plastic. Before you cringe at the thought, it is worth mentioning that this device will likely have a far better build quality than what most manufacturers can achieve. Also, the device will likely come in 5 colors: white, green, blue, yellow, and pink. Some users will love these flashy colors, and others will wonder why bright colors are necessary.

The exact specifications for the 5C haven’t been released yet, but it’s stipulated that the device will have similar hardware to the iPhone 5. This includes a 4-inch screen, a dual-core processor, clocked at 1.3GHz, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and 1GB of RAM. The iPhone 5C will feature iOS 7, which in itself features a veritable smorgasbord of enhancements, most notable of which is the flat UI.

One of the biggest differences between the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5 is that the iPhone 5C will likely not have Siri. Dropping Siri from the iPhone 5C’s version of iOS 7 would allow Apple to use a more affordable processor. And considering the markets Apple is targeting, this move makes sense as Siri does not work as well outside the U.S.

Will The iPhone 5C Succeed In India?

For a price between Rs. 24,000 and Rs. 30,000, this phone is not revolutionary. Many basic users may be deterred from the device simply because of its cost. But then again, there is a whole segment of users who want a device that is made by Apple, and are willing to buy one if it were in the mid-range segment, as the iPhone 5C is. However, there is a chance that some users may opt to buy the iPhone 5 over the 5C if the iPhone 5 also sees a drop in price, which is usually the case whenever newer hardware is released.

Furthermore, there is no dearth of Android devices in India. There are four to five great handsets in all segments of the consumer market. Even then, iPhones attract a lot of consumer attention and manage to sell well in the country. In fact, ever since Apple introduced an EMI policy for the iPhones, their sales grew by over 400% in the country. So it is clearly evident that the brand has a huge following in India, as it does in most countries across the globe. iPhones have been known to offer ease of use and have a certain sense of style that no Android device on the market can currently match.

About the Author:

Ashwin works with Mysmartprice.com which is a price comparison website that helps users find the best price of mobiles, books, camera and lots more. Ashwin is a graduate of State University New York with an MS in Information Systems and an MBA from Amrita School of Business Bangalore. He writes on smartphones, gadgets, technology , ecommerce and marketing.