Looks like
the rumors were true. Apple today launched
a new 8GB version of the iPhone 5c in its official European online store, complete with a price tag of €429 ($597 USD) that's €40 ($56 USD) less than the 16GB model. The 8GB iPhone 5c is available in white, pink, yellow, blue and green, just like its more capacious compatriots.
As I mentioned yesterday whern rumors of the 8GB iPhone 5c first surfaced, Apple typically waits to introduce an 8GB model of an iPhone after it's been demoted from flagship status by a newer model. That's why it's interesting to see Apple debut an 8GB version of the 5c only
6 months after it originally debuted.
Apple hasn't said exactly why it is launching an 8GB flavor of the iPhone 5c, but reports have suggested that sales of the 5c haven't been very strong, and so the Cupertino firm may be trying to boost sales of its low-cost iPhone by introducing an ever cheaper model. Whatever the reason for its debut, the arrival of the 8GB iPhone 5c gives consumers another option when shopping for a new iOS handset, and having more choices is always a good thing.
The 8GB iPhone 5c may be the new kid on the iOS block, but it brought with it a veteran Apple device to show it the ropes. Apple has
re-released the iPad with Retina display, also known as the
iPad 4, and has finally killed off the
iPad 2 in the process. The iPad 4 is available at the same price points as the iPad 2: $399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and $529 for the 16GB LTE-capable variant. It's also worth noting that the iPad 2 was the last device in the iPad lineup with the old-school 30-pin connector, meaning that the iPad family is now all Lightning, all the time.
UPDATE: Apple has confirmed that the 8GB iPhone 5c will only be sold in the U.K., France, Germany, Australia and China. In a statement to Re/code, the Cupertino firm explained the iPhone 5c's announcement by saying that "The mid-tier iPhone segment is growing year-over-year and the 8GB model provides a more affordable option for markets where LTE is becoming more established."
