Top 5 Smartphones to Consider Before Buying the iPhone 5c [May, 2014]

The iPhone 5c may not have the name, or perhaps reputation that the iPhone 5s does, but it’s still a high quality smartphone with an attractive price tag and one that smartphone shoppers, especially those on a budget, would be wise to consider.

Last year, rumors suggest that Apple would replace the iPhone 5 with a two-pronged attack. Prior to last year’s launch, Apple had launched one iPhone per year. However, in an effort to keep up with the cheap Android smartphones that dot the landscape here in the United States and in emerging markets around the world, Apple released two iPhones.

The flagship, and true iPhone 5 successor, was and is the iPhone 5s. The device comes with a similar design and offers the usual upgrades that consumers have come to expect from Apple’s yearly smartphone release. And while the iPhone 5s and its features have gotten all of the attention, there is another new iPhone option that many consumers are currently looking at.

Apple introduced the iPhone 5c alongside the iPhone 5s. Instead of putting the iPhone 5 in the $99 slot, the company inserted the iPhone 5c, a plastic 4-inch iPhone that comes in an assortment of colors and offers some high-end features to boot.

We’ve heard from a number of people who are thinking about picking up the iPhone 5c because of its affordable price point. Before consumers scoop it up though, there are some devices to consider buying over the iPhone 5c. Here, we take a look at the five devices we think prospective iPhone 5c buyers should consider before buying Apple’s $99 iPhone.

Keep in mind, our list may differ from yours but these are the devices that Gotta Be Mobile editors have selected for recognition this month. We feel like they deliver the best, all-around package at the moment. This list will change from month to month as rumored devices get closer to announcement and announced devices get released.

iPhone 5s

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Yup. One of the first smartphones that we think potential iPhone 5c owners need to consider is the iPhone 5s. We understand that most iPhone 5c buyers are thinking about price but the iPhone 5s might be worth the extra dough and here's why. It comes with a better design, better camera, better processor, and a Touch ID fingerprint reader for added security and convenience. It's a step up from the iPhone 5c and shoppers will want to rule it out as an option before settling on a mid-range phone like the iPhone 5c. The $100 price difference might be a bit much for some people but it's certainly worth considering given the difference in quality. Check out the iPhone 5s before buying the iPhone 5c.

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