Apple Kills iPhone 5, Replaced by iPhone 5S & iPhone 5C

In a bit of a surprise move, Apple today announced that it will be killing off last year’s iPhone 5 in favor of two new iPhones, the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5S, which will be hitting shelves in just a few weeks.

Rumors leading up to today’s iPhone event suggested that Apple may be looking to replace one or more of its iPhones with its new iPhone lineup, thought to include the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5S. Speculation suggested that Apple would replace the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4 with a new iPhone 5C, a device that Apple did announce on stage today.

Read: iOS 7 Release Date for iPhone and iPad Confirmed.

However, Apple announced that it will be replacing the iPhone 5 completely, a move that comes as a bit of a surprise as rumors and speculation pointed to the iPhone 5 sticking around at a $99.99 on-contract price point. Instead, Apple will be pushing the iPhone 5 out and will be offering both the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C instead.

The iPhone 5C will be pushing out the iPhone 5 as Apple will be offering it for $99.99 16GB iPhone 5C as well as a 32GB iPhone 5C for $199.99 on-contract. Apple’s flagship model, the iPhone 5S, will be sold alongside the iPhone 5C as a premium option for those that don’t want the plastic shell.

Apple’s iPhone 5 was announced last September alongside iOS 6 and it became the first iPhone to feature a 4-inch display, 4G LTE data speeds and a Lightning port. It also was the first iPhone to feature an anodized aluminum back, something that will also be coming with its successor, the iPhone 5S.

With the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C release dates set for September, the iPhone 5 will likely soon be pushed out of not only the Apple Store but out of retail stores as well in favor of the new iPhones.

Those who aren’t interested in the new iPhone models should be able to find deals on the iPhone 5 as retailers clear stock ahead of the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S release dates.