Apple last month released a cheaper iPhone 5c with just eight gigabytes of storage to address mid-tier markets where, in its own words, “LTE is becoming more established.” The handset was initially available in only five markets: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia and China.
Starting today, customers in an additional fourteen countries around the world can buy the 8GB iPhone 5c, bringing the number of regions where the smaller capacity handset is available to nineteen countries…
Customers can now buy the 8GB iPhone 5c via the Online Apple Stores in the following markets: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Many thanks to our readers around the world who sent this in.
In addition to the local Apple Online Stores, the device can be purchased via select Authorized Apple Resellers. Prices vary by region. As a general rule of thumb, would-be buyers can count on a €50 saving (about $70) versus the 16GB iPhone 5c, which retails in EU countries for €599, or about $823.
As noted by Dutch blog iPhoneClub.nl, the 8GB model costs €549 in various EU countries compared to the 16GB iPhone 5c that retails for €599. In some countries like Italy, the price difference between the 8GB and 16GB model is 100 euros, which works out to about $138.
In the Czech Republic, the smaller capacity handset is 1,300 koruna cheaper (about $66) than the 16GB version. Over in Sweden, the 8GB model comes at a discount of 500 krona, or approximately $76.
These prices are for unsubsidized contract-free handsets that can be used with any carrier.
Apple has not yet made the 8GB handset available in the United States due to the popularity of subsidized phones. In my opinion, these prices are insane.
Asking consumers to fork €499 or more to get their hands on a handset with only eight gigabytes of storage is a tall order, especially in this economy.
The 8GB iPhone 5c needs to sell for €399 to be even worth considering.
It’s worth noting that the 8GB model has about 4.9 gigabytes of storage available to users as the remaining storage is occupied by the operating system, stock app data and various system services.
Apple is aware that the iPhone growth has slowed to a single-digit percentage rate because it no longer has what consumers want. According to an internal memo, Apple sees the strongest demand in smartphone growth coming from “less expensive and larger screen smartphones” sold under $300 contract-free.
There is some hope that the firm might consider selling current iPhones at a sharp discount after releasing the rumored larger-screened iPhones this Fall.