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PCMag UK

Apple iPhone 5c (Verizon Wireless)

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The colorful, plastic iPhone 5c is a welcome upgrade for existing iPhone 4 and 4S owners, and a great introduction to Apple's awesome app platform at a nice price. It's the best $99 phone you'll find on Verizon Wireless, but otherwise, there's not much new to see here.

iPhone 5s vs 5c: Build

Here you can see the two new iPhones next to each other. The iPhone 5s has a more refined aluminum build, while the 5c uses a more playful plastic build.

iPhone 5c vs Competition

Though it's not Apple's flagship offering, the iPhone 5c will undoubtedly be compared with the top Android competition, like the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 pictured here.

iPhone 5s vs 5c: Profile

The iPhone 5c is slightly thicker than the 5s.

Apple iPhone 5c : Front

The iPhone 5c marks the first time you can get an iPhone in an array of bright colors, recalling the cheerful iMacs and iBooks of the late 1990s.

Apple iPhone 5c : Profile

The hardware controls are mostly the same, with the only difference being the volume buttons, which are long and thin instead of round.

Apple iPhone 5c : Top

The top edge contains a lone Power button, just like on the iPhone 5 and 5s.

Apple iPhone 5c : Back

The strangest thing about the iPhone 5c is that it's slippery. You're aware of it while holding it, and you can actually slide it across a desk, in a way that you can't with a Galaxy S 4.

Apple iPhone 5c : Cases & Colors

The optional $29 silicone case for the iPhone 5c is much grippier. It's easy to slip the iPhone 5c in and out of, and it lets some of the original color through, thanks to the neatly arranged circular cutouts on the back.

Apple iPhone 5c : Cases

Internally, almost everything in the iPhone 5 is in the iPhone 5c, including the A6 processor, LTE compatibility, 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with f/2.4 aperture, and the 1,136-by-640-pixel 4-inch display.

Apple iPhone 5c : Back & Case

The optional case is lined with microfiber, which cushions the phone nicely, and you can get it in an array of colors, which means you can make your own custom color combination with the phone.

Apple iPhone 5c : All Colors

Each model also comes with matching home screen colors and wallpaper, which is a nice touch.

Apple iPhone 5c : Profile

As I mentioned earlier, the iPhone 5c is slightly thicker and heavier than the iPhone 5 and 5s. It measures 4.9 by 2.33 by 0.35 inches (HWD) and weighs 4.65 ounces.

Apple iPhone 5c : Back

Notably, all five color options are bright and cheerful; there are no neutrals, earth tones, or Droid-esque dystopian-future shades available.

Apple iPhone 5c : Front

The display doesn't need to be any sharper, as the new iOS 7 fonts look terrific. But you could definitely argue it's time the display got another bump up in size, as four inches can feel insufficient if you've spent any length of time using a late-model Android phone.

Apple iPhone 5c : Back

The enclosure also seems more durable; aluminum-bodied iPhones feel nicer and richer, of course, but they're also known for getting pretty scratched up if you don't buy a case.