The iPhone 5c is an interesting concept as it is supposed to make Apple more accessible to different levels of the market. It was ushered in as a base model of sorts, with the iPhone 5s occupying the flagship place in the iPhone lineup; the 5c offers a colorful choice while watering down the iPhone experience at a lower cost. However, the iPhone 5c is certainly not the cheap iPhone it was rumored to be as one will still set you back over $500, so in many respects it isn´t an accessible option at all. We really liked our time with the 5c but the truth is we are 100% sure it is worth nowhere near its price point, and any real differences between it and last year´s iPhone 5 are merely aesthetic. So a very good phone yes, but a necessary one?DesignThe last plastic iPhone released was the 3GS, but Apple has decided to revisit the material again with the iPhone 5c, while for the first time Cupertino has decided to get all colorful. We should start by saying the 5c is a very good looking handset and one that we immediately appreciated when we unboxed it. When we reviewed Samsung´s stonkingly good Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 we went to town criticizing the plastic construction, so much so that it would seem we were outright against plastic phones. However, the truth is we are not, but we are against the cheap grade plastic Samsung uses. Luckily Apple has continued its reputation for market leading build quality with the high grade polycarbonate covering the iPhone 5c; which borrows more from Nokia than it does Samsung. Indeed, Nokia seems to have been an inspiration of sorts as the multicolor lineup of the 5c looks straight from the Finnish company´s Lumia flagship range. Where the 5c differs is in the fact Apple reinforced the plastic chassis with a steel frame, making it feel extremely durable and tough, while the machined polycarbonate boasts a glossy finish that makes the handset feel more like a ceramic tile in hand.We should make it clear that we like the design of the 5c and can´t stress enough the level of build quality on show here. However, the 5c replaces the outgoing iPhone 5 and the only real difference between the two is looks. While we admire the plastic build of the 5c we would still prefer the aluminum build of the iPhone 5, and if we´re honest we prefer the elegance of the older model too. While it is obvious that colors will appeal to a great many, for yours truly a professional and charming smartphone is more appealing. It begs the question, if Apple wanted to add a splash of color to proceedings, why did the company not just add more color options to the now departing iPhone 5s and keep that sumptuous aluminum unibody? Unfortunately the answer must be a business decision as we imagine the plastic iPhone 5c is much cheaper to build than the metal iPhone 5s, thus giving Apple higher profit margins. Sad but true.FeaturesUnfortunately the iPhone 5c does not get the Touch ID fingerprint sensor found on the new iPhone 5s, but then it is the lower end model in the range so that is expected. Apple has created special rubber covers for the iPhone 5c but in our opinion these holed designs look childish and we think they are pretty awful.HardwareSadly there is no 64-bit A7 chip like found in the 5s, but the iPhone 5c is packing the impressive A6 Dual-core 1.3 GHz Swift processor with 1GB of RAM. You may have already guessed that this is the same chip found in last year´s iPhone 5, continuing the similarities between the two handsets.Display & SoundThe iPhone 5c packs the same Retina Display found on the flagship iPhone 5s, and just like on that device it is possibly the best panel in the smartphone market. The truly outstanding 4-inch, 1,136 x 640-pixel (326-ppi) IPS screen continues to amaze us with its accurate color reproduction, wide viewing angles, and levels of detail and clarity rarely seen before. We fired up World War Z in 1080p and were mesmerized by the zombie hoards and sheer depth of detail that the Retina churns out, even if the movie was a clunker. However, it also comes with a pitfall that now affects all iPhone models, the size. The panel is just 4-inches and next to 5 or even 6-inch Android monsters it looks puny, and it´s problematic because real estate makes a huge difference when watching videos. If you are looking for a small form factor then this is the only screen you should consider, and its quality is even comparable with bigger panels, however we can´t help but wish for a little bit more. As this is a lower end iPhone we are more inclined to let this issue slide than we were for the iPhone 5s, but still Apple really needs to get with the large screen crowd in one way or another.Performance & GraphicsMinus the A7 chip from the 5s, the iPhone 5c delivers the same performance as (you guessed it) the iPhone 5, which is not an entirely bad thing. The A6 Dual-core 1.3 GHz Swift processor with 1GB of RAM is nowhere near as blistering on paper as Android flagships like the LG G2 and Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and in fact its dual core structure has been mostly replaced at the high end by quad and even octa core chips. That said, Apple managed to churn out an awful lot of power from the iPhone 5 and the 5c follows that pattern by delivering exceptional performance that belies the humble chipset. The handset dealt with everything we could throw at it and did so while keeping things smooth and responsive. It is not as quick as the iPhone 5s or Android heavyweights, but in the real world it doesn´t need to be and we think most users will find it is just right for them.It is a similar story with graphics performance as the iPhone 5c delivers high quality graphics whether you are playing an intensive game or using a high load app. We played some of the most graphically intensive games in the App Store and the 5c was at home, running them with barely a skipped frame.Call QualityWe have never been impressed with call quality on any iPhone and the iPhone 5c is not bucking that trend, although things have improved. There are no antenna problems like the ones that hit the iPhone 4, so if you are in a good catchment location you will get clear audio on calls, while Apple has also included background noise cancelling tech to keep things clear when on a call.Data SpeedsThings have improved from the iPhone 5 to the 5c as Apple has bundled just about every LTE band you can shake a stick at, so if you are in a 4G area you will get superfast data speeds.CameraApple greatly improved its already quality camera experience for the iPhone 5s, but as you have probably gathered by now the snapper on the 5c is the same one from the iPhone 5. That means the iPhone 5c comes without 5s features such as 120 fps, 720p slow-motion video capture, 10 fps burst mode/real-time analysis, auto-exposure during panoramas, auto image stabilization and the True Tone flash. However, this is still a capable camera suite and the 8 MP, 3264×2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash lens was one we were raving about just 12 months ago and it continues to take fantastic shots. We found our images to be crisp, detailed, and vibrant with color, while the HD at 1080p / 30 fps video capturing was also exceptional.Battery LifeA 1,507mAh battery gives the iPhone 5c a modest boost over the outgoing iPhone 5, but in terms of real world usage it feels about the same. We liked the battery performance without ever being outright blown away by it, but you can expect a good 10 hours of video performance from the handset.SoftwareApple had left iOS untouched for too long and the mobile platform was due a redesign. Luckily iOS 7 brought that overhaul and you can consider us fans of its glossier aesthetics, while we are also pleased with the added functionality and features onboard. The iPhone 5c alongside the 5s is the first Apple handset to get the new operating system, but the iPhone 4S will also be getting the update, as we are sure the iPhone 5 would have if it was still around.There is a load to like about iOS 7 and a few things not to, and in fact we can see this being more appealing to customers coming from other platforms as long time iOS users may find it a bit too colorful and whimsical. If it is functionality you are after you will be suitably pleased as Apple has packed in a slew of new features, including a full non beta Siri, multi-tasking capabilities, and the file sharing suite AirDrop.Configuration OptionsThe iPhone 5c is available in 16GB and 32GB options and comes in a variety of colors, (White, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Pink).Warranty & SupportJust like almost everything else we review around these parts, the iPhone 5c has a one year limited warranty.Recommended CarrierMost of the world´s main carriers offer the iPhone 5c, with all the major players offering much the same price packages, although it may be worth looking around to find the best overall data plan.SummaryThe iPhone 5c is a fantastic smartphone in every single respect, from its amazing build, slick design, fantastic performance, great screen, and so on. There is plenty to like here and as a standalone product the iPhone 5c is a very good, if expensive handset.(tgreview.com)ANN.Az