Expensive blingo-rama iPhone 5S OUTSELLS cheapo-plastic 5C

Apple has sold twice as many units of its golden iPhone 5S as it has of its fruit-flavoured iPhone 5C, according to a research firm.

Although Apple has not yet released official figures on the sales of its two latest models of iPhone, an analysis group called Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) decided to find out for itself.

According to CIRP's survey of American fanbois, the 5S accounted for some 64 per cent of all iPhone sales, while the 5C accounted for 27 per cent. The last 9 per cent was made up of by sales of the legacy iPhone 4S.

“The relative performance of all three iPhones is generally in line with the performance of the similarly priced phones following the launch of the iPhone 5 in 2012,” CIRP co-founder Josh Lowitz told AllThingsD.

“Over time, the lower-priced phones have tended to gain share versus the flagship phone, after the initial rush of dedicated upgraders to the newest device. So we expect that the 5c will account for a higher percent of total US iPhone sales in the coming months, but the design changes may alter that dynamic. The iPhone 5c may appeal to different buyers than the legacy 4S did last year, or the new 5s will this year.”

However, the launch of the iPhone 5 was even more successful than the 5S, according to CIRP, taking up 68 per cent of new sales when it was launched last year.

The iPhone 5C is a confusing offering from the fruity firm. Clad in brightly coloured plastic, it is neither cheap enough to be a true budget phone, nor glossy enough to be a luxury item like the 5S. ®