<P> Unlike past iPhone releases, where the previous generation model continued to be produced but sold at a lower price alongside the newest model, the iPhone 5 was discontinued when the iPhone 5S was released . It has been suggested that continuing to offer the original iPhone 5 at a lower price would have cut into Apple's profit margins, thus substituting the aluminum body for a polycarbonate case (resulting in the iPhone 5C) to reduce manufacturing costs . Also, it was believed that Apple's accustomed strategy of maintaining sales of older iPhone iterations--while still successful--would not have sparked as much demand as a "new" iPhone would, hence Apple's efforts to brand the 5C as a new product . </P> <P> The iPhone 5C was rumored to be the long - awaited "inexpensive iPhone" or "cheap iPhone". However, it competed with other mid-range devices which slotted right below flagship phones, like the HTC One Mini and Moto X . Given Apple's premium pricing tendencies, the iPhone 5C was initially sold at prices similar to other high - end flagship smartphones released early in 2013 (and receiving discounts after being on the market for six months) such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One . Like previous iPhones, it did not compete in the feature phone segment nor the unsubsidized / prepaid category . </P> <P> On March 18, 2014, an 8 GB version of the device was released in UK, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Sweden and China . On September 9, 2014, Apple discontinued the iPhone 4S as part of its annual refresh of the iPhone lineup--in which time the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were introduced--thus making the iPhone 5C the entry - level model complimentary when a two - year contract is signed with a US carrier or $349 off - contract . The 16 & 32 GB versions of the iPhone 5C were also discontinued globally, replaced by the 8 GB model . However, some carriers in the US like AT&T kept the 16 GB and 32 GB models instead of having the 8 GB model, thus the 16 GB model was $0 (on - contract) and the 32 GB was priced between $50--$100 (on - contract). The 8 GB iPhone 5C succeeded the discontinued iPhone 4S as Apple's entry - level smartphone . </P> <P> On September 9, 2015, with the announcement of the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, the 8 GB iPhone 5C was discontinued, being replaced by the 16 and 32 GB iPhone 5S as Apple's entry - level smartphone . </P>

When did iphone 5c come out in uk