Apple's new iPhone 5s to start from Rs 54,000; 5c from Rs 42,000

Apple’s new iPhones, the 5s and the 5c, are slated for launch in India on November 1. A new report via the Financial Express has now shown that telecom providers Airtel and Reliance will be officially rolling out the new products for the market. While the iPhone 5c will start at Rs 42,000, the 5s will start at Rs 54,000, according to market sources.

Airtel has reportedly started pre-booking for the new handsets, although the official website still says that both models will be coming soon. The new devices recently saw record sales over the launch weekend when it was rolled out internationally. In a statement, the company has said that “Interested customers can visit select Airtel Retail Stores for pre-registration.” The list of official stores where pre-booking can take place has still not been confirmed, though. There is no mention of the new iPhones pre-booking option on the official Reliance website.

A contract-free and unlocked 16GB version of the 5c is currently available for $549 (Rs 34,700 approx), while a 5s can be picked up for $649 (Rs 41,000 approx). While there is no way to measure the relative popularity between the two models, earlier reports have indicated that the 5s is more popular, both globally and nationally, than the 5c.

iPhone 5S and 5C to come to India for Rs 54,000 and Rs 42,000, respectively

Both devices have generated a lot of buzz in the last few months. The company, a day after the official launch, had to push the shipping dates of the 5s to October. A quick look at the specs of the new device shows that the 5s comes with a new fingerprint scanner, called Touch ID, an improved camera sensor as well as the first 64-bit desktop-class architecture. While the phone sounds great on paper, an increasing number of problems with the hardware may cause some users to worry about purchasing the new handset.

The 5c, on the other hand, is positioned as the company’s “budget” smartphone. The specs sheet show that the device comes with an A6 chip, a 4-inch Retina display as well as an 8-megapixel iSight camera. With the launch date drawing closer, it will be interesting to see how many users line up for the new models. What do you think? Will you be picking up the new iPhone 5c or the 5s? Let us know.