Apple launches two new smartphones
Apple has launched two new versions of the iPhone during an event at its California headquarters, one of which has a fingerprint reader.
Apple chief Tim Cook confirmed rumours that the iPhone 5s would be equipped with a fingerprint scanner to negate the need for passwords in terms of security.
The iPhone 5c was also launched at the event; this is a cheaper model, which Mr Cook promised would come with “all the great technology that customers have loved” on previous iPhones. Though the model is technically Apple’s budget handset, the price is not as low as some analysts expected.
The iPhone 5c prices start from £469 if bought outright, with the 5s available from £549. However both phones may be obtained free on a two-year business mobile phone contract from Synergy Mobile.
Winning over the Chinese consumer is considered key for Apple this time round and the iPhone 5c, which comes in several different bright colours, seems to have been designed specifically to target this market.
The 5s model was dubbed the “gold standard in smartphones” by its creator and will come in the standard Apple colours of silver and slate grey and in a new golden hue. The 5c in turn is dubbed “more fun” and will come in five different vivid colours: blue, pink, white, green and yellow.
Apple will obviously be hoping to compete with manufacturers such as Samsung, which offers several lower budget smartphone models and obtains a lot of income from the Chinese market.
Both handsets are available now from Synergy Mobile.