Apple iPhone 5C gallery of high-res images, price surfaces

The Apple iPhone 5C is not yet official, but judging by the overwhelming number of leaked images, videos and whispers, the device is coming soon and now we get a ton of high quality images of its back housing as well as some additional info on the price.

The iPhone 5C originally surfaced as the ‘affordable iPhone’, a device that came with a single goal in mind - offer the Apple experience at a lower price. How low can Apple go, though? The company is well known for maintaining a huge profit margin on its products, and now rumors from China say the iPhone 5C would be cheaper, but not cheap.

The starting price for the iPhone 5C is said to be 3000 yuan off contract, the equivalent of $490. This would make it actually more expensive than the iPhone 4, and closer to high-end phone pricing than to the mid-range.

For Apple, the iPhone 5C might turn out to be a crucial launch. The company is losing market share in various markets across the globe as Android continues its explosive growth, and is now dominating European and Asian markets.

The main differentiator for the iPhone 5C would be its plastic body and that’s where the price cut comes from. Otherwise, the handset should differ little from the current iPhone 5 as it is expected to come with the same 4-inch screen and a similar 8-megapixel camera. Size-wise, it would be very compact and convenient for single handed use. Take a look at its alleged back plate right below.