iPhone 5C to compete with iPhone 4 series in India: Analysts

Analysts have said that Apple's new iPhone 5C may face fierce competition from iPhone 4 series in India as these models are likely to fall in the same price bracket.

The company will launch the iPhone 5C, its cheapest handset till date,in the US, China and Japan among others from September 20.

The device is expected to hit India by the end of the year, though no official confirmation was available. Analysts say the phone will be a premium product in India.

Gartner Principal Research Analyst Anshul Gupta said: "iPhone 5C will not be the cheapest Apple handset in India. It will face competition from iPhone 4 and 4S."

He, however, added that Apple, with the new launch, is trying to protect its margins.

"Price point of iPhone 5C could be in the range of Rs 30,000-35,000, which will not be seen as a low-end product.

Apple will have to calibrate the Indian market carefully for its launch," IDC India Country Head Jaideep Mehta said.

KPMG (India) Partner Telecom Practice Jaideep Ghosh said: "iPhone 5C is not a mass phone, its a high-end smart phone. I think it will play in the high-end smartphone market."

The unlocked 16GB version of the iPhone 5C will be available for USD 549 (about Rs 34,700) in the US, while the model in China would be priced at USD 729 (about Rs 46,000).

Apple's iPhone 4 (8GB) is priced in the range of Rs 23,000-24,500 in India, while iPhone 4S (16GB) is in the range of Rs 38,000-39,000.

The iPhone 5C will feature an all-new design and will be available in 5 colours -- blue, green, pink, yellow and white.

It features a four-inch Retina display, A6 chip, an 8 MP iSight camera and is powered by latest iOS 7 operating system.

iPhone 5C is priced at $99 for the 16GB model and USD 199 for the 32GB model (with a 2-year contract) in the US.

With PTI inputs