iPhone 5c

Note that this "CDMA" A1532 iPhone 5c model does not officially support LTE/4G but is compatible with both CDMA EV-DO and GSM. It is designed for the mainland China market exclusively for use on China Telecom's network.

All iPhone 5c models, regardless of their network compatibility, feature a 4-inch (diagonal) widescreen multi-touch IPS LED-backlit "retina display" with a 1136x640 resolution (326 ppi). They have dual cameras: a rear 8-megapixel, 1080p "iSight" camera and a front 1.2-megapixel, 720p "FaceTime" camera. The device is housed in a polycarbonate "unibody" case offered in five vibrant colors (white, pink, yellow, blue, or green).

Each iPhone 5c is powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core "Apple A6" processor, has 1 GB of RAM, and was available with 8 GB, 16 GB, or 32 GB of flash storage. This model supports dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, includes a bottom-mounted headphone jack, and uses the "Lightning" connector. This model, along with the A1526 China Unicom version, lacks official 4G/LTE support.

Apple's battery life estimates for the iPhone 5c models are up to 40 hours of audio playback, 10 hours of 3G talk time, 8 hours of 3G internet use, 10 hours of 4G/LTE internet use (when applicable), 10 hours of Wi-Fi internet use, 10 hours of video playback, and 250 hours of standby.

In China, this "CDMA" A1532 iPhone 5c was initially sold contract-free, but only for use on China Telecom's network, with 8 GB, 16 GB, or 32 GB of storage for RMB 4,088, 4,488, and 5,288, respectively. On September 9, 2014, Apple discontinued the 16 GB and 32 GB models and lowered the price of the 8 GB model to RMB 3,288, still for China Telecom. This model was fully discontinued on September 9, 2015.

The China Telecom iPhone 5c represented Apple's continued efforts to penetrate the Chinese CDMA market, receiving measured praise from regional technology analysts who appreciated its tailored approach. Reviewers acknowledged the device's role in providing China Telecom subscribers with an authentic iPhone experience despite certain technical limitations. The colorful design proved particularly appealing to Chinese consumers seeking differentiation in a market dominated by similar-looking devices. Technology critics noted that while the lack of LTE was a compromise, the 5c successfully delivered iOS functionality to millions of users who might otherwise have remained outside Apple's ecosystem, demonstrating the company's pragmatic approach to market expansion.