Apple brings colour, USD 99 price to new iPhone

When is an iPhone not an iPhone? A: When it's pink, blue or even gold. In what's been classed as a ‘make or break' event for Apple, the tech firm has unveiled a cut-price handset called the iPhone 5C as well as a high-end model called iPhone 5S.

More fun, more colour: Apple Senior Vice President, Marketing Phil Schiller introduces the new iPhone 5C and 5S. The new models will be available in the US on September 20. Pic/AFP

The release of the iPhone 5C marks a step away from Apple's luxe image. While announcing the new devices, Apple's CEO Tim Cook declared the company would be discontinuing the current iPhone 5 model.

It is made of polycarbonate plastic and is reinforced with a steel frame, which acts as the phone's antenna. Apple's iPhone 5C will cost $99 (Rs 6,370) for 16GB and $199 (Rs 12,300) for 32GB.

The high-end iPhone 5S
>> Apple also unveiled the iPhone 5S, which it called ‘the most forward-thinking phone anyone has ever made.'
>>u00a0It comes in silver, gold, and a new space gray.
>>u00a0The device also sports a new A7 processor, which makes it up to twice as fast as older models
>>u00a0The device also includes a new Apple-designed camera lens with a larger aperture and sensor. When a user takes a picture, it takes multiple shots and chooses the sharpest.
>>u00a0The device includes the much-expected fingerprint sensor, dubbed TouchID. The Touch ID sensor is capacitive and 170 microns thin. It has can scan in 360 degrees.u00a0 u00a0u00a0