Iphone 5c Vs 5s Vs 6 Was Upgrading Really Worth It

In the early 2010s, Apple released three iconic iPhone models within a short span: the iPhone 5c, 5s, and 6. Each represented a different direction in Apple’s strategy—colorful affordability, premium innovation, and radical redesign. For users deciding whether to upgrade from one to the next, the choice wasn’t always clear. Was moving from the 5c to the 5s truly transformative? Did jumping to the iPhone 6 justify leaving behind the compact form factor of its predecessors? This article breaks down the real differences and evaluates whether each upgrade delivered meaningful value.

Design and Build: A Shift in Philosophy

The iPhone 5c, launched in 2013 alongside the 5s, marked Apple’s first attempt at a “budget” iPhone. It featured a polycarbonate (plastic) shell available in bright colors—blue, green, pink, yellow, and white—making it stand out visually. Despite its playful exterior, the 5c reused the internal hardware of the iPhone 5, offering no performance improvements.

In contrast, the iPhone 5s introduced a sleek aluminum body with matte finishes in silver, gold, and space gray. Its most notable addition was Touch ID, integrated into the home button—a biometric leap that redefined phone security. The 5s felt more premium, both in materials and engineering intent.

The iPhone 6, released in 2014, abandoned the 4-inch screen standard with a 4.7-inch display and a curved aluminum unibody. Its larger size catered to growing consumer demand for bigger screens, especially for media consumption and web browsing. The shift also meant a completely redesigned layout, including thinner bezels and rounded corners.

Tip: If you valued pocketability and one-handed use, the 5c and 5s were superior. The iPhone 6 sacrificed compactness for usability on larger content.

Performance Comparison: Hardware That Mattered

Beneath the surface, the differences between these models were stark. The iPhone 5c ran on the same Apple A6 chip as the iPhone 5, which by 2013 was already showing its age. While adequate for basic tasks, it struggled with heavier apps and newer iOS versions over time.

The iPhone 5s introduced the 64-bit Apple A7 chip—the first 64-bit processor in any smartphone. Paired with the M7 motion coprocessor, it offered significantly better performance, improved multitasking, and enhanced fitness tracking capabilities. Apps launched faster, animations were smoother, and future iOS compatibility was far stronger.

The iPhone 6 upgraded to the A8 chip, built on a smaller 20nm process. Though not revolutionary, it delivered 25% faster CPU performance and 50% better graphics than the A7. Combined with 1GB of RAM (same as 5s), it handled iOS 8 and beyond with ease, supporting features like Metal API for advanced gaming.

Model	Processor	RAM	Storage Options	Touch ID
iPhone 5c	A6	512MB	16GB, 32GB	No
iPhone 5s	A7 + M7	1GB	16GB, 32GB, 64GB	Yes
iPhone 6	A8 + M8	1GB	16GB, 64GB, 128GB	Yes

“Moving from the 5c to the 5s wasn’t just an upgrade—it was stepping into the modern iOS era. The A7 chip laid the foundation for everything Apple does today.” — Mark Rivera, Mobile Hardware Analyst

Camera Evolution: From Decent to Competitive

The iPhone 5c used the same 8MP rear camera as the iPhone 5. It performed decently in daylight but suffered in low light and lacked stabilization. The front-facing FaceTime camera was limited to 720p video.

The iPhone 5s brought major camera enhancements: a larger f/2.2 aperture, dual-LED True Tone flash (balancing warm and cool LEDs), and improved sensor sensitivity. Burst mode and slo-mo video (720p at 120fps) were software-level innovations powered by the A7’s speed.

The iPhone 6 retained the 8MP resolution but improved focus pixels for faster autofocus and better low-light performance. Video recording jumped to 1080p at 60fps, and the front camera reached 1.2MP with 720p HD video. While megapixels didn’t increase, image processing did.

For casual photographers, the jump from 5c to 5s was immediately noticeable. The 5s produced sharper, more balanced photos. The 6 further refined this, making video capture more versatile.

Real-World Upgrade Scenarios

Consider Sarah, a college student in 2014 using an iPhone 5c. She found her phone lagging when switching between Instagram, Safari, and iMessage. Battery life had degraded after two years, and app crashes were common. Upgrading to the iPhone 5s gave her instant relief: Touch ID simplified unlocking, apps ran smoothly, and the camera worked better in dim lecture halls.

Later, when she moved to the iPhone 6, the experience shifted again. The larger screen made reading PDFs and watching lectures easier. However, she missed the snug fit in her jeans pocket. She also noticed that while iOS 9 ran well, some older accessories (like her car dock) were incompatible due to the new shape.

Sarah’s story reflects a broader trend: upgrades weren’t just about specs—they involved trade-offs in ergonomics, ecosystem compatibility, and personal usage patterns.

Was the Upgrade Worth It?

From iPhone 5c to 5s: Absolutely yes. The combination of the A7 chip, Touch ID, better camera, and longer software support made this one of the most impactful mid-cycle upgrades Apple has ever delivered. Users gained tangible improvements in speed, security, and longevity.

From 5s to iPhone 6: Conditionally yes. If you wanted a larger screen for media, web, or productivity, the iPhone 6 was a logical step. But if you preferred compact phones or relied on one-handed operation, the change was less appealing. Performance gains were incremental, not transformative.

From 5c directly to iPhone 6: Highly recommended. This leap combined all the benefits of the 5s and added screen size, better battery life, and improved radios (LTE-A support). For anyone still on the 5c in 2015, the 6 felt like a true generational shift.

Tip: Always evaluate your actual usage. If you only check email and texts, a minor upgrade may not be worth the cost. But if you use GPS, games, or video calls, hardware improvements matter.

Checklist: Is It Time to Upgrade?

• Is your current phone slower than it used to be, even after restarts?
• Are you unable to install the latest iOS version?
• Does the camera struggle in everyday lighting conditions?
• Is battery life under 5 hours of screen-on time?
• Do you frequently run out of storage?
• Are key apps crashing or refusing to load?
• Do you find the screen too small for comfortable reading or video?

If you answered “yes” to three or more, an upgrade was—and still is—worth considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could the iPhone 5c run iOS 10?

No. The iPhone 5c topped out at iOS 9.3.6. Apple dropped support due to hardware limitations, particularly RAM and processor architecture. This made the 5c obsolete for newer apps requiring iOS 10+.

Did the iPhone 6 fix the ‘bendgate’ issue?

Partially. While some early iPhone 6 units were prone to bending under extreme pressure (dubbed “bendgate”), later batches and the iPhone 6 Plus used reinforced aluminum. In normal use, bending was rare, but the controversy highlighted durability concerns absent in the sturdier 5s.

Which model held resale value best?

The iPhone 5s retained value significantly longer than the 5c. Colorful plastic didn’t age as well in the secondhand market, and the 5s’s superior specs made it desirable even years later. The iPhone 6 initially had high demand but depreciated faster due to rapid model turnover.

Conclusion: Value Beyond Specs

Determining whether an upgrade was “worth it” depends on more than benchmarks. The iPhone 5c to 5s transition delivered real technological progress—better performance, security, and camera quality in a familiar size. The move to iPhone 6 was more about changing user expectations: bigger screens, evolving app designs, and shifting lifestyle needs.

Apple’s release pattern during this period taught a valuable lesson: not every upgrade needs to be immediate. Timing mattered. Waiting six months after launch often meant better pricing, resolved bugs, and clearer user feedback. But for those stuck on aging hardware, the jump to a newer model could breathe new life into their digital routine.

🚀 Still using an older iPhone? Evaluate your daily frustrations—then decide if upgrading solves them. Technology should serve you, not the other way around. Share your upgrade story in the comments.