Apple Cuts iPhone 5c Orders
HONG KONG — Apple Inc. has notified its two assemblers for the low-cost iPhone 5c that it is reducing orders of the smartphone for the fourth quarter, people familiar with the situation said, raising concerns about weaker-than-expected demand and its pricing strategy for the device.
In September, the Cupertino, Calif., company began selling its newest iPhones in 11 markets including the U.S. and China, for the first time at launch. Customers’ attention focused on the company’s high-end phone, the iPhone 5s, which offers faster chips and new features including a fingerprint sensor despite being about $100 more expensive than the iPhone 5c. Demand for a new gold-colored version was particularly high during its initial debut, causing Apple to increase orders for that device.