A clerk arranges Apple's iPhone 5C phones on racks bearing the logo of China Mobile, at a mobile phone shop in Beijing December 23, 2013. Apple Inc said it has signed a long-awaited agreement with China Mobile Ltd to sell iPhones through the world&
IN PHOTO: A clerk arranges Apple's iPhone 5C phones on racks bearing the logo of China Mobile, at a mobile phone shop in Beijing December 23, 2013. Apple Inc said it has signed a long-awaited agreement with China Mobile Ltd to sell iPhones through the world's biggest network of mobile phone users. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Apple is expected to release the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S Plus this year as the successor models for the original the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus that were rolled out in September last year. Speculations are also indicating that Apple may also release a budget edition device called the iPhone 6C.

According to The Motley Fool, Apple had launched the iPhone 5S alongside a budget smartphone, the iPhone 5C. The handset could not achieve much popularity. Hence, the critics had labeled it as an unsuccessful attempt by the Cupertino company.

Apple makes use of three-tier system for selling its iPhones. The first tier is comprised of the newly launched iPhone. It is made available with a price of $199 along with a two-year contract deal. The second tier includes the previous year’s model. It is priced at $99 with a two-year contract. The iPhone that was released two years ago slots itself as the third tier device. It is made available for free along with a contract.

When the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C were launched in 2013, the iPhone 5 that was released in 2012 played the role of the second-tier device. The iPhone 5C that came with plastic body was priced at $100 cheaper than the iPhone 5S. Although the media calls it’s a failure, the iPhone 5C grossed higher than the iPhone 5 even though both were available as second-tier device.

According to Madd Apple, analysts are of the view that Apple would again try to focus on achieving success in developing markets such as Latin America and Asia by selling a cheaper edition of its flagship device. It states that in some markets, the iPhone 5C managed to outsell the iPhone 5S. Hence, there is a possibility that Apple may release an iPhone 6C.

As of this writing, Apple has not announced anything on its iPhone models for this year. In the previous month, the International Business Times had published about the iPhone 6C concept renders.

What do you think about the iPhone 6C? Will Apple release it this year? Are you expecting it? Do let us know your thoughts by posting comments.

To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, email a.sivanandan@ibtimes.com.au

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