In the week since their debut, Apple's new smartphone offerings have been met with a lukewarm response at best, with early sales in the tech giant's home turf "disappointing".
Once a company second to none when it came to innovation, Apple last week unveiled two new smartphones - the largely unchanged latest version of its iconic iPhone and, deviating from its usual premium positioning, the "cheaper" plastic-backed and colourful iPhone 5C.
According to early research conducted by social media monitoring agency We Are Social, the iPhone 5S - also deviating aesthetically with the introduction of metallic hues - generated only about a third of the online buzz its predecessor, the iPhone 5, did when it launched last year.
Out of the 584 000 mentions of the 5S monitored on Twitter, blogs and forums, 69% related to the new-generation iPhone's features, says We Are Social - in particular Apple's fingerprint feature, Touch ID.
On the upside, brand criticism of the 5S constituted just 5% of mentions - in contrast to the 20% elicited by the iPhone 5 last year.
Where Apple did manage to rouse interest was with the introduction of the latest iPhone in gold, silver and space grey. Seventeen percent of conversation around the new smartphone mentioned "I want/need [the iPhone 5S]" - driven by the allure of new shades.
While the 5S garnered sentiments good and bad, We Are Social's research indicates the introduction of the "budget" 5C may have dented the Apple brand somewhat.
Of the 343 000 mentions the iPhone spinoff received, 45% criticised the design, with online commentators suggesting the 5C was cheapening the brand's superior reputation.
Disappointing dip
According to Reuters, pre-orders for Apple's budget phone "have not been overwhelming" and carrier supply of both the 5C and 5S "disappointing".
Citing an anonymous source, Reuters says: "The level of inventory Apple has said it would provide for the 5S and 5C on launch day and in the week after launch is very disappointing. Supply of phones to all carriers appears to be limited."
Pre-orders for the 5C opened last week Friday, while both phones go on sale in several countries across North America this Friday.
While local pricing and availability details have not yet been released, talk is that SA can expect to see both the iPhone 5S and 5C, in December. The iPhone 5S starts at $199 (about R2 000 on a two-year contract) for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB model, and $399 for the 64GB model. The iPhone 5C 16GB model will cost $99, while the 32GB will go for $199, both on contract.
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