Apple’s budget 5C smartphone proving unpopular

Apple’s attempt to attract more budget-conscious customers with its cheaper 5C smartphone appears to be facing some difficulty as the company has reportedly cut production orders for the cheaper model.

Apple has asked one of its largest suppliers to increase production of the top-tier 5S, which went on sale at the same time, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

Other sources told Reuters that Apple has told manufacturers it will reduce orders for the 5C smartphone in the final three months of the year.

Reports suggest that orders have been reduced by around a quarter.

Apple has long been seen as a premium brand, and its move to widen its customer base had been expected. However, the 5C was not significantly cheaper than the flagship 5S smartphone.

The slight price difference appears to have left Apple struggling to persuade customers to buy a visually cheaper product that offered a significant decline in cachet, without saving a lot of money.