Apple iPhone 5C (16GB) vs Apple iPhone Air (1TB)
Side by side comparison between Apple iPhone 5C vs Apple iPhone Air phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
4"
IPS
IPS
640x1136
8
MP
MP
1.2mp
1GB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
1510
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.5"
OLED
OLED
1260x2736
48
MP
MP
18mp
12GB
RAM
RAM
Hexa-core
3149
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Apple iPhone Air (1TB)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
2 Advantages 
38 Advantages | 18 Common items in both devices |
| Only digital zoom |
| Autofocus / PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| BSI sensor |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| Accelerometer |
| Ambient light sensor |
| +11 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| Model | iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) |
| Other model names | Apple iPhone 5C A1507, iPhone A1456, A1529, A1532 | iPhone 17 Air (A3260, A3517, A3518) |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | (Global, International) |
| Brand | Apple | Apple |
| Release date | 9/20/2013, Announced: 9/10/2013 | 9/19/2025, Announced: 9/9/2025 |
| Depth | 9 millimeters (0.35 inches) | 5.6 millimeters (0.22 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 59.2 x 124.4 millimeters (2.33 x 4.9 in) | 74.7 x 156.2 millimeters (2.94 x 6.15 in) |
| Weight | 132 grams (4.62 ounces) | 165 grams (5.78 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Plastic body, glass front | Titanium frame, glass front and back Back: Ceramic Shield |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant |
📲 Display | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| Display type | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Screen size | 4" inches | 6.5" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~59.9% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~88.8% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 640x1136 pixels (16:9) | 1260x2736 pixels (19.5:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 5-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 326 PPI | 463 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 1 billion |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported | Ceramic Shield 2 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Display features | Not supported | 1000nits[typ], 3000nits[peak] Dolby Vision/HDR10 Always-On Display Oleophobic coating screen True-tone Wide color gamut |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| System version | iOS 7.0 | iOS 26 |
| Firmware update | iOS 10 | feature not registered |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: Apple A6 (32nm) | 64bit: Apple A19 Pro (3nm) |
| CPU | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1.3GHz Swift (Dual-core) | Hexa-core, 2 processors: 2x 4.26GHz P-Core (Dual-core) 4x 2.2GHz E-Core (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | PowerVR SGX543 (3-core, 266MHz) | A19 Pro GPU (5-core) |
| Performance (benchmark) | Basemark X: 2225 | AnTuTu: 2000993 (v10) Geekbench: 9682 (v6.5) |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| RAM memory | 1GB LPDDR3 | 12GB LPDDR5X |
| Internal storage | 16GB (13GB available) eMMC 4.5 | 1TB (960GB available) NVMe (SSD) |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | e-SIM (Eletronic) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 100/50 Mbps | 5000/1024 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1700/1900/2100, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | A1532 GSM/A1532 CDMA/A1456 model: UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 A1507/A1529 model: UMTS 850/900/1900/2100 A1533 CDMA/A1453 model: CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat3 A1532 GSM/A1532 CDMA model: LTE 700/800/850/900/1700/1800/1900/2100 (Bands 1,2,3,4,5,8,13,17,19,20,25) A1456 model: LTE 700/800/850/900/1700/1800/1900/2100 (Bands 1,2,3,4,5,8,13,17,18,19,20,25,26) A1507 model: LTE 800/850/900/1800/1900/2100/2600 (Bands 1,2,3,5,7,8,20) A1529 model LTE 800/850/900/1800/1900/2100/2600 (Bands 1,2,3,5,7,8,20) TD-LTE 1900/2300/2600 (38,39,40) | LTE Cat20 VoLTE A3517 (International): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 53, 66) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) A3260 (USA): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 53, 66, 71) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) A3518 (Canada, Mexico, EMEA): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 53, 66, 71) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | A3517 (International): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 75, 77, 78, 79) A3260 (USA): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79) A3518 (Canada, Mexico, EMEA): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79) |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6, mmWave |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 8 megapixels | 48 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 3264x2448 pixels | 8000x6000 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 60 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | Dual-LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/2.4 (aperture) | f/1.6 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | 26mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | 1/3.2" inches | 1/1.56" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.4µm pixel | 1µm pixel |
| Autofocus | Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization on both cameras |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Supported |
| HDR | HDR photo only main camera | HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | 4K@24/25/30/60fps 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps Dolby Vision (60fps) |
📸 Front camera | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 1.2 megapixels | (dual front camera) 18 megapixels 0.3MP SL 3D |
| Front camera resolution | 1280x960 pixels | 5184x3456 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | HD (1280x720) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | f/1.9 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Mono sound (not stereo) Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio 3D |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones | 2 microphones |
| Radio | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MPEG4, H.264, MOV | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, AAC, eAAC, M4A | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| USB | USB 2.0 proprietary connector | USB 2.0 Type-C reversible connector |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | Type-C reversible connector |
| TV output | Proprietary TV-out | USB Type-C (reversible) |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 + A2DP | 6.0 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be [wifi7/6E/6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) + MIMO WiFi hotspot |
| DLNA | Not supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC |
| NFC | Not supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock 3D Gyroscope Proximity sensor UWB (Ultra Wideband) |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 1510 mAh | 3149 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 5W Wired charging | 30W Wired fast charging 4.5W Reverse charging by cable USB Power Delivery 2.0 |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Not supported | 25W Qi2 wireless charging |
| Talk time autonomy | 10 hours | feature not registered |
| Standby | 250 hours (10.4 days) | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: White, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink • Oleophobic coating • Simultaneous HD video and image recording • FaceTime • Siri natural language • AirDrop file sharing • iCloud cloud service • WiFi hotspot | • Colors: Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue Apple Intelligence • Apple Pay • Face ID • MagSafe |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| iPhone 5C (16GB) | iPhone Air (1TB) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | 1.15W/kg (head), 1.17W/kg (body) | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | 1W/kg (head), 0.96W/kg (body) | feature not registered |