BeastCompare

iPhone 5c vs iPhone X: Which One Should You Buy?

iPhone X edges ahead with a BeastScore of 63.2/100 — but the right choice depends on what matters to you.

Head-to-head
Comparing 2 devicesSwipe ⇄
Apple · 2013

iPhone 5c

iPhone 5c
62/ 100
Launch price$549
Apple · 2017

iPhone X

iPhone X
63/ 100
Launch price$999
Head-to-head

iPhone X wins 2 of 7 categories

Here's exactly where each phone is stronger.

iPhone 5c
iPhone 5c
1 win
iPhone X
iPhone X
2 wins
At a glance

Bigger shape = better phone.

SpeedCameraSelfieBatteryDisplayConnectivityValue
iPhone 5ciPhone X
Category winners

Scores out of 100. How we score

  • SpeedTie
    60
    60
  • CameraiPhone X
    60
    75
  • VideoNot enough data
  • SelfieTie
    40
    40
  • BatteryTie
    58
    58
  • DisplayTie
    62
    62
  • ConnectivityiPhone X
    32
    64
  • SecurityNot enough data
  • ValueiPhone 5c
    80
    55
Key differences
  • iPhone X has the bigger battery2,716 mAh vs 1,510 mAh
  • iPhone X charges faster18W vs 5W
  • iPhone X has a sharper main camera12 MP vs 8 MP
  • iPhone X has the bigger screen5.85" vs 4"
  • iPhone 5c is lighter132 g vs 174 g
  • iPhone 5c launched cheaper$549 vs $999
  • iPhone X has a sharper selfie camera7 MP vs 1.2 MP
  • iPhone X has newer Bluetooth5 vs 4
  • iPhone X has more RAM3 GB vs 1 GB
See all specs ↓

Why buy each phone

Swipe ⇄
Reasons to buy iPhone 5c
  • ✓42 g lighter (132 g vs 174 g), easier to hold
  • ✓$450 cheaper at launch ($549 vs $999)
  • ✓8 MP main camera
Reasons to buy iPhone X
  • ✓Bigger 2,716 mAh battery (+1,206 mAh)
  • ✓12 MP main camera
  • ✓5.85" display at 60 Hz

Full specifications

Swipe ⇄
SpecificationiPhone 5ciPhone X
1. Display & Screen
Screen typeLED-backlit IPS LCD RetinaOLED Super Retina HD
Screen Size4"5.85"
Resolution & Density1136x640 (326 ppi)2436x1125 (458 ppi)
Refresh Rate60 Hz60 Hz
Brightness500 nits peak625 nits peak
Screen ProtectionNot listedNot listed
2. Platform & Performance
Chipset / ProcessorNot listed Not listed
CPU CoresNot listedNot listed
GPU GraphicsNot listedNot listed
Operating SystemiOS 7iOS 11
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory1 GB LPDDR3 GB LPDDR
Internal Storage8GB / 16GB / 32GB64GB / 256GB
Storage SpeedNot listedNot listed
Card SlotNoNo
4. Main Camera Optics🏆 iPhone X Wins Camera
Primary Camera8 MP, f/2.412 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Telephoto ZoomNone (digital zoom only)12 MP (2x optical zoom), f/2.4, OIS
Ultrawide CameraN/AN/A
LiDAR / DepthNoneNone
5. Video
Main Camera Video
Not listed
Not listed
Front Video
Not listed
Not listed
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens1.2 MP, f/2.47 MP, f/2.2
7. Body & Dimensions🏆 iPhone 5c Lightest Chassis
Dimensions124.4 x 59.2 x 8.97 mm143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm
Weight132 g174 g
Build MaterialsNot listedNot listed
SIM TypeNot listedNot listed
Water ResistanceNot listedIP67
8. Battery & Charging
Battery Capacity1,510 mAh2,716 mAh
Wired Fast Charging5W wired fast charging18W wired fast charging
Wireless ChargingNot listed7W wireless charging
Reverse ChargingNot listedNot listed
9. Sound & Audio
LoudspeakerNot listedNot listed
3.5mm Headphone JackNoNo
10. Connectivity
Wi-Fi StandardWi-Fi 4Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth4.05.0
USB Port & SpeedLightningLightning
NFCYesYes (contactless payment)
11. Sensors & Security
SensorsNot listedNot listed
Satellite FeaturesNot listedNot listed
12. Colors & Overview
ColorsNot listedNot listed
Launch Price$549$999
Our verdict

iPhone X wins — BeastScore 63.2/100

The iPhone X is the better pick for most people thanks to its bigger battery (2,716 mAh vs 1,510 mAh) and faster charging (18W vs 5W). The iPhone 5c is worth a look if you prefer its lighter body (132 g vs 174 g).

Buy iPhone 5c if you want

Lighter: 132 g vs 174 g (42 g less) · Lower launch price: $549 vs $999

Buy iPhone X if you want

Larger battery: 2,716 mAh vs 1,510 mAh · Faster wired charging: 18W vs 5W

Common questions

Which is better: iPhone 5c or iPhone X?

The iPhone X is the better pick for most people thanks to its bigger battery (2,716 mAh vs 1,510 mAh) and faster charging (18W vs 5W). The iPhone 5c is worth a look if you prefer its lighter body (132 g vs 174 g). BeastScore: iPhone 5c 62.0/100, iPhone X 63.2/100.

What are the main battery and display differences between iPhone 5c and iPhone X?

iPhone 5c has a 4-inch display and 1510 mAh battery. iPhone X has a 5.85-inch display and 2716 mAh battery.

How do iPhone 5c and iPhone X compare for speed?

iPhone 5c scores 60/100 for performance; iPhone X scores 60/100.

Similar Smartphones

Galaxy S5
Samsung

Galaxy S5

iPhone 6s
Apple

iPhone 6s

Pixel
Google

Pixel

OnePlus One
Oneplus

OnePlus One

Xiaomi Mi4 4G TD-LTE 16GB 2014216 (Xiaomi Leo)
Xiaomi

Xiaomi Mi4 4G TD-LTE 16GB 2014216 (Xiaomi Leo)

BBK Vivo Y37L TD-LTE
Vivo

BBK Vivo Y37L TD-LTE

Oppo A55s 2022 5G TD-LTE JP 64GB A102OP (BBK 2309)
Oppo

Oppo A55s 2022 5G TD-LTE JP 64GB A102OP (BBK 2309)

Motorola Razr (2019)
Motorola

Motorola Razr (2019)

More Smartphones comparisons

vs

iPhone 5c vs Galaxy Folder2

Compare →
vs

iPhone X vs Galaxy S5

Compare →
vs

iPhone 5c vs iPhone 6 Plus

Compare →
vs

iPhone X vs iPhone 6s

Compare →
vs

iPhone 5c vs Pixel

Compare →
vs

iPhone X vs Pixel

Compare →
vs

iPhone 5c vs OnePlus One

Compare →
vs

iPhone X vs OnePlus One

Compare →

Gear for the iPhone X

All Amazon Finds →
Amazon FindsBest MagSafe car mountsVent, dash and charging mounts.See the picks Amazon FindsBest 3-in-1 charging stationsPhone, watch and earbuds on one stand.See the picks Amazon FindsAirPods Pro 3 vs Galaxy Buds 4 Pro vs BoseWhich flagship earbuds fit your phone.See the picks Amazon FindsApple Watch vs Galaxy Watch vs Pixel WatchThe right watch for your phone.See the picks

Related articles

All articles →
Here are the Apple iPhone Duo alternativesGuide
6 min read

Here are the Apple iPhone Duo alternatives

Explore top alternatives to the $2,000 Apple iPhone Duo, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Xiaomi 18 Fold 5G, Vivo X Fold5 Pro, and OnePlus Open 2.

Read →
Pixel 10a Now $599 vs Galaxy A57 & iPhone 17e: Still Worth It?Tech News
6 min read

Pixel 10a Now $599 vs Galaxy A57 & iPhone 17e: Still Worth It?

Google quietly raised the Pixel 10a from $499 to $599 in early October, and Samsung pushed the Galaxy A57 up to $599.99 the same week. That puts three "budget" phones at the same $599 starting price as the iPhone 17e. Here is what changed, how the three compare, and which one makes sense now.

Read →
Snapdragon 8 Elite vs. MediaTek Dimensity 9400 vs. Apple A18 Pro: The Definitive 3nm Mobile Silicon Architecture, GPU Ray Tracing & Gaming Benchmark Showdown (2026)Flagship SoC Architecture
22 min read

Snapdragon 8 Elite vs. MediaTek Dimensity 9400 vs. Apple A18 Pro: The Definitive 3nm Mobile Silicon Architecture, GPU Ray Tracing & Gaming Benchmark Showdown (2026)

An exhaustive 3nm architectural deep dive comparing Qualcomm custom Oryon CPU, MediaTek All-Big-Core Dimensity 9400, and Apple A18 Pro—covering microarchitecture, Adreno 830 vs Immortalis-G925 ray tracing, NPU compute, thermal throttling, and real-world gaming frame rates.

Read →