In September, Apple released the newest addition to its iPhone series - the iPhone 5s and the mid-range iPhone 5c.

"iPhone 5s is the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, delivering desktop class architecture in the palm of your hand. iPhone 5s sets a new standard for smartphones, packed into its beautiful and refined design are breakthrough features that really matter to people, like Touch ID, a simple and secure way to unlock your phone with just a touch of your finger," as told by Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

"iPhone 5c is everything iPhone 5 was and more, in an all-new design packed with great features. iPhone 5c is designed with a beautiful polycarbonate enclosure that looks and feels so solid in your hand," Mr Schiller said about the iPhone 5c.

Reports claimed that the iPhone 5s and 5c was targeted to different market, with the iPhone 5c dubbed as the budget iPhone catered to penetrate the emerging market.

Before the launch of the more affordable iPhone 5c, there had been predictions of cannibalization of the 5s by the 5c and this was predicted as a significant threat for Apple's market performance.

However, data from the Consumer Intelligence Research Partners showed that Apple was successful to prevent the feared cannibalization.

In fact, analysis from CIRP revealed that the iPhone 5s is outperforming the iPhone 5c in the United States. - with the 5s accounted for 64 per cent of total iPhone sales while 5c accounted for only 27 per cent.

The iPhone 5s was outperforming the 5c in a remarkable ratio of two to one even with the 5c's more successful debut than the iPhone 5s during the launching week - 5c captured 68 per cent of new sales while 5s only captured 64 per cent of new sales.

The iPhone 5c, with its colorful but plastic casing, is also selling weaker compared to how the iPhone 4s was sold when it was downgraded by the flagship iPhone 5. The 27 per cent accounted for the iPhone 5c was just slightly higher to how the 4s performed in the market during the same period last year.