Seems like no one wants an Apple iPhone cheap or at least it looks like, even a cheap Apple iPhone is way too expensive. Experts had feared that iPhone 5c would eat into the market share of the premium model iPhone 5s. For all its promise to offer customers, unable to afford the premium variety, the iPhone experience, the iPhone 5c has failed to impress. Few weeks into the launch of the plastic-back cheaper iPhone 5c, it seems the Apple strategy of tapping into the mass-market is falling flat. But it looks like, Apple still has something to cheer; the premium iPhone 5s is doing pretty well.

Citing weak orders, Apple has cut its fourth-quarter production orders for its iPhone 5c, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The Journal, however, reports that although iPhone 5c may have missed the target, it is not all bad news for Apple. It could mean that consumers are buying more of the higher-end iPhone 5s model also launched around the same time and selling $100 higher compared to iPhone 5c. The report says, even as it cut orders of 5c, Apple has actually increased this quarter's orders for the iPhone 5s.

The iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s released on Sept 18 was a result of the direct low and high end competition Apple faced by South Korean competitor Samsung. Samsung has been able to offer lower-end smartphones for less than $100.

Responding to the pressure, Apple launched its cheaper version to attract new buyers particularly in new markets and developing economies. Expectations were rife that Apple would offer its cheaper iPhone 5c model for a retail price range of about $350. The company, however, could not meet expectation and ended up attempting to sell iPhone 5s at $549.

With two Apple models in the market, buyer attention was largely focused on the high-end version iPhone 5s as it offered better camera, new motion-sensor technology and a fingerprint sensor. Particular interest was seen for the gold-coloured model which promoted Apple to hike production orders.

The market verdict is evident, as WSJ reports, iPhone 5s orders take up to three weeks to process, on the other hand, iPhone 5c orders are shipped within 24 hours.