iPhone 5c

Two major retailers, Target and Walmart, have both announced a $20 discount off the on contract price of the 16GB iPhone 5c model when purchased either online or in person at their in-store mobile centers. The phone, priced at $99, drops to $79 with the mark down. Target is offering an additional 5% off if you purchase the phone with your Target REDcard. All other models remain at their original prices.

As far as the iPhone 5s is concerned, Walmart has dropped the price of that 16GB version down $10, from $199 to $189. Not a significant savings, but it’s still ten extra bucks in your pocket. Target, however, is staying with the original $199 sticker price.

The next-generation iPhones go on sale at Apple.com tomorrow at 12:01 a.m. PST, and at local Apple stores at 8 a.m., but unfortunately not everyone is eligible for an upgrade through their mobile provider. AT&T and Verizon Wireless early termination fees range between $325-350, making it expensive to upgrade to a new device every year. However, there is a way you can terminate your contract and still have a little extra cash to put towards a new iPhone 5s.

While there are many mobile phone trade in services, the best we have found is through Nextworth.com. NextWorth is currently offering around $300 or higher for used iPhones in working condition. For example, if you're one year into your AT&T contract your early termination fee will be $325 minus $10 for every month you've completed. If you trade in your your 32GB iPhone 5 to NextWorth for $317, you can pay off your $205 early termination fee and you'll still have around $112 left over to put towards a new iPhone 5s. The same deal also applies to Verizon Wireless users, but you'll have a little less extra cash on hand since their ETF is higher than AT&T's. This means you can potentially nab a 16GB iPhone 5s for around $90 or a 32GB model for around $190.

Apple fans who were disappointed with Apple for not releasing a true "low budget" iPhone can now get the next best thing -- the Goophone i5C! The Android device looks a lot like Apple's “unapologetically plastic” iPhone 5c, and it even features an iOS 7-like interface.

The only specs the Goophone i5C has in common with the iPhone 5c is a 4-inch screen, but it doesn't feature the same "Retina display" as the Apple handset. The i5C is powered by MediaTek’s dual-core 1.3GHz MT6572 processor, and it ships with Android 4.2, a 5MP camera and 512MB of RAM.

Apple's next-generation iPhones are almost here, and you're going to want a new case to compliment and protect your shiny new iPhone 5c or iPhone 5s when it arrives. Thankfully there are a lot of options to choose from, starting with Apple's own official line of next-generation cases. Here are a few examples of third party cases, skins and screen protectors in case Apple's "Connect Four-look" isn't what you had in mind.

This is the first time the iPhone is being offered in more than two colors, so why cover it up? Griffin Technology has just launched its new Survivor Clear for the iPhone 5c. The see-through case not only allows you to show off your colorful new iPhone, but it guards against drops and bumps thanks to its clear polycarbonate shell and TPE rubber edges. Griffin also claims that the Survivor Clear will protect your device even if you drop it on "hard pavement". The Survivor Clear for the iPhone 5c is available for $30.

UPDATE: The Survivor Clear has not been released yet, but Griffin's Reveal Case ($20) and Survivor Custom Case ($50) for the iPhone 5s are currently available.

All four major U.S. carriers are now accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 5c. You can pre-order the colorful handset from AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint or Apple for $99 (16GB) and $199 (32GB). T-Mobile is also accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 5c through T-Mobile.com. The 16GB model is zero dollars down, plus 24 monthly payments of $22. The 32GB model is $99 down, plus 24 monthly payments of $22.91. The iPhone 5c is also launching in ten other countries today, and international carriers like Rogers in Canada have already started taking "reservations" for the new phone.

The iPhone 5c is available in green, white, yellow, red and blue. It is powered by Apple's A6 chip and boasts an 8MP iSight camera and 4-inch Retina display. It is also LTE capable and includes all of Apple's popular features like Siri and FaceTime.