Hands-on: Impressions of iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C

The worst kept Apple secrets since the iPad Mini have just landed and they're incredible. The long-rumored iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S will be released in eight countries on Sept 20. For the first time ever, China is included in the launch regions.

The 5S will be the new flagship model for the iPhone line, with the new 5C as the lower end model. Both phones will released on the same day. The iPhone 5C will cost $733 and the 5S will cost $864. Both are non-contract China prices.

Disappointment in the prices aside, the new iPhones feel great. During Apple's Wednesday press conference in Beijing there was a moment for a hands-on test.

Both devices were running the launch version of iOS7, which will be available for free download on Sept 18.

Design and Feel of the iPhone 5C

Touting the shape and the form factor of the current iPhone 5, the 5C carries with it literally the same internal specifications. It's got a 4-inch retina display and an 8 megapixel iSight camera.

This new phone from the front looks exactly the same as the current iPhone. However once it's turned over, it becomes clear that this isn't the iPhone 5. Replacing the all-metal back with a near uni-body plastic casing, the new iPhone 5 almost looks like a Windows phone.

Coming in white, pink, green, blue and yellow, the new iPhones look like they came out of a candy factory. However, looking past the bright, almost neon colors the design of the back looks oddly reminiscent of the old iPhone 3G and 3GS, the last plastic iPhones.

Despite the plastic, the iPhone 5C has an incredible build quality and heft. The phone isn't too light and it's not too heavy. The plastic casing feels incredibly well made. Unlike some unnamed plastic phones, the back is sturdy and doesn't give when put under pressure.

Specifications of 5C

In terms of specs, the iPhone 5C is pretty much like the iPhone 5. It has a slightly better front-facing camera and a larger battery but the system on the chip is still the same.

However, this time around, the 5C will not come in a 64 GB configuration.

The iPhone 5S Design and Feel

There isn't much to say about the iPhone 5S in terms of design and feel. Everything screams iPhone 5. Much like how the iPhone 4S looked like the iPhone 4, the parts that shine in this new iPhone are in the specifications.

The new iPhone 5S will come in three colors, Space Grey, Silver, and Gold.