New research by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) shows that Apple's budget-end iPhone 5C is flagging well behind the more expensive iPhone 5S in terms of sales.

According to CIRP's analysis, the iPhone 5S accounted for 64 percent of iPhones sold during the month of September in the United States.

The iPhone 5C, meanwhile, made up just 27 percent of the iPhone market for the same time period.

New phones for old

Intriguingly, both of Apple's new iPhone models lagged behind the debut of the iPhone 5, which CIRP claims commanded 68 percent of the US iPhone sales market when it launched in October of last year.

A common sight at the front of US Apple Stores

Both global pre-orders for the iPhone 5C and interest in the device were cool in the weeks leading up to the plastic-encased handset's launch, which might explain why Apple's post launch marketing is almost exclusively focused on 5C, rather than the more expensive 5S.

Nevertheless, if the iPhone 5S selling as well as Apple purports, iPhone 5C's 27 percent share might not be as grim as many tech sites appear keen to purport.

[source: AllThingsD]