You Can Pre-Order Your iPhone 5C Today

Sept. 13, 2013 — -- A world of colorful iPhones starts today, or at least a world of colorful iPhones can be pre-ordered starting today.

Starting at 3:01 a.m. ET / 12:01 a.m. PT, Apple began taking pre-orders for its new iPhone 5C on its website. Other retailers, including Walmart and Best Buy, also began to take orders on the new phone, which starts at $99 with a two-year contract. Walmart actually has the lowest price on the phone; the 16GB model starts at $79 with a two-year contract.

The phone will be delivered on Sept. 20 to those who pre-order today and will be in stores that same day as well. The iPhone 5S, the higher-end model of the iPhone that Apple announced this week, won't be available for order until Sept. 20, the same day it will also be available in stores.

Deciding Between the iPhone 5C and 5S? Check out our first look at the new phones

The iPhone 5C comes in five colors -- white, pink, yellow, blue and green -- all of which match the wallpaper on the new iOS 7 software that will come pre-loaded on the phone. Unlike the $199 iPhone 5S, the 5C has similar specs to the iPhone 5, which it will replace. It has the same processor, camera and 4-inch Retina Display as the iPhone 5.

If you aren't in the market for a new iPhone though, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, Apple will update the iPhone 4, 4S and 5 with its latest software -- iOS 7. iOS 7 has a starkly different design than the previous versions of the software, with a new colorful design, icons and apps.

In other words, even if you don't get the iPhone 5C, you can still get a pretty colorful phone come next week.