Spontaneous separation of new iPhone 5

[Geckotek]

Poltergiest!! Run for your lives!!

[kas23]

It's official now, folks. Bend-gate:

http://www.tekcore.co.uk/2012/10/10/iphone-5-bend-gate

[WouterDS]

No way?
Can anyone give an understandable explanation for this?

I don't get it how that could happen without sitting on it or something like that.

[tymaster50]

So what kind of back is the iPhone supposed to have? If it was plastic you would say it's cheap, it was glass you said it was easily breakable, its aluminum you say it's bendable. What do you want, diamonds?

[scaredpoet]

Originally Posted by sparky1680

Yes this is my first thread/post but long time reader of macrumors. Never had burning issue that prompted me to post - but when this happened I knew I had to post. Happened last nite around 11 30 pm - I'm in Vancouver BC hence the time stamp. My ace in the hole is that I bought apple care at time of purchase - I planned not to use a case. My prev phone was a 4. I'm at work and will post better macro shots after I get home and before I take it in. The other pics that Novemberwhisky pointed to show remarkablly similar marks at - button. There is no damage to screen edge (which I will show better later) which would make a hit unlikely - note the marks are on either side of button and do not include button. ttyl

Please also provide pics of the back of the casing, including close ups of the bend point. Looks like this would appear to be just at the bottom of the Apple logo.

----------

Originally Posted by tymaster50

So what kind of back is the iPhone supposed to have? If it was plastic you would say it's cheap, it was glass you said it was easily breakable, its aluminum you say it's bendable. What do you want, diamonds?

Although nearly impossible to scratch, diamonds are brittle. They would shatter easier than glass.

[chrizg]

My guess is it was in front pants pocket and the OP works in IT or something and leaned over someones desk at work, and the phone came in contact with the edge of the desk and bent with the pressure from his body.

[BFizzzle]

Originally Posted by kas23

It's official now, folks. Bend-gate:

http://www.tekcore.co.uk/2012/10/10/iphone-5-bend-gate

people they are just acidentle prototypes sent to you.. bendable displays.. zomg

[PAC88]

Originally Posted by tymaster50

So what kind of back is the iPhone supposed to have? If it was plastic you would say it's cheap, it was glass you said it was easily breakable, its aluminum you say it's bendable. What do you want, diamonds?

well, there are plenty of materials that don''t shatter like glass or bend like aluminum.. duhh

I love the iphone 5 but it feels fragile and I don't know how to carry it properly.. I f'n hate cases

[iamartimus]

Originally Posted by MTShipp

Skinny jeans + back pocket + sitting down = this perhaps?

IMHO, aluminum frame would not bend without pressure.

Grabbing popcorn and hitting subscribe to this one.

The best remedy is NO MORE SKINNY JEANS!!!!!! They only look good on girls

[erratikmind]

Absolutely amaaaaaaazing!

[NovemberWhiskey]

Originally Posted by master-ceo

This shouldn't happen skinny jeans or not.

uh, who said it should?

[Luckybobby]

You're just holding it wrong! Duhh

[NovemberWhiskey]

Originally Posted by WouterDS

No way?
Can anyone give an understandable explanation for this?

I don't get it how that could happen without sitting on it or something like that.

You ever get wood wet and see it curl or expand after a couple of days? My guess is that something similar is happening to an internal component, maybe a metallic one. I am not saying water or moisture is causing it, but that there is some underlying chemical or physical mechanism wherein something was not properly cured or set and it is now warping.

At least that fits with the OP's description of it happening in his hands. I don't know how soft or bendable the metal is on the iphone and i don't want to test it on mine.

[Luckybobby]

She's a witch, kill her!

[richmds]

[kalexn]

Originally Posted by kas23

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1459792

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...ight=shattered

I think there is definitely something going on. Above are 2 other threads were posters have bent iPhones. One of them was dropped from just 4 feet while in an Otterbox supposedly, but looks like a truck ran it over. Whatever may be the cause, abuse or not, the iPhone 5 appears to have a propensity to bend.




A drop? Exactly what sort of drop would cause a bend like that? There have been millions of people who have dropped their iPhone 4/4S without sustaining such damage.

One of these is of the iPhone 4.

[tymaster50]

Originally Posted by PAC88

well, there are plenty of materials that don''t shatter like glass or bend like aluminum.. duhh

I love the iphone 5 but it feels fragile and I don't know how to carry it properly.. I f'n hate cases

name all the materials it can be made out of that doesn't interfere with reception, doesn't shatter, doesn't bend, doesn't scratch, doesn't scuff.

[kas23]

Originally Posted by kalexn

One of these is of the iPhone 4.

You're right. And that thing was built like a tank. A tank with glass windows, that is.

Alright then, what the F's up with people bending their iPhones lately? This's crazy.

Originally Posted by BFizzzle

people they are just acidentle prototypes sent to you.. bendable displays.. zomg

For the love of God, please tell me you really don't spell accidental that way usually.

[Robert.Walter]

Tbh, i carry my naked iPhone 4s exclusively in my back pocket and sit on it all the time.

i frankly wondered if the iPh 5 would be prone to structural failure of the perimeter frame adjacent to the volume buttons due to being sat on. Bending stiffness of the iPh 5 has to be way down due to changing the perimeter and inner chassis from steel to alu and also substituting alu for glass in the rear panel.

For these reasons, as well as sensitivity to scratching, I decided not to buy an iPhone 5 despite the fact it's beautiful and fast (I've been a first day purchaser of my last 2 iOS products.)

I don't buy into the theory that residual or thermal stresses are causing the chassis to spontaneously distort; if this is the case, Or if Apple didn't or mis specified, or their sub suppliers have omitted or botched, an annealing operation, Apple better find the incompetent materials, process, and mechanical engineers on this project and fire the lot of them.

Cue steel-reinforced iphone5 bumper offer from Apple in 1,2,3...As the short term solution to butt-bend-gate... Looks like Bob Mansfield is really going to have to earn his 2M$/mo now!

[ohbrilliance]

It is not the iPhone that bends, it is only yourself.

[MJD Dawg]

Originally Posted by tardman91

"It's not a man purse. It's called a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one."

It's not a purse...It's European!!!

[JS82712]

Spontaneous? seems legit.

[sparky1680]

Here are 4 more photos, 4 more to come

[sparky1680]

the last 4 photos
note the protrusion on the back as if something pushed it outward from inside.
Won't make it to apple store today - will go tomorrow.

[rogo43]

Apple store and whoever your cell provider is, is gonna call BS on you bud. Sorry. You might as well destroy the phone and claim it on insurance as lost or stolen.