Apple Addresses 'Bendgate' By Strengthening Weak Points of 'iPhone 6s' Shell

[MacRumors]

Following the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus last September, some users began experiencing issues with the larger-sized smartphones bending in their pockets after normal day-to-day usage. The issue -- informally known as "Bendgate" -- became widespread after a video test revealed it does not take much force to cause a slight curvature in the device.

iPhone 6 Plus bend test by Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy​

Apple later commented that an iPhone 6 Plus bending under normal use is "extremely rare," adding that it had received only nine complaints from customers about the issue at the time. The company said the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus feature a "precision engineered unibody enclosure" constructed from 6000 series anodized aluminum and "stainless steel and titanium inserts to reinforce high stress locations" on the devices.

Nevertheless, it appears that Apple engineers have tweaked the design of the so-called "iPhone 6s" by strengthening the weak points of the smartphone's rear shell. A new YouTube video shared by Unbox Therapy shows that the areas around the Home and volume buttons on the "iPhone 6s" appear to be notably thicker -- 1.9mm versus 1.14mm -- suggesting that Apple's next iPhones could be less susceptible to bending under normal usage.

Interestingly, the video shows that the "iPhone 6s" rear shell is also slightly lighter, despite having a thicker shell at certain weak points. The purported "iPhone 6s" rear shell weighs in at 25 grams, compared to 27 grams for the iPhone 6 rear shell, suggesting that Apple could be using a new material such as the rumored 7000 Series anodized aluminum for its next-generation smartphones.

Article Link: Apple Addresses 'Bendgate' By Strengthening Weak Points of 'iPhone 6s' Shell

 

[bushido]

yet they do not seem to care and dont fix it on current devices. LAWSUIT

(didnt happen to me but a friends mute switch stopped working and apple was like NOPE your device has been bend when he didnt even know about it)

edit: updated with screenshot

 

[sorinc03]

yet they do not seem to care and dont fix it on current devices. LAWSUIT

Sarcasm?

The current devices never really bent unless you tried to. And if you try to bend a current 6 Plus, of course it will, anything does.

 

[SgtPepper12]

That makes a lot of sense. When the iPhone 6S is released, there will definitely be people who will try to bend it and people who watch them do it. They probably don't want to risk the conclusion that the new phone still bends.

 

[soupcan]

This looks promising. A thicker material that's also lighter? Is this the end of unnecessary thin phones just to get the weight down and to sacrifice battery capacity? TIN FOIL HAT TIME??

 

[Nozuka]

the problem is so bad and widespread, that you read about it every day

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

This is good news.

 

[needfx]

Breaking News : iPhone 6S users experience Spendgate

 

[MacFather]

Deleted.

 

[AnsonX10]

Is this the end of unnecessary thin phones just to get the weight down and to sacrifice battery capacity?

I hope so. As long as it fits in my pocket, it's small enough for me.

 

[oliversl]

Will he bend that iPhone 6s shell?

 

[harley3k]

I bet it will still bLend.

 

[KdParker]

no Bendgate they said. Only 9 people complained they said.

There wasn't any bendgate, but that doesn't mean there can't be minor changes in the hardware.

 

[bushido]

Sarcasm?

The current devices never really bent unless you tried to. And if you try to bend a current 6 Plus, of course it will, anything does.

nope he sent it in and they provided some scatch where it showed that it is bend by like 0,01 mm and they refused to fix the mute switch therefore for free

 

[chriscrowlee]

Never had an issue with my iPhone bending, but excited anytime they make something stronger without making it heavier.

 

[apolloa]

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha............

Oh how the many many many people on here strongly stated as a FACT that there was NO issue with bendgate, and yet Apple is 'fixing it' hahahaha...

Apple is going to pay for having ludicrously thin devices for no reason, considering Ive only believes in thin devices and not battery life as he has stated.

 

[thejd]

I am greatly looking forward to this release. The non-issues being buttoned up, overall improvements in processing and battery life, introduction of force-touch. Should make for a nice upgrade to last another five or six years. I will be looking for the 64Gb Space Grey, unlocked GSM flavor.

 

[chriscrowlee]

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha............

Oh how the many many many people on here strongly stated as a FACT that there was NO issue with bendgate, and yet Apple is 'fixing it' hahahaha...

"Fix" and "Enhance" are very different things. You can fix a broken car with a new engine, but to enhance performance doesn't imply there was anything wrong with the original, it's just been improved upon.

I suppose every model since iPhone was introduced meant the previous model was broken by your definition.

 

[AngerDanger]

Only nine people have complained about this issue we have corrected for the millions of phones that we'll ship.

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

I am greatly looking forward to this release. The non-issues being buttoned up, overall improvements in processing and battery life, introduction of force-touch. Should make for a nice upgrade to last another five or six years. I will be looking for the 64Gb Space Grey, unlocked GSM flavor.

5-6 years? I can't do it. New iPhone every year for me thanks.

 

[superliu]

This is to account for people getting eerrr *heavier* in this world??

 

[galaxymasterrace]

Apple copied samsung by making the phones bigger

 

[RadioGaGa1984]

Could've been a legitimate story if the word "bendgate" had not been used.

 

[apolloa]

"Fix" and "Enhance" are very different things. You can fix a broken car with a new engine, but to enhance performance doesn't imply there was anything wrong with the original, it's just been improved upon.

I suppose every model since iPhone was introduced meant the previous model was broken by your definition.

No they have fixed the issue. If their was never any issue as apparently stated as fact by users on here, and only 9 people complained, then Apple would NEVER spend the money 'enhancing' the design.
And your'e attempt at making this out to be something else, like it must mean every other iPhone was broken, is pretty immature and lame.

To quote the article above:

Nevertheless, it appears that Apple engineers have tweaked the design of the so-called "iPhone 6s" by strengthening the weak points of the smartphone's rear shell.

 

[PowerBook-G5]

5-6 years? I can't do it. New iPhone every year for me thanks.

You going for that 5.5" iPhone? Haven't seen you around since those days...