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

[terraphantm]

It's not meant to be in your back pocket while you sit in a chair under your 200 lbs or more rear end. My father has broken two iPhone 5C's doing this, the screens just shatter. Bending would be a "feature" compared to the older phones.

I've never kept my phone in my back pocket, but there is a slight bend to it (more of a warp). Also for the women out there, their front pockets tend to be freakishly small, forcing them to use back pockets.

Nothing - phone or not - that is sensitive, that you care about, should be placed in your pocket if there is a reasonable risk of damage. I think that's the test here, isn't it? What would reasonable people be expected to do under reasonable circumstances? If you want to buy a phone THAT big, not put it in a protective case, and then shove it in a pocket WHICH BENDS and not expect any problems, then you're being unreasonable.

That's asinine. It's a mobile phone, it's meant to be carried in a pocket. Virtually every other phone can be kept in a pocket without worry of bending, even if they're the same size as or bigger than the 6 plus.

What reasonable people would expect is that a company like Apple would have field tested a premium device and made sure it can handle conditions such as pocket use.

 

[CFreymarc]

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

Yeah

 

[Raymen]

If the new phones are getting force touch isn't it possible Apple made structural changes to accommodate that?

Probably the most sensible post so far about these updates, after reading both arguments for and against the 'bending issue'. Im also more in belief that the design changes are simply more for the new internals in the 6S than to 'fix' the phone. The new metal processes required for the 7000 aluminim might also explain reasoning for increased thickness in certain areas. This could be the first iPhone to use it - and tolerances for a new metal may be different.

Of course the biggest thing we forget is this is a leak- this back may also simply be from a preproduction test. Until we have a tear down of the real thing... Who knows. To end I'll say - if it is some 'plan' to make the phone stronger... Great. Im definitely getting a 6s Plus and I'm all for it being more resilient. Whether thats a planned 'upgrade' from the 6 or not...

 

[Keirasplace]

And, you seem really worked up about that! I can assure you most end users that buy these phones don't get all emotional over them. It's just a damn phone! It all seems pretty clear to me, but you see it however you want too that is cool with me! Have fun now! LOL

I personally believe that all this was overblown by certain media outlets, but I do believe some people have had bent phones. I don't need to figure it out or know for sure who is right and who is wrong. I honestly don't give a crap and I feel most users outside this forum feel as I do. I am just glad they are strengthening the phone because I plan to buy one. Believe it or not there are many daily users of the iPhone that have never heard of bendgate, but that doesn't mean for some it isn't real.

But lets keep this going, I mean calling each other names and trying over opinion each other that is what makes these forums fun to read!

It is funny, how haughty someone who is "not emotional" about something can be.
Why even comment then.... Are you some kind of roaming Yoda trainee? I don't think so!

As for the rest,

The affirmation in the article's clickbait title and of that person was that this was some general issue and Apple was doing this to probably fix it; not that it happened to 0.01% of Iphone 6 users and the changes are unrelated.

I myself said it could happen to some people but that demonstrates in no way that it is a significant issue. Apple now sells 240M phones a year. A very rare issue could have hundreds of persons affected. If Apple handles those people by providing good after sale service, those minor issues quickly fade. That's it.

As for this not being a thing outside this forum; not now... Why? Because Apple responded promptly and denied it was. Apple's credibility built over time counts for something. That's what I mentioned in an earlier post. People believed Apple rather than a someone pandering for clicks. That doesn't mean they didn't remember that the whole thing happened though.

Yes, many people, outside this forum have heard of it despite the whole thing dying within a week of: Apple's statement, PR visits of Apple testing facilities and third parties testing the phones. Short attention span of viral contents on the internet also helped; there is always something new coming up.... Even then, I feel Apple reacted slightly too slow over the weekend were it reached its peak.

But, this thing did have an impact outside this forum in the first month of the Iphone release in Montreal (were I live) regardless of the veracity of the information. Every place I went that had Iphones, especially non Apple ones like Best Buy, someone near the Iphone display, mentioned it, or tried to bend the phones! Everyone that I knew who was planning to buy an Iphone mentioned it to me; they still bought a new Iphone though

Still, now, people keep mentioning it all over the Internet when mentioning the Iphone, especially off course on Android sites...

 

[Keirasplace]

That is fine. This is the internet. You can take anyones post with a grain of salt. I know what I know, and yes it is anecdotal so it isn't factual... But the change in this device makes it clear that there was an issue that they were aware of.

Also maybe it is the region where I live/work (NYC) that I see more people and you just live in some weird suburbs? But glad I put a smile on someones face today.

No it doesn't.
Correlation doesn't equate causation.
Just like Anecdotes are not a proper sample to determine anything.

They could improve the case because they're already changing it for some other reason (different boards and components) and new material capability are now available (like AL 7000 used it manufacturing the watch).

Some of the leaked changes. They changed the size of the circuit board (different components than the Iphone 6 board) with led to different attachment points, changed the way screen is attached. This would force a redesign of the case's internals; so they could have modified anything else they wanted at the same time.

They also developed a AL 7000 alloy for the watch way before the media crap occured. This new manufacturing process got its trial run during the Apple Watch launch. This would enable them to use it for the much larger volume of the Iphone.

 

[BvizioN]

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.

It's a mobile device for f.sake, its meant to be as thin/light as practically possible to use so you can carry it in your pocket without looking like an idiot. Battery never bothered me and many other people who don't live in the Amazon rain forest, anywhere I can walk I can charge the phone if I needed. And no, there was no issue with the phone. The bendgate thing was just a click bate idea started by some bloggers and people in general doing what people do best: being ignorant s and believing anything you throw at them.

 

[Robstevo]

It's a mobile device for f.sake, its meant to be as thin/light as practically possible to use so you can carry it in your pocket without looking like an idiot. Battery never bothered me and many other people who don't live in the Amazon rain forest, anywhere I can walk I can charge the phone if I needed. And no, there was no issue with the phone. The bendgate thing was just a click bate idea started by some bloggers and people in general doing what people do best: being ignorant s and believing anything you throw at them.

I have owned a large number of phones in my young life, and not one apart from the iPhone 6 Plus has bent before.


Note 4
Note 3
Gs4
Gs3
iPhone 4
iPhone 3
iPhone
Htc one
Htc desire
Nexus 5


Not one of those phones bent, my iPhone 6 Plus did the other day. Don't even know when, all I know is I put it down on my desk and my work colleague noticed it.


You can excuse Apple all you want, however it's a real problem that many have experienced including myself.

 

[anomie]

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

Please stop embarrassing yourself.
Just because they further improve the shell that does not mean you stupid friend gets anything for free.

 

[zombierunner]

How did Lew get that part. Aren't Apple wondering?

 

[BvizioN]

I have owned a large number of phones in my young life, and not one apart from the iPhone 6 Plus has bent before.


Note 4
Note 3
Gs4
Gs3
iPhone 4
iPhone 3
iPhone
Htc one
Htc desire
Nexus 5


Not one of those phones bent, my iPhone 6 Plus did the other day. Don't even know when, all I know is I put it down on my desk and my work colleague noticed it.


You can excuse Apple all you want, however it's a real problem that many have experienced including myself.

All you guys who supposedly have bend your iPhone 6 have one thing in common. You all don't know how it happened, with some even claiming it happened by itself without touching it. I would take some responsibility and look after my expensive device like hundred of millions others do without badngate nonsense issue. Most of the phones you mentioned are bricks compare to the iPhone 6. If you are used to sat on your thicker phones, it doesn't mean that a thinner device can handle the same amount of pressure. Majority of people know this (thanks god for the common sense) If it would have been the issue that some guys try to make it look like is was, hundred of millions would have steeped back and not buy it.

 

[AnthonyHarris]

What made me laugh out loud were the folks exaggerating, saying, "Well, my co-worker popped her iPhone in her purse and when she took it out is was bent in half". I thought, yeah, that's what happens when you carry 'Lewis Hilsenteger' around with you.

I know those people think that their mm thin device should be able to take the weight of their 400lb asses but the reality is they don't, and while everyone is chucking dung at Apple, I highly doubt they ever imagined people would be stupid enough to actually sit on them, or even worse, purposefully bend them in half.

 

[ZipZap]

Or it's an admission that there is potential for an issue...or they're just as sick of people making mountains out of molehills and are being one step ahead. I don't see the huge outcry over Samsung "proving" they didn't have an issue and being easier to bend than the iPhone 6.

Why do you need to defend Apple? If they are doing this at those specific points there is an issue. They would not spend money if no issue existed.

 

[ZipZap]

No one denied that the phones could bend. The issue is that some people and many media outlets turned it into "bendgate" and made it out to be a major problem. It never was a problem. Yes, the phones can bend. Some phones might have bent under "normal" use (maybe a manufacturing defect on top of weaker points structurally) but the number of phones affected to the number of phones sold is a tiny, tiny ratio. Strengthening weak points doesn't mean there was a problem, it just means that Apple is trying to make the next iPhone even stronger. Again, yes, a few people had their phones bend but Apple has sold >110 million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus phones - that means that a fraction of a fraction of a percent have been affected. That's why there was no "bendgate". Let's put it this way, you have a much higher probability of being struck by lightning sometime in your life (1 in 3000) than to have an iPhone 6 (Plus) bend under normal use. #lightninggate

Its hard to really measure. Some bends I suspect a slight, other more pronounced. Depends on use. Since iphone bending only surfaced with the iphone 6 I feel safe in saying its that model. Apple has redesigned parts of the case to remedy. I doubt they would do so if no issue existed.

I suspect most bends are slight and hard to notice, andyou have no way of knowing how often the issue occurs. If you using MR as a gauge well the number of users here is, as you say, a tiny fraction of the 110 million phones sold.

In truth, I don't know why anyone on this thread is posting anything is support of Apple, or making suppositions to defend Apple without facts.

They are fixing the cases in reported areas of weakness. They would not spend the money to do so unless their engineers agree that they are weak points.

 

[sshambles]

Let's all keep in mind, that the Samesung phones bent more than an iPhone 6 or 6+ did in bend tests.

Samesung will no doubt also be putting enhanced strength into their next phones.

 

[bobob]

Mac Rumors appears to be utterly shameless with their ongoing attempts to monetize this non-issue.

It's (almost) funny in retrospect to remember that it was MacRumors that was one of the leading instigators of the false bending rumor with their promotion of forum member hanzoh's story to the front page. Strangely, hanzoh never updated his story and has in fact only posted once since.

 

[pentrix2]

in other news the sun will rise and it will fall...this story is as exciting as reading a book of blank pages

 

[NissanGuy23]

Wonder what issue they'll come up with on the 6S...? Or do S releases skip the "gates"

 

[bushido]

Please stop embarrassing yourself.
Just because they further improve the shell that does not mean you stupid friend gets anything for free.

lol? are you serious? just because something hasnt happened to you doesnt mean it doesnt happen to anyone else. go take a anger management class or something

as i was saying he wasnt even aware that it was bent cuz you cannot even tell. he send it in cuz the mute switch didnt do anything anymore.

 

[bobob]

Wonder what issue they'll come up with on the 6S...? Or do S releases skip the "gates"

They tried to trump up an imagined security issue with the then new Touch ID feature using homemade fake fingerprints - - but it never gained any media traction. So they started planning a new more organized relaunch of their previous iPhone 5 bending sham for the following year.

I imagine this year's campaign will be a combination of made up bending issues and made up security issues.

 

[Edgar Spayce]

I'm nostalgic of the first and second era of Steve Jobs, when Apple followers were the smarter crop because they supported Apple for the genuine creative, innovative, quality and design approaches that Jobs put out against greedy competitors EVEN THOUGH Apple was way less popular and famed, and knew EXACTLY why because they were knowledgable and smart.

Since about when Steve Jobs left for CEO (and a little bit before) the actual reverse happened with the recent latecomers who didn't come for genuine knowledge, values and appreciation, otherwise they would've used Apple hardware before, but because they are gullible followers whose mind has been twisted by ads and mainly PR into rationalising failures, greed, uninnovation, terrible design, bugs...like they were shareholders or PRs instead of consumers, themselves because they are not knowledgable or smart.

This is helped by the fact that since the crisis, PR has become Bernay's like propaganda more than communication based on the actual original values and qualities, ie. people are not being convinced of buying way better offers and products but manipulated into accepting crappier and crappier, more overpriced and of lesser design, innovation and quality then ever. This being also helped by the army of hidden community managers tech writers, comments, posts and boards.

Oups, I just spilled a big truth of the current industry, in which Apple is leading now.

 

[dannyyankou]

Apple copied samsung by making the phones bigger

Very relevant comment to this article. I'd at least like to see Samsung copy Apple by making their phones stronger.

http://www.squaretrade.com/press/sq...axy-s6-edge-just-as-bendable-as-iphone-6-plus

 

[alau0115]

Why would Apple fix a problem that didn't exist?

As a iphone 6+ user, I have never experienced the Bendgate issue.

But I guess Apple does it to perfect and improve the device as the S model is usually a more polished one with improvement.

Also it is a way to show Apple does listen and address to customers' concern despite only a few were affected (IMO, multiple reasons for the Bendgate --- a lack of care for their phones, without any common sense or as some one posted their experience, there are indeed some weak points on the iPhone 6/6+ devices where under a certain normal condition, there will be parts that get bent).

 

[Saucesome2000]

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

Only nine got media attention. My 6 was bent after only a few weeks and I baby my phones. I also do not wear ladies jeans. I believe that there is somewhat of a bandage because I made an appointment with the genius bar and when they say the phone they swapped it out immediately and the rep insinuated that it was a known issue they were addressing easily.

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

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

I actually own an iPhone 6+. But I will declare that there is no 12" iPad.

 

[sundragon]

I'm a big guy with big legs, I cycle around DC and I wear tight jeans, no issue since day one with my 6 Plus. Initially, I worried because I have thick legs and I have difficulty finding pants that fit properly and my pockets are tight regardless. I know this is an epiphany for most but what is wrong with our society?